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Teachers insisting students to speak solely in English while they are on school premises has been a common scenario in the past few decades. ‘’ Do not speak in vernacular languages’’ used to be written on posters indicating the significance of communication in English. But in the recent years, there has been a major shift towards bilingual education, wherein teachers use more than one language in their instructional techniques.
Bilingual education refers to utilising two languages throughout the academic cycle, so the course syllabus is designed accordingly, enabling students to master a second language through their academic studies. As a result, they develop comprehensive abilities in four crucial faculties, which are listening, speaking, reading and writing, all the while improving their proficiency in the first language.
Why should the best CBSE schools in Bangalore or any primary and secondary school emphasise bilingual education? The answer lies in student learning outcomes and the fact that it would help to improve students’ analytical skills. Besides, mother tongue or regional languages are more than mere languages; it is their cultural and social identity.
Unfortunately, the universal superiority of English as one of the primary languages tends to overshadow the regional languages. Thankfully that will change, given the increased interest in bilingual education.
Furthermore, the National Education Policy 2020 aims to change the landscape of the Indian education system, and establishing a strong primary and secondary level education is central to it. Therefore, the policy clearly pointed out that the medium of teaching delivery till classes 5, 8 and beyond will include the regional language of students. Also, the use of a second language as aunique instructional technique might become customary in the future, something which the Montessori schools in Bangalore acknowledges as it leads to mental growth.
Children who learn a second language and become proficient in it demonstrate cognitive development in terms of efficient task completion. In addition, their creative thinking aptitude enhances and becomes capable of finding unique solutions to problems. Consequently, their problem-solving skills improve, and they gain greater linguistic awareness.
Recent studies and research work suggest that one of the pivotal benefits of bilingual education is improved memory. When students study in two languages simultaneously, their brain observes and activates memory-boosting physical changes to the human brain. Consequently, they demonstrate the following:
When students receive education in their native languages, it becomes easier for them to understand concepts. Besides, they take an active interest in their learning and are able to analyse, critically examine and think about the topics further.
The sole supremacy of the English language is no longer relevant in the ever-evolving world, which presents new challenges with every passing month. For instance, the corporate sector requires a multilingual workforce and the ability to execute a given task in more than one language. Therefore, it’s hardly surprising that the importance of bilingual education has been noted by most schools.
Inculcating an inherent tolerance and appreciation of diverse cultures is paramount from a very early age, something which Ekya schools puts an emphasis on. Hence, the schools should include students’ regional languages to foster a meaningful cultural exchange. For example, the classroom activities can include songs, idioms, and folk tales, enabling students to experience different cultures within one space.
Growing up speaking more than one language encourages students to develop a deep understanding and appreciation for other languages. Moreover, it will improve their interpersonal interactions, boosting their confidence to speak with people from different social and cultural backgrounds. Also, one might refer to it as the social benefits of bilingual education, which positively impacts a person’s professional and personal life.
If children from an early age are taught two languages, they will have improved focus, helping them make the right decision during any task. In effect, it will also ignite the curiosity to learn additional languages after they have mastered the two.
Bilingual education provides comprehensive development of children from an early age because it enhances their learning and understanding levels. Therefore, when schools incorporate it in their teaching and learning mechanisms, it helps boost critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Ken Robinson famously suggested that creativity is the heart of all successful learning experiences. Creative teaching provides learners rich and varied contexts for developing their subject knowledge and encouraging critical thinking.
In physical schooling, we have a classroom environment that promotes creativity. Students have opportunities to converse and stimulate innovative thinking. As we moved to a physical classroom, I faced the enormous challenge of transforming my virtual class into an environment that could stimulate creative thinking. And I found three ideas suggested by Robert.J.Sternberg to nurture creativity in the classroom and promote it as a habit to be highly useful:-
Opportunity to engage in creativity - Students need varied activities to engage in creativity through interactive and engaging lesson plans. So, I make sure that I plan a few hands-on activities for creative exploration; performance activities like role play and character study to develop a deeper understanding of the concept. Using tools like ‘Do Now, Think-Pair-Share, Put on your Thinking Caps’ allows students to follow along and participate creatively in our lessons.
Encouragement to participate in the opportunity- Sitting with students 5 minutes before a session for an early chat with classmates and I has proved to be a great way to build informal connections in my class. Open discussions on any topic help students think critically, and open-ended questions help students think out of the box and develop innovative solutions. Allowing students to make even seemingly small choices can be motivating, like letting a student choose which song to play before the lesson starts.
Reward when they respond- Recognising all types of achievements, not only academic but non-academic, has played a vital role in tuning in. Rewarding gives students a sense of pride and an incentive to continue doing great work.
Learning and teaching may seem complicated, but they are much simpler when we use the right tools and teaching strategies. By focusing on the needs of our students and preparing our materials well in advance, we can ensure that our classroom remains creative and rewarding.
Ms Shanthi Shetty PPM Facilitator, Ekya BTM Layout
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