Part I.pdf - MTB-MLE Network

ConclusionsThe findings of the studies summarized above provide a convincing rationale for policy plannersto introduce and/or strengthen the use of minority children’s home languages as the medium ofinstruction, particularly in the early grades. Yet, using the mother tongue in education alone cannotbe the panacea for solving problems of otherwise dysfunctional education systems, as Benson (2003)notes:“Simply changing the language of instruction without resolving other pressing social andpolitical issues is not likely to result in significant improvement in educational services.However, because language cross-cuts other marginalizing factors such as race, ethnicity,gender, and poverty, even minimally implemented bilingual programmes have the potentialto reach those who have traditionally been left behind by L2 submersion schooling.” (Benson2003)Finally, an attempt is made to apply some of these research findings into the current Asian context.To do so, Krashen’s (2000) conclusion of Spanish speaking students’ learning of English in bilingualprogrammes is paraphrased. The following citation is offered as a suggestion of what relevantbilingual education of good quality for ethnic minorities might look like in an imaginary Asiannation of Happyland, whose national language is Happish. The reader can replace Happish withthe national language of her/his own country to apply this idea to her/his own context.“Good bilingual education programmes aid in the development of academic Happish byproviding 1) literacy in the first language, which transfers to Happish, 2) subject matter teachingin the first language, which provides background knowledge that makes Happish input morecomprehensible, as well as 3) comprehensible subject matter teaching in Happish.” (Adaptedfrom Krashen 2000)References:Baker, C. (2001) Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism. Third edition. BilingualEducation and Bilingualism 27. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.Baker, C. & Hornberger, N.H. (2001) (eds.) An Introductory Reader to the Writings of Jim Cummins.Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.Benson, C.J. (2003) “Mother Tongue-based Bilingual Education: What, Why and How?” A paperpresented at Informal Consultation on Ethnic Minority Language Issues and Challenges.Vientiane, Lao PDR, 31 st October 2003. Vientiane: UNICEF.Blachford, D.R. (1997) “Bilingual education in China,” in J. Cummins & D. Corson, (eds.)Encyclopaedia of Language and Education, Vol. 5. Bilingual Education. Dordrecht: KluwerAcademic Publishers, 157-166.CAL. (2001) Expanding Educational Opportunity in Linguistically Diverse Societies. Washington,DC: Center for Applied Linguistics.93