Bilingual Education: Preserving Identity, Promoting Opportunity

Описание: Synopsis: As we know, our country’s national language is English; thus, it is also the language of instruction. However, the linguistic reality of our children throughout the country is a complex one. While we are aware that many students speak other languages at home, when they go to school in preschool or infant 1, they need to conform to a language of instruction that does not take their experiences and realities into consideration. Likewise, teachers end up grappling with the challenge of teaching students in English when they predominantly comprehend in other languages.
Research has shown that including students’ home language through a structured, strategic, and culturally relevant bilingual curriculum in the classroom will yield a plethora of cognitive and socio-emotional benefits, not to mention it is a means of preserving cultural heritage and traditions. UNESCO and other global organizations have long advocated for mother tongue-based multilingual education, especially in early childhood, as a way to improve learning outcomes and reduce inequality. When children are forced to learn in a language they do not yet understand, it can lead to academic underperformance, diminished self-esteem, and disengagement from school. Many children also internalize the belief that their home language is less valuable, which can fracture identity development and hinder full participation in the learning process. It is time that Belize takes full autonomy for our education system and take into account students’ experiences and cultural and linguistic realities, bridging the gap between home and school.

About the presenter(s): As a daughter of two educators, Ms. Lupita Polanco began her educational journey with a firm resolve not to become a teacher. But after teaching for a year fell in love with the profession and now has 15 years in the profession. She enjoys working with younger students especially in the literacy area. She has a bachelor’s in Literacy and 2 master’s (one in education and one in Literacy). She is currently a student working towards a PhD in Education from UISIL.

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