Contemporary perceptions of interpreting in South Africa
- Pienaar, Marné, Cornelius, Eleanor
- Authors: Pienaar, Marné , Cornelius, Eleanor
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Interpreting , Perceptions , Training , Research
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/93098 , uj:20308 , Citation: Pienaar, M. & Cornelius, E. 2016. Contemporary perceptions of interpreting in South Africa.
- Description: Abstract: Since the inception of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), much has been done to professionalize interpreting in South Africa in terms of accreditation, training and research. Yet two incidents in particular, namely the memorial service of the late President Nelson Mandela and the Oscar Pistorius trial highlighted the gap between theory and practice and strengthened the common perception that South African interpreters are incompetent. This article investigates these common perceptions by focusing mainly on media reports on interpreting, in general, and the events surrounding the sign language interpreting services rendered during the widely televised memorial service and the equally widely covered Pistorius trial, in particular. Criticisms in the media voiced from within the interpreting profession by academics and SATI1 accredited interpreters, and aimed mainly at the Department of Justice during the Pistorius trial, also receive attention. It is concluded that the struggle remains for insight into what interpreters can and cannot do, the conditions required for optimal interpreting performance and the misperception that anyone who speaks two languages, can interpret between them.
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- Authors: Pienaar, Marné , Cornelius, Eleanor
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Interpreting , Perceptions , Training , Research
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/93098 , uj:20308 , Citation: Pienaar, M. & Cornelius, E. 2016. Contemporary perceptions of interpreting in South Africa.
- Description: Abstract: Since the inception of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), much has been done to professionalize interpreting in South Africa in terms of accreditation, training and research. Yet two incidents in particular, namely the memorial service of the late President Nelson Mandela and the Oscar Pistorius trial highlighted the gap between theory and practice and strengthened the common perception that South African interpreters are incompetent. This article investigates these common perceptions by focusing mainly on media reports on interpreting, in general, and the events surrounding the sign language interpreting services rendered during the widely televised memorial service and the equally widely covered Pistorius trial, in particular. Criticisms in the media voiced from within the interpreting profession by academics and SATI1 accredited interpreters, and aimed mainly at the Department of Justice during the Pistorius trial, also receive attention. It is concluded that the struggle remains for insight into what interpreters can and cannot do, the conditions required for optimal interpreting performance and the misperception that anyone who speaks two languages, can interpret between them.
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Higher education student perspective on the teaching of research methodology : Ghana
- Arthur-Aidoo, B.M., Aigbavboa, C.O., Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku, Yeboah, P.
- Authors: Arthur-Aidoo, B.M. , Aigbavboa, C.O. , Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku , Yeboah, P.
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Research , Polytechnic , Students
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/69011 , uj:17808 , Citation: Arthur-Aidoo, B.M. et al. 2015. Higher education student perspective on the teaching of research methodology : Ghana.
- Description: Abstract: Higher National Diploma (HND) students of faculty of Engineering in the Ghanaian Polytechnics embark on research methods as a mandatory module in second year of their studies. The need for the module is to improve students’ knowledge and skills on the concept of research methods that will enable them to design and carry out suitable research methodology during their final project work write-up. However, the rate at which student’s trail the module and the poor standard of project works that is produced is an indication that students have no interest in the research methods as a subject. As a result, this study seeks to explore the perception of students on the teaching of research methods. This exploratory study collated data using extensive interviews with ten students who passed and ten who trailed the module which were selected via purposive sampling technique from each of the departments within the faculty of engineering. The information gathered using semi-structured interviews were reordered and transcribed. The study revealed that the method applied in teaching research methods subject do not fully engage student’s interest, this has caused students to perceive research to be just an ordinary module and a mere formality that needs to be done and submitted. Further, it was established that students tend to be more interested in courses in line with their career rather than research methods. Also, offering research methods just for a semester alone is not adequate for students to have comprehensive understanding. The study recommends that Lecturers must endeavour to design interactive sessions with students. Research methods must be redesign to be taught be taught from the first year through to the final year. The main component parts research must be taught and fully completed with feedback from students from students’ depicting their understanding before commencing another part.
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- Authors: Arthur-Aidoo, B.M. , Aigbavboa, C.O. , Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku , Yeboah, P.
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Research , Polytechnic , Students
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/69011 , uj:17808 , Citation: Arthur-Aidoo, B.M. et al. 2015. Higher education student perspective on the teaching of research methodology : Ghana.
- Description: Abstract: Higher National Diploma (HND) students of faculty of Engineering in the Ghanaian Polytechnics embark on research methods as a mandatory module in second year of their studies. The need for the module is to improve students’ knowledge and skills on the concept of research methods that will enable them to design and carry out suitable research methodology during their final project work write-up. However, the rate at which student’s trail the module and the poor standard of project works that is produced is an indication that students have no interest in the research methods as a subject. As a result, this study seeks to explore the perception of students on the teaching of research methods. This exploratory study collated data using extensive interviews with ten students who passed and ten who trailed the module which were selected via purposive sampling technique from each of the departments within the faculty of engineering. The information gathered using semi-structured interviews were reordered and transcribed. The study revealed that the method applied in teaching research methods subject do not fully engage student’s interest, this has caused students to perceive research to be just an ordinary module and a mere formality that needs to be done and submitted. Further, it was established that students tend to be more interested in courses in line with their career rather than research methods. Also, offering research methods just for a semester alone is not adequate for students to have comprehensive understanding. The study recommends that Lecturers must endeavour to design interactive sessions with students. Research methods must be redesign to be taught be taught from the first year through to the final year. The main component parts research must be taught and fully completed with feedback from students from students’ depicting their understanding before commencing another part.
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Mentorship as a strategy to improve research output at tertiary institutions : a case study of University of Johannesburg
- Nundulall, Reetha, Reddy, K.
- Authors: Nundulall, Reetha , Reddy, K.
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Mentorship , University of Johannesburg , Research
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:5624 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/14714
- Description: The increasing pace of globalisation, is not only affecting the shape and mode of operation of HEIs, but also their purpose. HEIs in South Africa are no exception to this challenge, as they are now also under pressure to meet global standards in order to be able to compete with the best in the world. Alt (2002, 9) adds that increasing globalisation of higher education and the consequent extension of “competition” beyond regional and national boundaries, will make it inevitable for HEIs in South Africa to look at practices in other countries to inform their decisions i.e. institutions will have to benchmark. The functions of HEIs are teaching, research and community engagement. While there is a major focus on teaching, there is a shift towards promoting research at traditional universities and universities of technology. This goal is supported by the HEIs. For instance, the University of Johannesburg (UJ), a comprehensive university offering both academic and technological study programmes, iterates that “research remains a top priority of the university as it enables the development of distinguished scholarship, the collective outcome of which must be teaching excellence. Research is also the source for new knowledge” (Research Top Priority at UJ 2007, 1)...
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- Authors: Nundulall, Reetha , Reddy, K.
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Mentorship , University of Johannesburg , Research
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:5624 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/14714
- Description: The increasing pace of globalisation, is not only affecting the shape and mode of operation of HEIs, but also their purpose. HEIs in South Africa are no exception to this challenge, as they are now also under pressure to meet global standards in order to be able to compete with the best in the world. Alt (2002, 9) adds that increasing globalisation of higher education and the consequent extension of “competition” beyond regional and national boundaries, will make it inevitable for HEIs in South Africa to look at practices in other countries to inform their decisions i.e. institutions will have to benchmark. The functions of HEIs are teaching, research and community engagement. While there is a major focus on teaching, there is a shift towards promoting research at traditional universities and universities of technology. This goal is supported by the HEIs. For instance, the University of Johannesburg (UJ), a comprehensive university offering both academic and technological study programmes, iterates that “research remains a top priority of the university as it enables the development of distinguished scholarship, the collective outcome of which must be teaching excellence. Research is also the source for new knowledge” (Research Top Priority at UJ 2007, 1)...
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Relationship between research, innovation and development – a review
- Authors: Ekolu, Stephen O.
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Research , Gross domestic product , Patents
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/248123 , uj:25785 , Citation: Ekolu, S.O. 2017. Relationship between research, innovation and development – a review.
- Description: Abstract: In this paper, data are used to show that countries with high record of publications and patents are either developed or those countries that are strongly developing. Mastery of existing scientific knowledge and intensification of engineering and scientific research emerge as the two important ingredients that are necessary for industrial development. Current trends in research show inklings of research growth in SubSaharan Africa. However, the limited growth in research at an advanced level is presently a critical barrier and a major challenge.
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- Authors: Ekolu, Stephen O.
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Research , Gross domestic product , Patents
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/248123 , uj:25785 , Citation: Ekolu, S.O. 2017. Relationship between research, innovation and development – a review.
- Description: Abstract: In this paper, data are used to show that countries with high record of publications and patents are either developed or those countries that are strongly developing. Mastery of existing scientific knowledge and intensification of engineering and scientific research emerge as the two important ingredients that are necessary for industrial development. Current trends in research show inklings of research growth in SubSaharan Africa. However, the limited growth in research at an advanced level is presently a critical barrier and a major challenge.
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