AFL2603 Assignment
1 Semester 2 2024
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS
[School]
[Course title]
,AFL2603 Assignment 1 Semester 2 2024
1.1 How did people in the olden days’ prior formal education, transfer knowledge and skills to
their children? Support your answers with relevant examples. (15)
1.2 Folksongs and praise poems are always regarded as old fashioned and outdated. Do you
agree or disagree with this statement? Support your answers with relevant examples. (10) /25/
1.1 Knowledge and Skill Transfer in Olden Days
Before the establishment of formal education systems, people in ancient times used various
methods to transfer knowledge and skills to their children. These methods were often deeply
rooted in cultural practices, traditions, and everyday life.
1. Oral Tradition: One of the most common ways knowledge was passed down was
through oral tradition. Elders, parents, and community leaders would tell stories, myths,
and legends that contained moral lessons, historical information, and practical
knowledge. For example, in African societies, the Griot, a storyteller and historian,
played a crucial role in preserving and transmitting the history, genealogies, and cultural
norms of the community.
2. Apprenticeship: Children often learned specific skills by working alongside a master in
a particular trade. This form of hands-on learning was common in many cultures. For
instance, in medieval Europe, young boys were apprenticed to craftsmen such as
blacksmiths, carpenters, and tailors, where they learned the trade through direct
experience and instruction from their masters.
, 3. Rites of Passage: Many societies had formalized rites of passage that marked the
transition from childhood to adulthood. These rituals often involved the transmission of
important cultural knowledge, survival skills, and social responsibilities. Among the
Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania, boys undergo a series of rites, including
circumcision, to prepare them for adulthood, during which they learn about courage,
responsibility, and tribal laws.
4. Community Involvement: Knowledge and skills were also passed down through
communal activities. Festivals, communal work (such as farming or building), and
religious ceremonies provided opportunities for children to learn by observation and
participation. For example, in Native American tribes, children learned hunting, fishing,
and gathering skills by accompanying adults during these activities.
5. Folklore and Proverbs: Wisdom was often encapsulated in folklore, proverbs, and
sayings that were easy to remember and pass on. These forms of knowledge transmission
were common in many cultures. For instance, African proverbs like "It takes a village to
raise a child" conveyed important social values about community involvement in
upbringing and education.
1.2 Evaluation of Folksongs and Praise Poems
The statement that folksongs and praise poems are old-fashioned and outdated is a matter of
perspective and context. There are valid arguments both for and against this view.
Agreeing with the Statement:
• Modernization and Western Influence: With the advent of modernization and the
influence of Western culture, many traditional forms of expression, such as folksongs and
1 Semester 2 2024
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS
[School]
[Course title]
,AFL2603 Assignment 1 Semester 2 2024
1.1 How did people in the olden days’ prior formal education, transfer knowledge and skills to
their children? Support your answers with relevant examples. (15)
1.2 Folksongs and praise poems are always regarded as old fashioned and outdated. Do you
agree or disagree with this statement? Support your answers with relevant examples. (10) /25/
1.1 Knowledge and Skill Transfer in Olden Days
Before the establishment of formal education systems, people in ancient times used various
methods to transfer knowledge and skills to their children. These methods were often deeply
rooted in cultural practices, traditions, and everyday life.
1. Oral Tradition: One of the most common ways knowledge was passed down was
through oral tradition. Elders, parents, and community leaders would tell stories, myths,
and legends that contained moral lessons, historical information, and practical
knowledge. For example, in African societies, the Griot, a storyteller and historian,
played a crucial role in preserving and transmitting the history, genealogies, and cultural
norms of the community.
2. Apprenticeship: Children often learned specific skills by working alongside a master in
a particular trade. This form of hands-on learning was common in many cultures. For
instance, in medieval Europe, young boys were apprenticed to craftsmen such as
blacksmiths, carpenters, and tailors, where they learned the trade through direct
experience and instruction from their masters.
, 3. Rites of Passage: Many societies had formalized rites of passage that marked the
transition from childhood to adulthood. These rituals often involved the transmission of
important cultural knowledge, survival skills, and social responsibilities. Among the
Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania, boys undergo a series of rites, including
circumcision, to prepare them for adulthood, during which they learn about courage,
responsibility, and tribal laws.
4. Community Involvement: Knowledge and skills were also passed down through
communal activities. Festivals, communal work (such as farming or building), and
religious ceremonies provided opportunities for children to learn by observation and
participation. For example, in Native American tribes, children learned hunting, fishing,
and gathering skills by accompanying adults during these activities.
5. Folklore and Proverbs: Wisdom was often encapsulated in folklore, proverbs, and
sayings that were easy to remember and pass on. These forms of knowledge transmission
were common in many cultures. For instance, African proverbs like "It takes a village to
raise a child" conveyed important social values about community involvement in
upbringing and education.
1.2 Evaluation of Folksongs and Praise Poems
The statement that folksongs and praise poems are old-fashioned and outdated is a matter of
perspective and context. There are valid arguments both for and against this view.
Agreeing with the Statement:
• Modernization and Western Influence: With the advent of modernization and the
influence of Western culture, many traditional forms of expression, such as folksongs and
