English and Afrikaans for adults

In many South African workplaces, several languages are spoken every day. For adults who arrive from another country, or who grew up speaking a different language at home, English or Afrikaans can help at work and in everyday life, for example when dealing with a bank or a doctor, or helping with a child’s homework.

Amanda Ceglowski has taught English and Afrikaans as additional languages to adults, including both South African and foreign workers, call centre operators and security staff. Teaching English and Afrikaans as second languages was one of the areas she specialised in during her postgraduate studies.

Lessons for adults

Adult lessons are built around why the learner needs the language, for example to run a meeting, read a contract, serve customers or talk to neighbours. They can cover:

• Speaking and listening, with plenty of practice.
• Workplace language, including the vocabulary, phrases and conventions of the learner’s field.
• Reading and writing, from everyday messages and emails to formal documents.
• Grammar and pronunciation, taught in context.

English as an additional language

English is the main language of business in South Africa, but it is not the language most South Africans grow up with. In the 2022 Census, about 8.7% of the population said they speak English at home. Many adults therefore work in English every day without having had the chance to learn it thoroughly. Literacy is a further barrier for some: the 2025 General Household Survey found about 3.5 million adults who had not completed Grade 7, the measure Stats SA uses for functional illiteracy.

Employers face a related need when they employ or work with foreign nationals, who may need a sound grounding in English to communicate with colleagues, clients and suppliers.

Amanda teaches English to adults at different levels, from everyday spoken English to the reading and writing needed at work, such as emails, reports and formal documents. Lessons can be arranged for individuals or for groups of colleagues.

Afrikaans for newcomers

Afrikaans is widely spoken across South Africa, and in some regions and industries it is the main language of business. It is often described as one of the easier languages for English speakers to learn: its grammar is relatively regular, and it shares a good deal of vocabulary with English through their common Germanic roots.

Amanda’s Afrikaans courses are designed for complete beginners, including immigrants to South Africa, as well as for adults who studied Afrikaans at school and want to improve it.

Groups for colleagues

Employers can arrange group classes for colleagues who need the same language at work, and colleagues can then practise with each other between lessons. Individual lessons are also available, in Hillcrest or online, for adults who prefer to learn privately or need a tailored programme.