HSRC Illustrated English-isiXhosa Maths Dictionary Grade R to 9

Helping learners understand and retain mathematics lessons is a challenge faced by teachers, parents and the government. One reason is that most learners learn mathematics in English, which is not their home language, and so they must spend time translating each concept taught by the teacher into isiXhosa. Also, parents find it difficult to explain English mathematical concepts, especially if they have never studied mathematics themselves. The Maths Dictionary is a response to this problem. It is accessible to parents helping their children in their studies and learners. Each term is not only defined in both English and isiXhosa, but also accompanied by a picture that reflects the life of isiXhosa-speaking people. This is one of the features that will make the learners enjoy using this dictionary, as it talks about things they know, even though these things are not strictly mathematical concepts but rather show how mathematical concepts work. The terms were selected by mathematics experts and teachers – people who work with learners and understand their challenges. This dictionary is mathematics support material that learner, teacher and parent alike can use.

Contents
Foreword
Introduction
Acknowledgments
Main body: A – Z Maths in English translate to
isiXhosa
Conclusion
About the Contributors

Nosisi Nellie Feza is a full Professor at Walter Sisulu University, appointed as a Rector of Buffalo City Campus. She has obtained a PhD in Mathematics Education from the State University of New York at Buffalo, New York as a Fulbright scholar. She received a Diversity Scholar Award from the National Center for Institutional Diversity in Michigan in 2009. In 2016 she received a Distinguished Researcher Award in mathematics education from Venus International Foundation in Chennai, India.

Her research interests are early childhood mathematics stimulation, teacher development and cultural influence in learning mathematics in students of African descendants. She has published 42 papers of which 24 are in accredited journals, 9 in conference proceedings, 3 published research reports, 6 as chapters in books and edited a peer reviewed book.

Tebello Letsekha is an Associate Lecturer at the School of Education at the University of Witwatersrand.

Yolisa Madolo is a Senior Lecturer for the Department of Arts at Walter Sisulu University. She is a registered language practitioner with the South African Translations Institute. Her research focus is on Children’s literature and its translation studies, and literary theories.

Thenjiwe Meyiwa is a Professor at the University of South Africa and is part of the Executive Management – serving as Vice Principal for the Research, Postgraduate Studies, Innovation and Commercialisation portfolio. Meyiwa has extensive experience in higher education. Prior to her appointment at UNISA she worked at various higher education institutions, including the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) as a senior manager and researcher. Meyiwa has an impeccable academic, leadership and mentorship record with a strong focus on social science research in general and indigenous knowledge systems, in particular. She is a member of various parastatals, community and civil society organisations, such as the Rural Women’s Movement where she is the Advisory Board member and the South African National Heraldry Council where she serves as its Chairperson; to name but a few. She has presented numerous conference papers, at national and international forums and authored a significant number of research articles, including co-publishing five books.