Subtractive bilingualism
What a big title?
I have found what I was looking for – the theoretical support for the hypothesis that some second language learners in Aston not only suffer in their second language (English) but also in their home or first language. As I have said before my experience of going into family homes in Aston is that the main language spoken is the home language whether it be Bengali, Punjabi, Gujarati or some other language. This is also supported by a diet of Sky Television in the home language. The kids therefore meet English is school and their first language at home. The problems are many. It hinders both languages development, undervalues their first language and adds to the problems of the development of conceptual knowledge.
I was therefore very pleased to find a term which explained (represented it). Such are the delights of Google. Colin Baker (University of Wales) says:
“Subtractive bilingualism occurs when the development of the second language is detrimental to the development and maintenance of the first language. Through this a person may also come to have lower esteem for the culture of their first language. This can happen in many situations, for example, when the first language is regarded as unnecessary for education, has a lower status in the community, or is simply not supported. Subtractive bilingualism is directly related to less-positive self-esteem, loss of cultural identity, alienation, and a failure in education and finding work.”
This and other supportive comments by Cummings who says that :
“It is very important that students be encouraged to continue their native language development. When parents ask about the best ways they can help their child at home, you can reply that the child should have the opportunity to read extensively in her own language. You could suggest that parents make some time every evening to discuss with their child, in their native language, what she has done in school that day: ask her to talk about the science experiment she did, question her about her understanding of primary and secondary sources of historical information, have her explain how she has solved a math problem etc.”
gives me a way forward. Imagine 90 second, aural notes in home languages linked to important conceptual knowledge placed on a VLE so that both parents and pupils can access. The project has access to these facilities and it should be within our capabilities. I think I am now beginning to construct the framework to make this a pretty special project.
Thank you, Mike! You helped me find the theoretical support against CLIL, a trendy approach to tertiary education in Continental Europe. CLIL’s aim namely is to teach a foreign language by not teaching the language itself. Instead, it is suggested, students are to be educated in a foreign language gaining this way both disciplinary knowledge and language competence at the same time. Students’ mother tongue, which is the official language of the country, would not be used. Teachers in CLIL would be mostly local people to whom the language of education would be a foreign language, and partly foreign professionals.
I’m bilingual myself but I feel this is a terribly bad idea. Thanks again.
Hi Mike
This was a hot area when I worked in Hampshire – we always encouraged parents of kids with English as a second language to use the first language at home….and often at school also. Here are some random pieces I found on the Hants EMA site in support:
http://www3.hants.gov.uk/education/ema/ema-parent/ema-parent-gettinginvolved.htm
Advice to parents:
Maintaining your child’s first language
Should I speak English at home?
If English is not your first language, talking to your child in the mother tongue will encourage your child to learn about themselves and their world. Research shows that the more confident the child is in his first language, the easier it is for him to learn another and obtain better results in English and other subjects. Therefore it is important to maintain the reading and writing skills your child has already acquired.
How can I help my child learn?
Take every opportunity to spend time with your child, sharing a book, playing a game, watching a television programme. All those activities can be carried out in first language. The use of first language will reinforce family ties, culture and identity and increase job opportunities as well as enhancing intellectual development.
Also on EMS site:
Curriculum Guide for the Foundation Stage (2000) QCA
‘Practitioners should value this [home language other than English] linguistic diversity and provide opportunities for children to develop and use their home language in their play and learning’.
National Literacy Strategy 1998:
Year 2 Term 2 Reading range – ‘traditional stories: stories and poems from other cultures… ‘
Year 5 Term 3 Reading range – ‘…stories and poems from a variety of cultures and traditions.’
‘Where groups of pupils share the same home language, the use of dual language texts can promote discussion about reading and writing, help to build their confidence in tackling tasks in English and emphasise the importance of speaking and listening in the general development of literacy’ (page 107).
Interstingly the following study suports using the student’s first language in school at primary and secondary level (ofteneasier to do at primary I guess)
‘Making the Difference: Teaching and Learning Strategies in Successful Multi-Ethnic Schools’ (1998) DfEE
Effective schools listened to, and learned from students and their parents, and tried to see things from the students’ points of view.
Some of the key findings of the research: (into effective schools)
1. They created careful links with the local communities.
2. Effective schools tried to understand and work with the ‘whole child’.
3. They had clear procedures for responding to racist bullying and racist harassment.
4. The use of first language was encouraged for ‘settling in’ as well as for longer term learning.
All ties in nicely with Cummings!!
I love the sound of 90 second aural notes but why not make videos????? You want some help recording/filming?
Jenny
Nice site. Thank to work…