Multilingualism and Multiculturalism In a Drama Classroom

South Africa is a multiracial, multiethnic and multilingual country. During the dismantling of apartheid, schools opened doors to all race groups which introduced a cacophony of multi-isms into classrooms across the country; multiracialism, multilingualism, multiculturalism and so on resulting in a diversity of learners in one classroom, learning together. The situation presented a microcosmic environment of heterogeneity for teachers to grapple with as they delivered the curriculum. In some schools though, usually in rural areas, one can still find school environments that are predominantly homogeneous, but this reality only emphasises the divide between elite, challenging urban education and the lagging behind of under-resourced rural schools. The South African constitution (which has been lauded as one of the most liberal constitutions in the world) enshrines language rights. It recognises eleven official languages; Setswana, IsiZulu, IsiXhosa, TshiVenda, XiTsonga, IsiSwati, Sesotho, Sepedi, IsiNdebele, Afrikaans and English.