3.1 Use language to express opinions and feelings

English first additional language

Grade 7

Module 11

Use language to express opinions and feelings

Activity 1

Read the passage and follow the instructions:

The Khayelitsha Connection

A number of youngsters from the Western Cape will remember Friday, 3 May 2002 for a long time. On that day, 200 learners from 20 schools had the opportunity of communicating with Shuttleworth via an amateur radio station set up by Mr Gerald Klatzko, president of the South African Amateur Satellite Organization.

The learners got together in the Soloman Mahlangu Recreation Hall in Khayelitsha for the occasion. The International Space Station was in a position above the Western Cape for about 10 minutes, which made it possible for contact to be established for the duration of one “footstep”. A footstep is a period of 12-14 minutes during which the ISS is above a specific point on earth. Ms Miranda Myburgh, the programme manager of the University of Stellenbosch MTN Sunstep Programme, arranged this memorable occasion which would give all the learners who participated, an opportunity to get in touch with a modern role model who was a “super-inspiration” to them.

The Sunstep programme focuses on familiarizing learners with technology, maths and science. A total of 58 000 learners throughout South Africa are part of the programme.

(Source: Eikestadnuus , 26 April 2002)

1. Imagine that you are one of the learners who had the opportunity of speaking to Mark Shuttleworth while he was orbiting the earth. Write down two questions you would ask him.
2. What is an amateur , and what is the difference between an amateur and a professional ?
3. 1. An amateur is :
   2. A professional is:
4. What is the difference between “an inspiration” and “a super -inspiration”? Give two other words that contain the prefix “super” and talk about their meaning.
5. An inspiration is:
6. A super-inspiration is:
7. Two other words are________ and ___________ .

They mean ________ and _________ .

What is a “role model”? Do you have any role models? Get together with four or five of your classmates and talk about your role models. Give reasons why you have chosen them.

• A role model is:
• My reasons for choosing them:

On Thursday 25 April, when the Soyuz TM-34 was launched, learners at Bishops – Shuttleworth’s old school – sat with bated breath as they waited for the final countdown. All eyes were on the screen as the engines roared. At the moment of lift-off a collective sigh of relief could be heard, followed by an enthusiastic roar from all the boys.

“I think he is terribly brave. … I hope I will also be able to accomplish something like that one day,” said Jamie Stewart, a grade 8 learner.

Mark’s parents, his brothers, and some other family members were understandably anxious as they watched the launching. His father said that he could hardly bear it when he saw the flames under the rocket. His mother held her breath for so long that she must have set a new record. His brother Grant, an engineer and a singer in a rock band called Motion, had to fight back his tears. He and the rock group to which he belongs, had specially produced a song called “Dream” for the occasion. On the Wednesday just before the launching, when Mark received the CD with this song on it, he became quite emotional.