This is such a powerful initiative. It’s so lovely that families and schools are partnering together to encourage a love and appreciation for linguistic diversity! 🎉
Although I appreciate the sentiment behind the program, it feels a bit like checking a box versus really embracing multilingualism. I say that because it seems this appreciation of languages happens one week a year, is that right?
@bealion Yes indeed, it happens only 1 week during the year. But I understand that this is a start. The positive reactions should help teachers see and understand how powerful it is to value everyone's languages and cultures. When a school doesn't see the point of celebrating their students' languages, it's a great first step. Hopefully it will motivate them to do more 🤞
Thank you for your question! While schools typically celebrate one week a year, our association carries out training and outreach throughout the school year. One aspect we've been working to better integrate into the French school system is the practice of translanguaging. We've also created a multilingual glossary for educators, and we're currently working on a similar project for local crèches. We are all researchers dedicated to plurilingualism, but it takes a lot of momentum to make changes in the French school system, due to a lot of historical and social factors. We will keep doing our best to make sure all languages are welcome at school! :-) -Dr. Taylor Smith-Benyahia
This is such a powerful initiative. It’s so lovely that families and schools are partnering together to encourage a love and appreciation for linguistic diversity! 🎉
@annieng3979 Yes, the more initiatives there are everywhere the more normalised it will be 🤩
Although I appreciate the sentiment behind the program, it feels a bit like checking a box versus really embracing multilingualism. I say that because it seems this appreciation of languages happens one week a year, is that right?
@bealion Yes indeed, it happens only 1 week during the year. But I understand that this is a start.
The positive reactions should help teachers see and understand how powerful it is to value everyone's languages and cultures.
When a school doesn't see the point of celebrating their students' languages, it's a great first step. Hopefully it will motivate them to do more 🤞
Thank you for your question! While schools typically celebrate one week a year, our association carries out training and outreach throughout the school year. One aspect we've been working to better integrate into the French school system is the practice of translanguaging. We've also created a multilingual glossary for educators, and we're currently working on a similar project for local crèches. We are all researchers dedicated to plurilingualism, but it takes a lot of momentum to make changes in the French school system, due to a lot of historical and social factors. We will keep doing our best to make sure all languages are welcome at school! :-) -Dr. Taylor Smith-Benyahia