Award-winning Primary School Keetmanshoop teacher Jeanine Burger has turned her love for music into a classroom tool to improve learners' English reading.

NBC had a one-on-one with her to unpack the work behind the award and its impact on her learners.

Burger, a Grade 4 English teacher with 13 years of teaching experience, was awarded the Innovate Language Luminary Award earlier this year.

The award recognised her for using music and creative ideas to help learners improve their English, reading, pronunciation, vocabulary and confidence.

Burger pointed out that transitioning from Grade 3 to 4 can be a difficult adjustment for learners as they move into a more English-focused environment.

“We really do have a problem with these learners, where everything changes from the home language to English. They struggle with the transition, and at times I feel that I have too many learners in the classroom, which makes it difficult to give each learner the attention they need. At some stages, I feel like they are failing. However, this year, I have three to four learners who failed last year, and they are doing so much better this year.”

A musician herself, Burger decided to turn music into a class lesson tool to help learners remember and pronounce words.

“The music helps them remember better and improves their confidence. As I mentioned, I have been using music my whole life. So, I don’t think there is one specific moment, but there are certain components of the syllabus where I have realised the children have scored five out of five or ten out of ten on a particular component.”

Following improved learner reading results, Burger has also incorporated other creative and engaging tools, such as games, to strengthen their language skills.