Do you think a specific creole should/could be used as a medium of instruction in primary and/or secondary education? What are the advantages/disadvantages? Who would benefit?
After doing some research, I do think that creole languages can be used as a medium of instruction in education since such is the case of Haiti. Now, my problem comes when I’m unable to say if I’d really support such thing or not. It has some advantages like the fact of creating bilingual people or the chance to keep using it and teaching it to the young people in order not to make it become a death language. Nevertheless, the main problem of a creole is that it was born from the necessity of people from different places with different languages to communicate. This necessity took place in a specific context leaving in such “language” huge orthographic and vocabulary gaps. In order to be able to use it in education, you’d have to create first a document setting the bases of such things. What’s more, in most cases, creole speaking people think that creole is useless and that it’s linked with poverty so they don’t see the point of changing the whole educative system. As you can see, it’s possible, but now my question is: would it be worth the effort? I don’t really know!
I guess this issue is very difficult to answer. We could, naturally, find many advantages and disadvantages of adopting creoles as a first language (L1). I would have thought, that this decision has a great dependence on any given country's official stance towards any given Creole.
We could, perhaps, start by mentioning the obvious advantage of developing a common identity within a nation by using a creole, especially in primary education. Uniting through language, culture and history seems an effective way of maintaining a distinct identity, other than the former conqueror's.
However, a clear disadvantage happens in countries where the creole is not the only official language. In these circumstances, a creole may burden the fluency of the internal language of communication (English, French or Spanish , etc) and what is worse, of an internationally recognised language.
Moreover, the ghost of slavery still lurks when some creoles are used. This means, that they are still linked to a tragic near past, giving a low social esteem, lower social status and an image of a lack of education. We must not be hypocritical and ask ourselves: what is the case of Canada? Is it the same as the former colonies found in the Caribbean? Do we need two languages at the same level? Is Canada's success story a case of a country with higher income and resources? Or is it a case of finding no superstrate language, a situation whereby, both languages respect each other equally? I would think this is not the case of Haiti, other Caribbean colonies or even some equivalent nations found in Africa.
It is important to stress, that if a creole is officially recognised and it is used as a first language (although there might be another official language), it is of paramount importance for children, i.e., primary education, to proceed with initial education in the creole language, since children, when in the presence of family members or friends, will automatically switch to their vernaculars. There are some studies, that defend (Siegel 1999) that it is better to acquire first a good fluency of the first language (L1), then becoming easier to proceed to the second language (L2), rather than attempting to learn two vernaculars at the same time. Swain also supports this view, by saying that skills which are basic to academic progress are acquired in L1.
We also must consider the appearance of "mesolects", which are typical of pidgin/creole educational systems.
In conclusion, I would say, this issue is very much dependant on the creole situation within the country: is it official? Is it used with high esteem? Do people have a strong nationalistic feeling in that particular country? If the answers are positive, I would definitely proceed with including the creole language from primary school. If otherwise, it has a very weak postion, it might be worth while, taking the creole language only from secondary school onwards, as this language might hinder the advance of whatever language may be considered within that society as prestigious and officially recognised. In essence, it all comes to down to an economic matter, not a linguistic one. This is sad, but true.
First of all we should first take the power of language into account. A language creates identity, culture and other factors and at the same time it is influenced by them. This would be an argument supporting the idea of providing people with an education in their own language.
Another similar argument is the fact that speakers of a creole would not feel strange at school if thought in their own language. I'd like to make reference here to the book "No Turning Back" by Polingaysi Qoyawayma, a story telling us about how the Hopi people had to accept the white man's educational system and how they had to learn in English obligatory. The problem is that the white man rejected everything related to the Hopi reality.
On the other hand, learning in a creole language might lead to isolation. If the creole is spoken by a minority of speakers, being thought in that language in the detriment of the most extended one, might has as a result, a group of citizens not achieving a linguistic integration.
All in all, if we want speakers of creole feel integrated in a country where there are more languages, it would be a good idea to teach them in their own language (creole) together with the most extended language in the country. This way they will keep their language and, at the same time, they will be able to communicate with the rest of citizens.
I agree with Eli, the use of creole languages at school is elemental for the language to survive. That is something similar to what happen with Catalan: there are, or at least were, free courses to learn Catalan at Cataluña because in many degrees (if not all), the classes are given in Catalan. This helps to the language to survive, although at home many people use Spanish.
I would rather say that, in the case of Catalonia, the language "in danger" is Spanish :)
However, Catalan is far from being a creole language. Spanish, on the other hand is starting to be regarded as a second language in Catalonia, don't you think?
I think a specific creole should be token it to account in education, at school or secondary education, because it is a medium to keep languages alive. If students learn a creole, not as a L1 or L2 just to manage this language, they will be aware of the power of language and communication, the origins of some languages and that a creole is not just a language but a symbol of any culture too. I think that the only disadvantage could be that students got confused the creole with any other language they are learning at the same time. To conclude, I disagree with people who think that to study creole languages is a waste of time and that creoles have dead or they die quickly. And, who knows? Maybe future generations will continue speaking that creole which was learnt at school by their ancestors.
The student learns more, better and faster if you teach in a league they know. For example in Nicaragua students begin learning all from pre-school in their Creole language, such as stories, songs, games. After this stage, the Spanish language is introduced, oral use of Spanish is spreading in the second degree and students begin to write in Spanish in the third degree.
Students entering a bilingual maintenance in fifth and sixth grade, but 40% of students have trouble expressing themselves in Spanish; on the other hand, most teachers are more competent in their native language than Spanish or English.
Nicaragua students learn best through their Creole language than the Spanish or english, despite being introduced practically at an early age. So this is a clear example that the Creole can be used as a medium of instrument. I think it is important creole in education as the official language of the country.
I am not sure if the usage of a specific creole would be a good option for instructing in primary or secondary education. However, students would benefit from its usage because it could seem more familiar or functional than other languages. Also, they can communicate easily developing their skills without taking into account the presence of 'prescriptive' rules. However, if the teacher wants to focus on accuracy in other languages, it would be difficult to make them aware of other fixed constructions in terms of grammar, for example.
I agree with Nereida. I am not sure about how it will be the teaching by using a Creole because I have never had an experience like that but I suppose that if a Creole has emerged in a certain place at a certain time is because of the necessity that two or more groups of people have to communicate ideas or knowledge. So, it is obviously that, in a case in which a Creole is necessary to establish a relationship between all the members of a community, it will also be necessary to teach in a school because children are used to listen or speak it so; the learning skills could be developed faster than using another language.
After doing some research, I do think that creole languages can be used as a medium of instruction in education since such is the case of Haiti. Now, my problem comes when I’m unable to say if I’d really support such thing or not.
ResponderEliminarIt has some advantages like the fact of creating bilingual people or the chance to keep using it and teaching it to the young people in order not to make it become a death language.
Nevertheless, the main problem of a creole is that it was born from the necessity of people from different places with different languages to communicate. This necessity took place in a specific context leaving in such “language” huge orthographic and vocabulary gaps. In order to be able to use it in education, you’d have to create first a document setting the bases of such things. What’s more, in most cases, creole speaking people think that creole is useless and that it’s linked with poverty so they don’t see the point of changing the whole educative system.
As you can see, it’s possible, but now my question is: would it be worth the effort? I don’t really know!
I guess this issue is very difficult to answer. We could, naturally, find many advantages and disadvantages of adopting creoles as a first language (L1). I would have thought, that this decision has a great dependence on any given country's official stance towards any given Creole.
ResponderEliminarWe could, perhaps, start by mentioning the obvious advantage of developing a common identity within a nation by using a creole, especially in primary education. Uniting through language, culture and history seems an effective way of maintaining a distinct identity, other than the former conqueror's.
However, a clear disadvantage happens in countries where the creole is not the only official language. In these circumstances, a creole may burden the fluency of the internal language of communication (English, French or Spanish , etc) and what is worse, of an internationally recognised language.
Moreover, the ghost of slavery still lurks when some creoles are used. This means, that they are still linked to a tragic near past, giving a low social esteem, lower social status and an image of a lack of education. We must not be hypocritical and ask ourselves: what is the case of Canada? Is it the same as the former colonies found in the Caribbean? Do we need two languages at the same level? Is Canada's success story a case of a country with higher income and resources? Or is it a case of finding no superstrate language, a situation whereby, both languages respect each other equally? I would think this is not the case of Haiti, other Caribbean colonies or even some equivalent nations found in Africa.
It is important to stress, that if a creole is officially recognised and it is used as a first language (although there might be another official language), it is of paramount importance for children, i.e., primary education, to proceed with initial education in the creole language, since children, when in the presence of family members or friends, will automatically switch to their vernaculars. There are some studies, that defend (Siegel 1999) that it is better to acquire first a good fluency of the first language (L1), then becoming easier to proceed to the second language (L2), rather than attempting to learn two vernaculars at the same time. Swain also supports this view, by saying that skills which are basic to academic progress are acquired in L1.
We also must consider the appearance of "mesolects", which are typical of pidgin/creole educational systems.
In conclusion, I would say, this issue is very much dependant on the creole situation within the country: is it official? Is it used with high esteem? Do people have a strong nationalistic feeling in that particular country? If the answers are positive, I would definitely proceed with including the creole language from primary school. If otherwise, it has a very weak postion, it might be worth while, taking the creole language only from secondary school onwards, as this language might hinder the advance of whatever language may be considered within that society as prestigious and officially recognised. In essence, it all comes to down to an economic matter, not a linguistic one. This is sad, but true.
I agree with Pedro in some points.
ResponderEliminarFirst of all we should first take the power of language into account. A language creates identity, culture and other factors and at the same time it is influenced by them. This would be an argument supporting the idea of providing people with an education in their own language.
Another similar argument is the fact that speakers of a creole would not feel strange at school if thought in their own language. I'd like to make reference here to the book "No Turning Back" by Polingaysi Qoyawayma, a story telling us about how the Hopi people had to accept the white man's educational system and how they had to learn in English obligatory. The problem is that the white man rejected everything related to the Hopi reality.
On the other hand, learning in a creole language might lead to isolation. If the creole is spoken by a minority of speakers, being thought in that language in the detriment of the most extended one, might has as a result, a group of citizens not achieving a linguistic integration.
All in all, if we want speakers of creole feel integrated in a country where there are more languages, it would be a good idea to teach them in their own language (creole) together with the most extended language in the country. This way they will keep their language and, at the same time, they will be able to communicate with the rest of citizens.
I agree with Eli, the use of creole languages at school is elemental for the language to survive. That is something similar to what happen with Catalan: there are, or at least were, free courses to learn Catalan at Cataluña because in many degrees (if not all), the classes are given in Catalan. This helps to the language to survive, although at home many people use Spanish.
ResponderEliminarI would rather say that, in the case of Catalonia, the language "in danger" is Spanish :)
EliminarHowever, Catalan is far from being a creole language. Spanish, on the other hand is starting to be regarded as a second language in Catalonia, don't you think?
Well... this is getting too political.. Definitely, Catalán is not a creole language, and it's one of the official languages in Cataluña.
ResponderEliminarI think a specific creole should be token it to account in education, at school or secondary education, because it is a medium to keep languages alive. If students learn a creole, not as a L1 or L2 just to manage this language, they will be aware of the power of language and communication, the origins of some languages and that a creole is not just a language but a symbol of any culture too.
ResponderEliminarI think that the only disadvantage could be that students got confused the creole with any other language they are learning at the same time.
To conclude, I disagree with people who think that to study creole languages is a waste of time and that creoles have dead or they die quickly. And, who knows? Maybe future generations will continue speaking that creole which was learnt at school by their ancestors.
The student learns more, better and faster if you teach in a league they know. For example in Nicaragua students begin learning all from pre-school in their Creole language, such as stories, songs, games. After this stage, the Spanish language is introduced, oral use of Spanish is spreading in the second degree and students begin to write in Spanish in the third degree.
ResponderEliminarStudents entering a bilingual maintenance in fifth and sixth grade, but 40% of students have trouble expressing themselves in Spanish; on the other hand, most teachers are more competent in their native language than Spanish or English.
Nicaragua students learn best through their Creole language than the Spanish or english, despite being introduced practically at an early age. So this is a clear example that the Creole can be used as a medium of instrument. I think it is important creole in education as the official language of the country.
I am not sure if the usage of a specific creole would be a good option for instructing in primary or secondary education. However, students would benefit from its usage because it could seem more familiar or functional than other languages. Also, they can communicate easily developing their skills without taking into account the presence of 'prescriptive' rules. However, if the teacher wants to focus on accuracy in other languages, it would be difficult to make them aware of other fixed constructions in terms of grammar, for example.
ResponderEliminarI agree with Nereida. I am not sure about how it will be the teaching by using a Creole because I have never had an experience like that but I suppose that if a Creole has emerged in a certain place at a certain time is because of the necessity that two or more groups of people have to communicate ideas or knowledge. So, it is obviously that, in a case in which a Creole is necessary to establish a relationship between all the members of a community, it will also be necessary to teach in a school because children are used to listen or speak it so; the learning skills could be developed faster than using another language.
ResponderEliminar