Functional Icebreakers

Songs

Songs are always fun to sing along to and it is also functional / educational.

The material I used where extremely useful, especially the disks listed at number 5. 

They contain various themes that can all be incorporated into CAPS lessons.

Other songs and rhythms can be used to learn the language through isiXhosa, perfect for beginners and young children:

1. Here is one example:    Well known Children's Song - isiXhosa and English

     Utata uJacob

Utata uJacob, 

Utata uJacob

Usalele, 

Usalele 

Mamela intsimbi iyakhala, 

Mamela intsimbi iyakhala 

Dieng dong del, 

Dieng dong del

Father Jacob

Father Jacob
Father Jacob,

Wake up now

Wake up now,

Listen to the bell ring

Listen to the bell ring,

Ding dong del

Ding dong del!

Download the midi file of utata uJacobs here and let the learners sing along!

2. Another beautiful song that can be used for higher grades are a protest and funeral song named: Senzenina

This is a protest song and it is traditionally sung at funerals. It was important during the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. Senzenina means “What have we done” with the implication “what did we do to deserve this?” (Also spelled “senzeni na”). 

This songs is a good example of how you can incorporate History curriculum studies with isiXhosa curriculum studies, or teaching the isiXhosa class about culture during Apartheid movement. 

Senzenina MP3

Senzenina

(Zulu/Xhosa)

Senzenina
Sono sethu ubumnyama
Sono sethu yinyaniso
Sibulawayo
Mayibuye i Africa.

What Have We Done?

(English Translation)

What have we done?
Our sin is that we are black
Our sin is the truth
They are killing us
Let Africa return.

This song is considered to be in both the Zulu and Xhosa languages. I looked up the words to this song, and found some of them in a Zulu dictionary and some in a Xhosa dictionary.

“The Zulu and Xhosa languages are similar enough to be considered dialects of one language, but speakers of Zulu and Xhosa consider them to be separate languages.” 

(They are both Southeastern Bantu languages.)

Senzenina Reference

Tongue Twisters

Learners engage in a more practical / physical ice breaker. 

Learners are introduced to the tongue twister by the teacher only repeating it 2 times.

Learners make a circle and they are each expected to whisper the tongue twister to the classmate next to them (an old game of telephone). They will not be having the words of the tongue twister with them, so they will have to rely on recalling and listening. 

The idea is to see if the message, of the tongue twister still remains the same at the end of the circle than it started at the beginning of the circle. 

Learners are then exposed to the words and can then see the tongue twister. Learners learn the correct tongue twister and pronunciation by repeating it with the teacher. This way the children might learn it faster. 

Easy Tongue Twister for grades 8 and 9

"Ixhegu liqumuqethu liguqe ngamadolo"

"The oldman cut the grass while kneeling down"


Hard Tongue Twister for grades 10, 11 and 12


"izolo bendiye kulo Mabuqubuqwana, uMabuqubuqwana wandibuquza ngeqakath' enqayini ndaqond' uba 'nd'zo mbuquz' engandiqondi nje!"

"Yesterday I went to Mabuqubuqwana [person's name] and he clubbed me in the head; but I knew I will hit him back"


Listen to the Tongue Twister