Languages in Cape Town
FAQs

Where to learn languages in Cape Town? Which languages are spoken in the Mother City? What is South African Slang? Which languages are taught in Cape Town schools?

The most common languages in Cape Town are English, Afrikaans and Xhosa. Afrikaans is the most widely spoken home language with more than 40% of Capetonians speaking the language. Afrikaans is one of the eleven official languages of South Africa. English is widely spoken and most of the local African population speaks Xhosa. English is spoken by most of the locals, however Afrikaans is still the lingua franca in the Northern suburbs and on the Cape Flats. 

Today many foreigners are living in the Mother City too, so you will hear a multitude of foreign languages in the streets and shopping centres. There is historically a large German, French, Dutch and Portuguese community in the Cape and many Italians, Russians and Asians have found their new home in South Africa’s Mother City. More about dominant languages and language use in South Africa here.

What is South African Slang?

There are quite a few differences between South African English and British or American English as there are many influences from the Afrikaans and the local languages in the English which is spoken here. There are also a lot of typical South African expressions which you will come across.

So it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with simple words like 'robot', which stands for 'traffic lights', and 'braai' (others call it 'barbecue') to find you ways around in the Mother City and enjoy your stay in South Africa. Find the most important South African Slang words on our special page here.

Foreign Languages in Cape Town Schools

The South African public schools and most of the Cape Town private schools teach according to the South African curriculum. So in South Africa's schools the final high school exam after grade 12, the South African Matric, will be written in two languages usually English and Afrikaans, one as home language the other as first additional language. 

Some private schools as well as the international schools in Cape Town are teaching according to the British, American, German or French curriculum and offer other languages in Cape Town as subjects during class time. Make sure to check your language requirements for later studies to confirm the language requirements when intending to study further overseas at a later stage. In 2016, Mandarin chinese was introduced into the SA curriculum as an additional language as well.

If you are expats and live in South Africa for less than 5 years before the matric exam, your child can be exempted from taking the exam in Afrikaans as first additional language and can choose another language which is accepted by the SA examinations board Umalusi. Please always check with the Department of Education and your school to be sure about the current regulations. For the exemption regulations also refer to this letter.

It is not common to have other foreign languages than the South African languages taught at the local schools, even internationally popular languages like French, Spanish or German are not taught in many private schools at a regular basis. 

Even most of the private schools in Cape Town do not have foreign language departments in their schools as you may know them from overseas and often parents are asked to find a teacher for their child to have additional languages taught at school or home at a recognized level and also to get accepted later to have additional language skills tested at Matric level. More interesting language facts for South Africa

Language Schools in Cape Town

Cape Town is a popular destination for language studies and choosen as a favourite language travel destination by people from all over the world. Some choose to come here to combine their language studies with some adventure travel, safari travel or homestays to get more insights into the Cape Town life.

There are several language schools in Cape Town catering for tourists, business travelers and gap year students offering language classes for exam preparation, business English or immersion courses and some even add on work experience programs. And learning foreign languages in Cape Town can be a lot of fun too. So have a look at my listings below.

Learn English in Capetown

The different language schools in Cape Town offer all kinds of language learning experiences. The Cape Town language schools are located mainly in the city centre and Sea Point, but you will find some of them in the suburbs too. Class sizes and course prices vary, so you should check out the schools to suit your own requirements.

Many of the longer established schools are members of the Education South Africa (EDUSA). Find more information and links to schools for learning languages in Cape Town here.

Learn Afrikaans in Cape Town

Afrikaans being the most commonly used official language in South Africa next to English which is taught to children in all schools. To complete the South African High School's 'Senior Certificate' or 'Matric', the children usually have to take exams in English and Afrikaans.

Learning Afrikaans will give you more insight into the life of the locals and as the language is a mixture of Dutch, English and German vocabulary with some Malay and African languages strewn in, and thus it is quite easy to learn for people knowing any of these languages already.

Learn Xhosa in Cape Town

Xhosa classes are quite popular in Cape Town too, as Xhosa is one of South African official languages and the most used indigenous language in the Western Cape, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape, the former Transkei and Ciskei, where the Xhosa people originally come from.

Xhosa is spoken widely by local staff and personnel. So it is always a good idea to learn some basics of Xhosa to understand the linguistic and cultural upbringing too. In adult education language classes, the cultural component of language learning usually plays a big role. And you will be surprised how many things you will learn about the right approach, cultural concepts and intercultural communication.

Cape Town primary schools teach Xhosa, but in higher classes Xhosa is often only offered to pupils as a complimentary subject. For Xhosa lessons please check out this Xhosa language school.

Other Cape Town language courses

When you want to learn other foreign languages in Cape Town, whether for your job or to get private language tuition for your children or for travel purposes, you might consider the following language schools and courses in Cape Town. 

• Learn Dutch in Cape Town: Nederlandse School Kaapstad in Pinelands, Tel: 021-461 2446. More on Dutch in Cape Town

• Learn German in Cape Town: DSK German Internat. School in Tamboerskloof, Tel: 021-480-3835 or at the Goethe-Institut in Gardens, Tel: 021-465 1317. More on German Cape Town

• Learn French in Cape Town: Alliance Francaise in the CBD, Tel: 021-423 5699. More on French in Cape Town

• Learn Italian in Cape Town: Dante Aligheri / Italian School of Cape Town in Gardens, Tel: 021-465 8261

• Learn Japanese in Cape Town: Nihongo Kai Japanese School in Milnerton, Tel: 021-5518336

• Learn Spanish in Cape Town: Alliance Francaise in the CBD, Tel: 021-423 5699. Find more Spanish language schools here.

• Learn Portuguese in Cape Town: Alliance Francaise in the CBD, Tel: 021-423 5699

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