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Lily
United Kingdom
422 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Oct 2010 : 18:00:45
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If we look at this from a purely educational point of view then all the evidence does suggest that children learn quicker if taught in their own language (especially true when young - at nursery and the first year or so of Primary).
So - I strongly believe that - if it were possible - children should have the opportunity to begin their learning through their own language.
Of course- one of the first things you can teach them is English - but using their own language to explain and develop their skills.
With regards to books: a very interesting point. I am presuming (assuming!) that those who have been arguing for this for years will have thought about that and that they will have begun to write materials. far more problematic is that comunities are so diverse linguistically and teachers are often (as we've said before) poorly trained ......
I'm all for it ..... |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2010 : 18:12:35
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"Of course- one of the first things you can teach them is English"
Agreed, espicially if they only speak french 
seriously though, I really think that speaking and writing English will be a great advatage to kids from The Gambia,if you come from Senegal MAYBE,you should be taught french,being English I would think that |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 19 Oct 2010 18:16:49 |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2010 : 18:21:21
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Lily
I am not sure there is any materials for it. Even there are resource for linguistic in local languages, considering the limited resources for publishing for one language (English), how would they deal with publishing 5 different languages to have material for students? And imagine, diverse community has students with i.e. three languages, now they have one crowded class, how will they afford to have three different classroom with three different teachers? Many questions to answer. Can someone confirm about what was done for the planning? |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
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Momodou
Denmark
11640 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2010 : 19:04:03
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There is a book production unit under the ministry. Since adult education is nothing new I have no doubt there are teaching materials out there. There is no invention of the wheel here because they use Roman alphabets with three additional letters.
In fact we have the US Peace Corps learning the local languages within a short period. They communicate with local communities fluently. Of course they are no tourists and adapt quickly.
Here are some Wolof and Mandinka Resources by the Peace Corps.
http://resourcepage.gambia.dk/langabot.htm
I am sure this issue is well thought by the department of Education because it is something they had been working on for decades.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Lily
United Kingdom
422 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2010 : 21:01:23
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I do think there is the ability - and the resources - to produce materials. They don't need to be fancy - just straightforward readers. There is an educational publisher attached to the university - there are some really good, forward thinking teacher trainers who teach both at Gambia College and on the University 'masters in education' programme - I am sure that they do know what they are doing and I know they have been working towards this.
Toubob - yes French - but later, English needs to come first (not because I am English (well I'm actually Scottish!)) but becuase English is the unifying language of the country ...
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2010 : 22:46:13
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Momodou
What are the 3 letters and are they the same across all Gambian languages?
We are doing children a disservice if they don't learn formal language and written language in the modern world.
In UK lots of working class children have 'street language', but to do well in exams and careers they need to learn formal written and spoken english ie 'queens english'.
As a socialist I might wish this was not the case. But if I dont equip children with this ability I am limiting their life expectations.
I have learnt how to write formal essays, but when I go home to Leicester I soon revert to local expression! |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2010 : 23:00:14
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Yes I agree with Mommodou there will be really no problem accessing or creating educational resources for this National Language Pilot. Not only does Gambia have its own institutions. They also have links with international universities that already teach National Languages abroad. One thing Gambia is rich in is language. Geographically a good grasp of National Languages, English and French are important in today's Gambia. Although English maybe the European Official Language, French is the offficial European language for Gambia's neighbours. Therefore as Geographically Gambia is an independent enclave of Senegal, French too is also a unifying language amongst the people of the region as it also depends on the re-export trade from the Sub-region, not forgtting there are family links that transcends these Europen defined borders
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
Edited by - Sister Omega on 19 Oct 2010 23:00:59 |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2010 : 23:07:02
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Gambiabev, please.
"As a socialist I might wish this was not the case. But if I dont equip children with this ability I am limiting their life expectations."
You have a choice, if you want to be a socialist that's OK,
Remember, keep the red flag flying high.
And
The workers united shall never be defeated, everybody now.....The workers.............. and so on
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 19 Oct 2010 23:37:43 |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2010 : 23:32:39
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Gambiabev
Additional letters is not about modern world, formality or informality. There may be additional letters because, some languages' sound doesn't work with English alphabet. It requires additional letters for specific sound. They will have to have different sets of Alphabet for i.e. Mandinka and English. Same situation for French, German, Turkish etc. French languages too have additional letters, English does not have. |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
Edited by - turk on 20 Oct 2010 02:35:12 |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2010 : 23:40:45
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quote:
Originally posted by Lily
Yes of course,I understand that, my earlier posting was made rather
Toubob - yes French - but later, English needs to come first (not because I am English (well I'm actually Scottish!)) but becuase English is the unifying language of the country ...
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2010 : 23:41:49
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As a Teacher who teaches English Speakers of Other Languages English those who are literate in their own languages excel quicker at English far quicker than those who are illiterate. If you are literate in any language you have already developed strategies to learn another language, and are able to use your first language as a reference to enable you to fully comprehend the meanings or concepts of words to enable you to communicate more effectively. With more languages available on google translate or translator machines technology is a useful tool to enable ESOL speakers to learn more quickly and fair much better as independent learners.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
Edited by - Sister Omega on 19 Oct 2010 23:42:47 |
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 20 Oct 2010 : 01:48:50
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quote:
Originally posted by Prince
...the evidence given was purely from "social" scientists, who are usually poor, dogmatic and waste tons of time on counterproductive ...
Please explain the above for us who do not know.
My question to the skeptic is; would you send your child out in the world with the best tool or a broken tool.
The question of which language the colonies should be educated in has been lingering since colonialism itself was under construction. It is not a Pan Africanist, or Marxist, or Socialist idea as some may want us to believe. It is a genuine concern that has engaged great minds for a very long time and it continues to engage nations.
A couple of years ago there was an outcry from EU translators that their job would be easier if member states speak their national languages. That it would be much better if representatives having English as a second language spoke their national languages for the sake of clarity. The common sense or rationale here is that it is more productive to speak ones national language and minimize the risk of being misunderstood in matters of grave importance, like ministerial meetings, sessions, and other important conventions than dwelling in the formality of speaking English (a second language).
The idea of integrating national languages into the educational system is an historical "education policy" that has for the first time turned focus inwards, "Développement Endogène", a commendable insight. No one in his right mind would think it would be easy to implement or maintain such a bold project but the argument of price is nothing but an argument of resistance that did not heed to the priceless long-term benefits.
Momodou, there are many research publications in support of the fact. The arguments of limited resources, lack of educational material(s) are in themselves Europhonic in substance, perception and worldview. I refer the skeptics to previous discussions on the subject.
Yes, it would not be easy but "the early birds pick the fattest worms".
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Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
Edited by - Janko on 20 Oct 2010 01:51:31 |
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 11 Feb 2011 : 16:33:55
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British Academy
Language matters more and more
On Wednesday 9 February, the British Academy Policy Centre launched its latest Position Statement, Language matters more and more.
The British Academy has for some time been concerned that fewer and fewer students are studying languages at school or at university. Given the interconnectedness between language learning at all levels (from primary, secondary and tertiary levels), language research, teacher training, and wider intercultural understandings, the Academy believes that this decline is damaging the whole education system. Our Language Matters report (published last year) warned of the damaging impact on universities, the skills base of UK citizens, and the UK’s future international competitiveness. Language matters more and more will make recommendations on how the higher education sector itself can incentivise and increase language take-up at both school and university levels, whilst building the capacity of the UK’s knowledge economy to meet national and international challenges.
Language matters more and more was launched at a special event on 9 February 2011 by the British Academy Policy Centre, bringing together experts to discuss their different perspectives, and the action that needs to be taken to promote and incentivise the learning of foreign languages both at school and at university......
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th e va l u e o f l a n g uag e l e a r nIn g
12. Language learning has significant benefits for the development of the abilities of individuals. In addition, the value of education and skills, including languages, becomes all the more important in turbulent times. The necessity for UK students to compete within a global economy requires us to exploit to the full the advantages that lie at the heart of a robust HE system. We can no longer assume that English is the global language par excellence – 75% of the world’s population do not speak English as their first language. For example, it has been estimated that within 20 years most pages on the internet will be in Chinese. And the proportion of internet usage conducted in English is already on the decline, falling from 51 per cent to 29 per cent between 2000 and 2009. Recent years have a seen a sharp rise in both the publication and citation rates of scientific papers authored by Asian researchers. If the global centre of gravity for scientific research shifts eastwards, there is no guarantee that English will be the preferred language ........... |
Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 11 Feb 2011 : 17:42:19
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Janko
Are you saying Gambia should scrap the idea of teaching local languages and start teaching Chinese?
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diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 11 Feb 2011 : 17:58:03
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quote:
Originally posted by turk
Janko
Are you saying Gambia should scrap the idea of teaching local languages and start teaching Chinese?
NO! |
Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
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