| I spent my formative years in Rwanda, where English or French were the primary languages of instruction for most subjects, despite Kinyarwanda being my native language. Reflecting on this experience, I now recognize that learning in a language unfamiliar to me, coupled with concepts foreign to my culture, impacted my identity development and cultural appreciation. This challenge was not unique to me, as Cummins (2000) elucidates in his exploration of “Language, power, and pedagogy: Bilingual children in the crossfire”, it takes a minimum of five to seven years for young learners to acquire academic proficiency in English. Additionally, Thomas and Collier’s (2002) research underscores the positive influence of bilingual education on academic achievement, shedding light on the advantages of native language instruction in early childhood learning. Motivated by my own experiences, I am spearheading the creation of a culturally relevant curriculum for Rwandan first graders. The aim is to foster their identity development and deepen their connection to community and culture, providing a foundation for continuous innovation and creativity rooted in their surroundings. My choice of Math as the focus stems from its widespread demand and the challenges many students face in mastering it. While anticipating potential difficulties for learners in becoming fluent in other languages, Imibare Yacu prioritizes students’ self-esteem and understanding. I believe that these factors will significantly contribute to their learning experience and proficiency in mastering various other subjects. References: Cummins, J. (2000). Language, power, and pedagogy: Bilingual children in the crossfire. Clevedon, UK: Multilingual Matters. Martin, L. (2021). Surrounded by Numbers | Amazon.com: Books. OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT [Large language model]. Thomas. W. Collier V. (2002). A National Study of School Effectiveness for Language Minority Studentsí Long-Term Academic Achievement. University of California, Santa Cruz: Center for Research on Education, Diversity & Excellence. |
Imibare Yacu (Our Mathematics)
