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FLORENCE KISIRKOI Post 1

• 23 April 2021, 10:44 PM

Language Policy


Language policy in some multilingual countries state that language of instruction in early school years is language of the school's catchment area for smooth transition from home to school. Then the official language such as English is the language of instruction in higher classes.

However, many parents  prefer schools where their children learn in English the moment they step into school and the best preschool  is where children speak  English fluently regardless the fact that at home the language spoken is different. Teachers find themselves in a challenging situation.

Based on your understanding of role of language in learning and faced with the scenario here, contribute your views.

  1. What advice would you give the policy makers? Why?
  2. What advice would you give the parents? Why?
  3. . What advice would you give teachers? Why?

Rose Nyambura Post 2 in reply to 1

• 24 April 2021, 11:09 PM

1. Language of instruction in early school years should be the language of the school's catchment area for smooth transition from home to school hence all teachers in pre-schools should be from local area and must teach English as a subject just like any other. Produce learning materials in the local language for different parts of the country. English should become a language of instruction in middle level/upper primary classes (preferably from Grade 4 where it is assumed that the children can by now understand and communicate in the English language as they continue to master it).

2. Parents, be proud of your first/native language, teach your children and let them master it before you introduce them to any other languages (official or national language- great challenge in cosmopolitan urban centres/towns). This creates a sense of belonging and a child identifies with his roots and will be ready to learn new things once out of the nest. I must admit this is practically challenging. 

3. If the children cannot learn in a language that you are using to teach them, then you must teach them in a language that they understand so that they can learn. Otherwise you are wasting your time and energy and will never realize the desired learning outcomes. 


Savitri Emmanuel Post 3 in reply to 2

• 26 April 2021, 2:33 PM

This is excellent Rose. I must say that I agree with you on your responses to all three questions. Great job!

FLORENCE KISIRKOI Post 4 in reply to 3

• 26 April 2021, 9:17 PM

I also do agree with you and Rose Savitri. What doothers think?

FLORENCE Kamonjo Post 5 in reply to 2

• 3 May 2021, 2:40 PM

I agree with you Rose but add where applicable to the third point. A teacher may not be conversant with the language of the learner. :-)

Hardia Mohammed Post 6 in reply to 2

• 3 May 2021, 5:28 PM

Great points. 

Shaffina Ahamad-Hamid Post 7 in reply to 6

• 7 May 2021, 1:01 PM

Great ideas! I believe that especially in pre=schools children's home language should be accepted and valued. It is more of the ways they can an easy transition from home to school.

Michelle Robinson Post 10 in reply to 2

• 17 June 2021, 5:25 PM

Thank you for sharing Rose, I especially appreciated and benefited from the advise you would give to parents. Excellent response

John Mtenje Post 8 in reply to 1

• 21 May 2021, 10:31 AM

Policy makers

they need to ensure that the lower classes should use the local language and adapt the curriculum to accommodate such. the main reason would be for maximum learning opportunities for the learners

teachers

encourage teaching in local language in lower classes or at least in a common language of the learners. this would ensure learners have lots of knowledge and skills gained. use the second language as a subject only if offered in lower classes

parents

they need to be proud of learners achievements and support their learners to learn in the local language. this would help learners to be interested in school

Kim Sammy-Yetsam Post 9 in reply to 1

• 17 June 2021, 5:24 PM

This may be challenging to implement in my country as we are predominantly english speaking.  In recent times we have incurred an influx of spanish speaking immigrants from a nearby country fleeing due to political unrest and instability.  We now have a lot of spanish speaking people in our communities with a lot of language barriers

1. Policy makers can mandate a bilingual signage of major areas such as street signs government offices entrances/ exits directions  in the malls groceries and even subtitles during news broadcasts

2. parents should expose children to both languages from early for early transition and learning of the languages

3. spanish should be an additional  requirement for teaching and not just an asset.  If not applicable and accessible training should be made available for teachers to learn it, practice it and teachwith it