English vs. Multilingualism *

* * *

There is an increase of children who do not come from an English-speaking background in UK state schools. One in seven children at a primary school in the UK, and one in ten at secondary school speaks a language other than English at home. In a study on pupils from Years 2, 4, and 6 from two primary schools in East London, a research team from Goldsmiths, University of London, concluded that using two or more languages deepens an understanding of mathematical concepts and results in a better overall performance in schools.

Bilingual children are able to access key concepts through both languages, giving them an advantage over monolinguals. Children who speak at least two languages actually strengthen their identities as learners and boost their cognitive development.

Researchers say this finding is of particular importance for second and third generation immigrant children. It is important to "embed" mother tongues into daily activities through games, songs, and incidental use, such as answering the register call and giving praise and simple instructions. Familiar stories can be told or acted out in their mother tongue. Dr. Charmian Kenner of Goldsmiths, University of London, explained,

Children who live their lives bilingually can access the curriculum through both languages. Learning a mathematical concept in Bengali and English, for example, deepens understanding as ideas are transferred between languages. Children also have the capacity to compare how metaphors are constructed in a Bengali poem and its English equivalent.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the British education system undermined mother tongue languages. However, new research proves that the policy is wrong and that the British education system is guilty. It is very important that immigrant parents keep talking to their children in their mother tongue as this will give the children a valuable tool to access lessons, deepen understanding of key ideas, and enhance school performance.

The children who participated in the survey expressed a strong desire to use their mother tongue in school, which would allow the teachers to tap into their pupils' full range of cultural knowledge.

Children who attended mother tongue classes did better in their National Curriculum tests. The research warned that many second- and third-generation children are in danger of losing their bilingual skills if they do not have the chance to develop their mother tongue through schoolwork. Rather than thinking in terms of an "English only" culture, we should be promoting an "English plus" one.

Among the immigrant children, Muslim children suffer more than others. Bilingual Muslim children need state-funded Muslim schools with bilingual Muslim teachers as role models. They need to be well-versed in Standard English to follow the National Curriculum and go for higher education studies and research in order to serve humanity. They also need to be well-versed in Arabic, Urdu, and other mother tongue languages to keep in touch with their cultural roots and enjoy the beauty of literature and poetry.

Sources:

"Bilingualism Strengthens Cognitive Development, Research Shows ." EU Research Information Centre. 10 April 2007. Accessed 4 Aug. 2007.

* Republished with permission from the author. To see the original, click here English Only vs English Plus.

Iftikar Ahmad is a parent who contributes to increasing awareness on what counts.