Bank Windhoek has sponsored the Idiom Competition for Afrikaans secondary school learners for the 14th consecutive year. Learners from 18 competing schools will challenge each other in various categories, which include completing Afrikaans idioms, forming new idioms with key words and a rapid fire section where the meaning of idioms must be given.
The aim of the competition is to promote the Afrikaans language and to familiarise school learners with Afrikaans expressions and idioms. There are more than 8 000 idioms and expressions in the Afrikaans language, which the learners have to memorise and use correctly during the competition. The competition will test and expand the learners’ knowledge on idioms.
The use of idioms in examinations is to the advantage of learners who will most likely earn extra marks if idioms are used in their written work.
Schools are allowed to enter the competition with a team of two learners per school, who will then challenge each other on a knock-out-round radio programme hosted on NBC’s Hartklop FM. The programme is being broadcast every Wednesday afternoon at 14:15 and will run until mid-October 2018, when the final teams will compete for the title trophy.
“The winners will receive a Bank Windhoek trophy that will remain at the school for a year, as well as cash prizes sponsored by Bank Windhoek for the quarter, semi and final rounds. Each school as well as the two learners will also receive a trophy and certificates for their participation in the Idiom Competition from the ATKV at the Pluimpie Gala Evening”, said Chairperson of ATKV Namibia, Leoni van Rensburg.
“Idioms are important in any language. They are used in everyday language and in formal and informal conversations. We are certain that the participating learners from various schools, will benefit from this initiative,” said Bank Windhoek’s Coordinator of Sponsorships and Events, Suzette January.