Social interactions with educators and peers

easiest subjects” and Luyolo also felt that he persisted because of his career choices, he said “It is myself who is inspiring himself to remain doing the subject, because I saw many opportunities in Physical Sciences, without even going to the engineering I can do even more”. Two of these four were not happy about the role of their educators, Thulisile was very angry about the role played by her teacher, she said:

“I actually got support from my family, I can‟t talk much about my teacher.

What made me remain is the support I got from my family, from my cousin, from my friend. I want to be a pharmacist but I can‟t say much about my teacher. I am sorry”

Thulisile was supported by an angry Nomawethu who said “She encouraged very little and made threats that if you don‟t know then you won‟t know science”.

Four participants were really frustrated by what goes on in their Physical Sciences classrooms. Vuyani said there is a lot of disturbance coming from other learners. He said

“Some learners disturb and teachers throw them outside. I don‟t want to be a science teacher, it is very complicated working with children”, Yanga is another participant who was frustrated by his fellow classmates‟ behaviour in the classroom; he said “I have a problem with other learners in my class. They are jealous. If I make a mistake they laugh at me. It‟s not good at all. At Go for Gold and Kutlwanong they make it personal competition”. Sisipho also expressed frustration during lessons; she said “Lessons are frustrating sometimes, when you don‟t understand.”

4.8.2 Social and affective experiences with educator

Eight participants were happy to report about the positive social and affective experiences with their Physical Sciences educators. Most of these participants saw the value of an approachable educator who can give advice and career guidance. Most of the participants really liked being cared for by an educator. Luyolo stated that “They are good I can say can approach them anytime. My Physical Sciences teacher means to me a lot as a parent, he advises me to do things that are good in life”. His sentiments were echoed by Fezile who said “She is approachable and understands our problems. She is like a mother to us. She makes us feel special. She understands our problems and helps us”. Nosipho weighed in with her views on the educator who gets to know them personally, she said “She is approachable and understand learners and even discussing personal things”. Vuyani highlighted the importance of educators treating every learner fairly without discriminating learners in terms of ability of learner. He said “My teacher is quite friendly; they do not discriminate even if you don‟t pass the subject”. On the other hand, Noluyanda emphasised on the importance of being able to approach the educator outside the classroom in order to get personal attention, she said “I am able to approach them. Sometimes if I didn‟t understand something in class I go to him at break time and he will explain to me”. Yanga expressed his relief, because his educator supported him in times of difficulty, he said

“Learners are harassing every time. My teacher noticed and asked me to be calm. I don‟t give these learners attention”. It seems that Yanga is being targeted by other learners in his class, because, according to him, they are jealous of his top achievement.

From the results, the educators from Schools A and B are very approachable and help to enrich learners‟ experiences. However, not the same can be said about the educator in School C. The participants in School C reported bad experiences on social and affective interactions with their educator. Afika said that he wants to keep his distance from his educator by saying “I was not very close to my Physical Sciences teacher. Her characteristics make us keep our distance”. Khaya concurs with Afika by exclaiming “The

new teacher is more approachable, the older teacher, I cannot say much about her, there was no connection between her and the students. The subject was boring and frustrating”.

Their two other classmates were a little kinder in their comments. Thulisile had reported bad experiences with her educator in the classroom, but felt that her educator was different outside the classroom. She said

“My Physical Sciences teacher, despite that she is teaching me Physical Sciences, outside the class she gives me motivation that I didn‟t expect to hear from her. Sometimes she approached me alone and told me about how to succeed. It was different from classroom, because in the classroom she is someone else, outside she is friendly. The class had an effect on her, she was too moody.”

Nomawethu concurs with Thulisile that the educator is approachable outside the class but still does not answer their questions. She said “She is easy to approach but will always say, come the following day for your answer”.

4.8.3 Feelings during lessons

Seven participants said they had positive feelings during lessons. They gave various reasons as to why they had those feelings. Vuyani said he was inspired because the lessons were well prepared. He said “the Lessons are well prepared and feeling inspired, I am getting more about Physical Sciences”. Luyolo‟s positive feelings were due to the fact that he understands the subject, he said “I feel quite good because I do understand physics, I do give attention”. He did not say whether it was because of the educator that he understands.

Siphosethu said she was quite relaxed during lessons, she exclaimed that “I feel more relaxed, and I have a high self-esteem and believe in myself because it is about the subject I would like to do the most”. Fezile felt happy because his teacher explained well, he quipped by saying “She explains and makes us happy and we learn new things”. Sisipho said she felt

„calm and confident‟ while Nosipho said “I feel special and blessed. I feel I have confidence”.

Three participants expressed mixed feelings during Physical Sciences lessons. Noluyanda said how she feels during lessons depends on the topic, she said “Depends on the topic.

Momentum, I don‟t like it. The teacher moved too fast and I didn‟t understand it”. Afika said he felt “Sometimes motivated, sometimes frustrated”. Thulisile was not happy because

“Lessons are frustrating and not well prepared. Learners are not disciplined, too much noise”.

Yanga on the other hand feels inspired by the educator but his classmates make it difficult for him.

Two participants expressed mixed negative feelings during lessons. Khaya said “I feel frustrated and lost”, while Nomawethu put it bluntly by saying “Physical Sciences lessons are boring”. Yanga was another participant who expressed positive feelings during lessons.

4.8.4 Educator effects on academic experiences

With regards to the educator effects on academic experiences, some participants expressed that they had mostly positive experiences during lessons. Siphosethu said “Lessons are motivating”, she was supported by Fezile who said “Classes are effective and motivate me. I want to learn more”. Sisipho replied in support of Fezile and Siphosethu by saying “I feel inspired. She understands other people”. Nomawethu said she enjoys Physical Sciences because she now understands it.

Other participants expressed mixed feelings. Vuyani said “Depends on the chapters, like chemical equilibrium I would like to leave” while Luyolo said “Sometimes they are effective, sometimes they are not because things we cannot understand at the first time”. Noluyanda concurred with them that the lessons invoke different feelings. Noluyanda said “Mostly, the lessons are effective, there are learners who disrupt classes but usually the teacher chucks them out”. Afika expressed similar sentiments by saying “I gain a lot in Physical Sciences class even though there are disruptions. I always feel motivated” and Nosipho said

“Motivating, calming and I like to be in Physical Sciences class big time. Sometimes the lessons are effective”.

Three participants expressed negative academic experiences in their Physical Sciences.

Yanga had a one word answer for this question, he said “Frustrating”. Khaya was more open when answering this question, he said “We have not been learning a lot because of the changes with the teachers. The teaching styles are different and there is no continuity, we carry on our own without our teacher”. Thulisile said “I was normal; I expected nothing much and nothing less. I expected her to do things as she normally does nothing exciting, everything average”.

When asked about any unsuccessful interactions with their educators, only three two participants said they have had unsuccessful interactions and one participant didn‟t want to answer the question. Nomawethu said “Skip the question”.

4.8.5 Feelings when working with Physical Sciences educator

When asked about how they feel when they are working with their educators, the participants expressed various feelings. When I was explicating these responses, I categorised them into three categories, viz, (i) positive feelings, (ii) mixed feelings and (iii) negative feelings. I then took the keywords from each of the participants‟ responses and sorted them into a table (see Table 4.5). This table helped me to write about how they feel.

Table 4.7: Keywords used to describe feelings when working with Physical Sciences educator

Positive feelings Mixed feelings Negative feelings

Like; friendly Happy Relaxed Inspired (twice) Grateful: thankful Confident

Like, moody Some educators are better

Scared

Nothing less, nothing more

Eight participants described working with their educators with positive feelings and emotions.

The findings suggested that they enjoyed working with their educators. Vuyani said “I like working with my science teacher, he is friendly”. Luyolo agreed with Vuyani by saying “I feel quite good because I was happy with them and even now I am happy”. Some participants preferred working with their Grade 10 educators to their Grade 12 educators; Noluyanda said

“I feel happy working with my grade 10 teacher”. Some participants portrayed feelings of relaxation and inspiration. Siphosethu said “I feel relaxed when I work with him” and Fezile said “She inspires confidence in me and always helps me”. Sisipho echoed Fezile‟s sentiments by saying “She inspires confidence in me and always helps me”. Another participant expressed sentiments of gratitude. Nosipho said “I feel grateful and thankful to her and encouraged by her”. Afika said “I was confident working with her”.

One participant expressed mixed feelings about working with the Physical Sciences Educator. Nomawethu said “I like working with her, but she could have done more and be more approachable. She was moody, she is like the weather”. This reflected unpredictability of her teacher.

Three participants expressed negative feelings about working with their Physical Sciences educator. Yanga felt that some teachers are better. Yanga has been exposed to extra tuition at Go For Gold. Khaya said “I was scared of our teacher, she was bitter, she answers harshly”. Thulisile was equally not happy about working with her teacher, she said “I was normal, I expected nothing much and nothing less. I expected her to do things as she normally does, nothing exciting, everything average”