scholarly journals PATTERNS OF DOMINANCE OF LANGUAGE VITALITIES AMONG MALAYSIAN STUDENTS IN PRIMARY NATIONAL-TYPE AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 271
Author(s):  
Soo Ying How ◽  
Ain Nadzimah Abdullah ◽  
Swee Heng Chan
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Opportunity To Learn ◽  
National Language ◽  
Medium Of Instruction ◽  
Formal Schooling ◽  
Language Preference ◽  
Malaysian Students ◽  
Attitude And Motivation

Multilingualism is embedded in the Malaysian Education Blueprint (2015-2025) as a stated goal towards nation building. The education system provides opportunity to learn Malay which is the national language, the mother tongue (Mandarin or Tamil) and the English language as part of formal schooling. In fact, Malaysian primary schools are classified into two major divisions. Students can opt to study in national schools in which the medium of instruction is Malay with the provision for the learning of English and a mother tongue. The other option allows students to enrol in national-type schools of which the medium of instruction is either Mandarin or Tamil, with English and Malay taught as academic subjects. At secondary level, the medium of instruction in national schools is Malay and students are provided the opportunity to learn their mother tongue and English. Other than in school, other social milieus also allow the use and practice of these languages. Given this linguistic environment, there exists a myriad of language experiences within and outside formal learning which together would influence the totality of language vitality. This paper investigates language vitality featured in this multilingual environment. It focuses on the vitality of the English language among students that appears to co-exist with the learning and use of other languages as they progress through the primary and secondary levels. The vitality is measured by the following indicators: language preference, choice, dominance, use, attitude and motivation and proficiency which were used to develop a questionnaire to obtain data on strength evaluation of these languages. The methodology encompasses random and convenient sampling to obtain representative responses from students with different levels of education and language experiences. The study reveals relative vitalities of languages used and highlights values attached to languages at different points of language exposure that coincide with chronological age.

scholarly journals Societal Perception of Repositioning Childhood Education Through Mother Tongue: Prospects and Challenges in Northwest Nigeria

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (08) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarkinfada Halima
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Medium Of Instruction ◽  
Language Of Instruction ◽  
North West ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
The North ◽  
North Western

This paper focuses on prospects and problems of the use of mother tongue as medium of instruction for the whole duration of primary education in the North Western States of Nigeria. The language of instruction is very crucial to education at every level because it serves as the key to learning.  Mother tongue serves as the first language of children. Low trend of enrolment in primary school has been attributed to the use of foreign language of instruction in schools which is contrary to the customs and traditions of the people in the North Western states of Nigeria. Pupils find it difficult to socialize with the English language and do not have a sense of belonging in school. The research intends to examine the prospects and problems of the use of mother tongue as a medium of instruction for pupils in North west Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The instrument for this study was a self-develop questionnaire titled "Questionnaire on prospects and problems Mother tongue". The population of the study include stakeholders' in the society, which include parents, Guardians, and Teachers, involved in childhood education. A total of 907 participated in the study, 113 parents, 30 Guardian, and 764 Teachers,  Stratified sampling technique was used to select 3 States from 7 North-western states. Which include Katsina, Kebbi, and Sokoto states in North West Nigeria.. Ten (10) metropolitan primary schools were selected from the 3 states using simple random sampling technique. Since there no significant difference between the views of parents, teachers and other stakeholders on the prospects of the use of mother tongue as a medium of instruction for pupils in North West Nigeria. It is therefore recommended that  since the prospects of Mother tongue ate inevitable and its challenges are inherent. Teachers, parents and all stakeholders should be more proactive in discharging their professional functions  in  teaching of Mother Tongue and the English language currently during lessons.

scholarly journals Prospects of Mother Tongue as a Medium of Instruction in Nigerian Primary Level Education

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Johnkenedy A. Ozoemena ◽  
Festus U. Ngwoke ◽  
Basil O. Nwokolo
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Indigenous Languages ◽  
Instructional Materials ◽  
Medium Of Instruction ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
Primary Level

This paper investigates the prospects in the use of mother tongue as a medium of instruction in Nigeria’s primary level of education. With the multilingual nature of Nigeria, many scholars have continued to clamour for the use of indigenous languages as a medium of instruction in Nigeria’s primary schools. This paper also seeks to justify the reasons why mother tongue education may not be feasible in the nearest future especially with the numerous roles that the English language plays in Nigeria, and the myriads of difficulties which constitute stumbling blocks to its realization. In doing this, two research questions were generated, and data collected from 150 primary school teachers, from both private and public primary schools in Gwagwalada Area Council of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) through purposive sampling technique. The instrument for data collection is a well-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire is made up of two sections, sections A and B. Section A sought for demographic data of respondents, while section B sought for information on the factors militating against mother tongue as a medium of instruction in primary schools in Nigeria. The data collected were analyzed using Crombatch Alpha, mean and standard deviation. The result of the analysis revealed that the multilingual nature of Nigeria, and lack of names of instructional materials and science equipment in the indigenous languages are impediments to the use of mother tongue as a medium of instruction in Nigerian primary level of education.

scholarly journals An Application of Grosjean’s (2001) Bilingual’s Language Modes on English Language Teaching as Medium of Instruction in Ghanaian Primary Schools

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (7) ◽  
pp. 133-138
Author(s):  
Edward Owusu ◽  
Charles Senior Afram
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
First Language ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Medium Of Instruction ◽  
Teaching English ◽  
Speech Communities ◽  
Key Stakeholders

Bialystok (2015) argues that the bilingual’s cognitive benefit is related to the continuous supervision and the need for conflict resolution that happens when dual languages are co-activated. One framework that clearly projects the experience of the bilingual, in terms of swapping languages is the bilingual’s language modes (BLMs) by Grosjean (2001). In this review paper, we have highlighted the policy of medium of instruction for teaching English in primary schools in Ghana. Again, we have briefly described the tenants of the BLMs, and demonstrated how these modes can be applied on the Ghanaian bilingual primary schools. On the basis of the BLMs, we argue that the most suitable medium of instruction for teaching and learning of English as a second language at the primary level (primary 1 - 6) of a diverse Ghanaian multilingual society should be English language, and the mother tongue of the community within which the school is situated. This argument is in conformism with Anyidoho (2009), and Owusu et al. (2015). Consequently, this paper would enable the key stakeholders of Ghanaian primary schools, to reexamine the policy of instruction for teaching English in Ghanaian primary schools, by placing prominence on the first language of the various speech communities in Ghana. 

Code-Switching and Code Mixing in the Selected Tracks of the Hip Hop Music of Flavour and 9ice

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 55-70
Author(s):  
Balogun Sarah ◽  
Murana Muniru Oladayo
Keyword(s):  
Hip Hop ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
First Language ◽  
Music Industry ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Code Switching ◽  
National Language ◽  
Code Mixing ◽  
Unique Identity

This article attempts a comparative analysis of code-switching and code-mixing in the Nigerian music industry, using the lyrics of Flavour and 9ice as a case study. Although the English language is the national language in Nigeria and the language used by most of the musicians for the composition of their songs, and due to the linguistic plurality of Nigeria, most of these musicians tend to lace their songs chunks of words and phrases from their mother tongue or at least one of the three major languages in Nigeria, which are Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba. The Markedness Model by Myers-Scotton (1993) is used as the framework to interrogate the switching and mixing in the codes used by these selected musicians and we find that while most code-switching is done in three languages – English, Nigerian Pidgin and the artist’ first language (mother tongue)  – their mother tongue plays the prominent role. Code-switching or code-mixing in these songs, therefore, becomes a depiction of the Nigerian state with its diverse languages and it provides the links between the literates and the illiterates thereby giving the artiste the popularity desired. The study concludes that the unique identity created by code-switching and code-mixing in the Nigerian music industry has a positive influence on music lovers, helping artists to achieve wide patronage and reflecting the ethnolinguistic diversity of the Nigerian nation.

Language policies for Hong Kong schools since 1997

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Kan ◽  
Bob Adamson
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Language Policy ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
International Communication ◽  
National Language ◽  
Medium Of Instruction ◽  
Language Policies ◽  
Mother Tongue Education ◽  
Important Means

Francis of Education (print)/1474-8479 (online) Article 2010 Language in education debates in Hong Kong focus on the role and status of English (as the former colonial language and an important means for international communication); Cantonese, the mother tongue of the majority of the population; and Putonghua, the national language of China. This paper examines the language policy formulated in 1997–1998, and finds that it radically departed from previous policies by mandating the use of Cantonese as the medium of instruction in secondary schools. The paper then analyses two subsequent policy revisions and concludes that, while the tonal emphasis on mother-tongue education has remained, the policy revisions have reversed the language policy to previous practices that emphasised the importance of English.

scholarly journals Teachers’ Perception about English as a Medium of Instructions: Evidence from the Government Higher Secondary Schools of Sindh, Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 362-371
Author(s):  
Abul Ala Mukhtar ◽  
Zafarullah Sahito ◽  
Abida Siddiqui
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Medium Of Instruction ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Common People ◽  
British Rule ◽  
The Government ◽  
Set Up

This case study inquires the perceptions and experiences of teachers about the English as a medium of instructions at government higher secondary schools of Warah city of Sindh, Pakistan. It witnesses that a large chunk of the population is diversified to use their provincial or regional languages as destined by socio-political heritage. Because English was remained a paramount part of educational context in Pakistan during British rule. In Sindh, students learn English from their teachers at their schools, who by no means really acquire the required proficiency in the English language. The research design undertaken was qualitative in nature and revolved around the semi structured interviews. English as a medium of instruction has a daunting and remarkable role to set to be set up across the globe. The mother tongue has the supreme role to play in the organized system of social institutions, which has massive resources of linguistics pouring down to the common people in the forms of superb streams of dialects with definite code of syntax, semantics and pragmatism. The extra reading materials with the support of technology, the English lessons can play a pivotal role to give internalization and adaptation of English language as a medium of instruction.

scholarly journals Challenges of the Sudden Switch from Mother Tongue Instruction to English as a Medium of Instruction

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 76
Author(s):  
Shahinaz Abdullah Bukhari
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Standard English ◽  
Medium Of Instruction ◽  
Classroom Communication ◽  
Mother Tongue Instruction

The present study explored the challenges encountered through the transition from using the mother tongue as a medium of instruction at schools to using English as a medium of instruction at universities. Two focus groups were conducted with Saudi undergraduates and faculty members from different Saudi universities. The focus groups investigated how participants perceive this experience, what difficulties they face and how they cope. Participants expressed their preference for using English as a medium of instruction in higher education to maximise students’ future and international opportunities. Participant students reported difficulties in lecture comprehension, taking notes while listening and classroom communication. Participant content lecturers reported difficulties related to students’ reluctance to speak in English, lack of English terminology and insufficient lecture comprehension. Some suggestions that have been offered to overcome these challenges include the following: designing adequate trainings for content lecturers on teaching their content in English; using Arabic-English bilingualism as medium of instruction; giving emphasis to academic literacy and communication skills over the use of standard English models and enhancing the collaborative work between English language teaching practitioners and content lecturers.

scholarly journals A Plurilingual Approach to ELT in Primary School: Towards an Ecological Perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-106
Author(s):  
Alicia Chabert
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
English Teaching ◽  
Ecological Understanding ◽  
Attitude And Motivation ◽  
Initial Results

Summary This paper aims to demonstrate that using a plurilingual and ecological approach to English language teaching can achieve better results in primary school independently of the mother tongue of the student. This article is based on the initial results of our international research carried out in three very different countries (Norway, China and Spain). While the author´s research project involves 328 participants, we will present the results of the first phase of the experiment, including 133 students. In this paper, we propose a plurilingual communicative approach to English teaching as a foreign language, making a distinction between languages for communication and languages for identification. This research examines the current teaching policies in the participating countries, and analyses cross-cultural and cross-linguistic perspectives in English language teaching while promoting the positive use of the mother tongue as a connecting tool in the students’ communication system. The subjects of this study were divided in control and experimental groups, in which they received traditional and plurilingual approach respectively. After the classes they completed a test and were then supplied with a Likert scale questionnaire focused on understanding their attitude and motivation towards mother tongue and English language learning. Based on observation and results obtained, we can conclude that a plurilingual approach that uses L1 as a tool in English teaching improves English learning, as well as develops an ecological understanding of languages.

scholarly journals Is English language as a medium of instruction a hurdle for first year MBBS teaching learning? Perceptions of students and teachers

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. 4195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madhur M. Gupta ◽  
Mahesh Deshmukh ◽  
Suresh Chari
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Abrupt Change ◽  
National Language ◽  
Medical Graduate ◽  
First Year ◽  
Medium Of Instruction ◽  
Indian Medical ◽  
Perceptions Of Students ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
Medical Teachers

Background: Presently there is a linguistic dualism i.e. thinking in one language and studying in the other. Proficiency in English is the need of the hour. However, for some an abrupt change in the medium of language along with introduction of terminologies can become a potential barrier to academic success.Methods: A questionnaire based study was carried out in 150 students and 25 teachers of first MBBS.Results: Majority of the students and teachers considered that English as a medium of instruction is not a problem. They also opined that English should be retained as a medium of instruction since it is of global importance; use of regional /national language should be allowed since it will help in dealing with patients and thus better patient care.Conclusions: Since English is the language of global importance, medical teachers should work together to find out a practical approach in addressing some of the problem areas faced by few medical students to help them perform better as an Indian medical graduate.

scholarly journals UNRAVELING THE POWER OF TEACHERS’ COMPETENCY AND TEACHING STYLES IN CURRICULUM IMPLEMENTATION: A PERSPECTIVE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AS A MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Nipher Olieba ◽  
Ronald Kikechi
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Curriculum Implementation ◽  
Teaching Styles ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Medium Of Instruction ◽  
Head Teachers ◽  
Local Dialect

<p>The language policy in Rwanda states that English is the medium of Instruction (MOI) to be used in the Education system following the 2008 Language shift. However, this change in the MOI brought about extreme challenges to both Rwandan teachers and learners. Moreover, the extensive day to day usage of Kinyarwanda, the local dialect, has greatly inhibited the use of English. This has adversely obstructed the use of the English language as a MOI and the curriculum implementation for over 20 years hence adversely affecting the teaching and learning process. The proficiency of the teachers who are meant to teach in the MOI is quite questionable; many realize the need to learn English while teaching or risk unemployment. As such, this study purposed to examine the teacher competency and teaching styles in use of English as a MOI in facilitating  curriculum implementation in rural primary schools in Rwanda. Guided by the inter language theory and the Discrepancy theory, the study applied a descriptive survey research design. With a target population of 3,269, the study entailed a sample of 1470 randomly selected learners from Primary 4 to Primary 6, teachers and head teachers from 21 schools. The study used questionnaires, interviews, and observation to collect primary data. The study found that the teachers’ competency in using English language as MOI had significant influence on curriculum implementation in rural primary schools in Muhanga district and in the entire republic of Rwanda. The teaching styles factors positively and significantly influence the use of MOI in curriculum implementation when other factors are held constant.</p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0807/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

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