Helga Sykstus

Helga Sykstus serves as Lecturer and Coordinator at the Language Centre of Stellenbosch University, bringing 23 years of experience in teaching Afrikaans as an additional language. As the overhead coordinator of language development, she oversees academic reading and writing modules, particularly for legal students, and coordinates Afrikaans language acquisition modules for international students. Her expertise spans language teaching, language development, second-language acquisition, and technologies for language teaching and learning. Since 2000, she has been instrumental in developing academic literacy interventions, including a significant project focusing on second-language listening skills in the Faculty of Engineering. Her research and teaching methodology emphasize metacognitive strategies and active learning approaches, creating a positive and supportive environment for language learners while focusing on developing strategic and conscious readers.