Transform.Ed Briefing #59
Inside the Briefing: From being endangered to serving as conduits of expression for our shared culture and heritage -languages are the key to quality, inclusive education, and human flourishing
About 50 percent of languages are under the threat of extinction, posing a significant risk to global linguistic diversity and indigenous communities. Languages transmit our shared culture, traditions, and knowledge from one generation to another. Being the conduit of expression for our collective yet distinct identities, it is essential we preserve them.
Multiple studies have indicated that a child learns best in the language they speak at home. In countries like South Africa and Turkey, the Grade-4 students who study in the language they speak at home are at a 60 percent advantage over others. Among the 15-year-olds, this number varied from 4 percent in Canada to 40 percent in Germany and over 60 percent in Thailand.
However, a huge chunk of the global population still lacks access to education in a language they are familiar with. Last week, when we asked our readers about the challenges in mainstreaming education in the mother tongue, about two-thirds of the respondents believed the lack of instructional materials was the major reason, while the rest of them opted for insufficient teacher training.
What do you think could be a possible way to move towards education based on mother tongue? Do you think bilingual or multilingual education systems are the way forward, with the initial years focussing on the language our children are familiar with?
Share your thoughts and experiences with your global peers in the comments below or join the conversation on the Global Citizenship Foundation’s Educational Leadership Community, exclusively dedicated to educators worldwide. If you haven’t signed up yet, please get in touch with us here.
With this carefully-curated edition of Transform.Ed Briefing, you can explore featured articles, stay informed about latest education policies, participate in our weekly poll, discover global events, indulge in a recommended movie, enhance your skills with professional development opportunities, enrich your knowledge with our book recommendations and stay on top of finding exciting job opportunities!
As a first-generation learner and educator, I understand the value of inspiring educators in the lives of learners; the most inspiring educators I've encountered in life are those who never stop learning. Together, let's embark on this incredible journey of learning and transforming education for human and planetary flourishing! Subscribe to Transform.Ed and be at the forefront of shaping the many futures of education!
In service of education and visionary education leaders,
— Aaryan Salman
Director-General
Global Citizenship Foundation
Building Social-Emotional Learning Skills in Early Years through Community Connections
By Dr. Erica Frydenberg, Rachel Liang | .ed Magazine
International Mother Language Day: Why Multilingual Education is Key to Intergenerational Learning
By UNESCO
Mother-Tongue Education: Policy Lessons for Quality and Inclusion
By Global Campaign for Education
Feb 23-24: Teaching for Tomorrow: Humanism in Language Teaching
(Paid Entry) This is an Online Event hosted by The Bridge.
Feb 26: Multilingual Learners: Strategies for Developing Listening Comprehension
(Free Entry) This is an Online Event hosted by edWeb.
Feb 27: Emotional Regulation in Schools and Education Settings (CPD)
(Paid Entry) This is an Online Event hosted by Mindfulness via Eventbrite.
Feb 29: Science of Reading: Emphasis on Language Comprehension
(Free Entry) This is an Online Event hosted by EdWeek.
A kindergarten teacher in New York is stubborn to support one of her students, who she believes is a child prodigy.
By University of La Verne (via Professional Development Courses)
By Patsy M. Lightbown, Nina Spada
🇲🇲 Professional Development Specialist, Brainworks International School, Yangon (Deadline: 29 Feb 2024)
🇿🇦 Home Language Teacher (Afrikaans), Hermitage House, Eastern Cape (Deadline: 29 Feb 2024)
🇲🇼 Head of Art & Design, St. Andrew’s International High School, Blantyre (Deadline: 01 Mar 2024)
🇰🇭 Senior National Programme Officer (Strengthening Teacher Education Programmes in Cambodia - STEPCam), UNESCO, Phnom Penh (Deadline: 05 Mar 2024)
🇬🇧 Teacher of Mathematics , St Edmund's College, Hertfordshire (Deadline: 07 Mar 2024)
🇦🇺 Science Teacher, St Patrick's College, New South Wales (Deadline: 07 Mar 2024)
🇱🇻 Director, International School of Latvia, Latvia (Deadline: 08 Mar 2024)
🇲🇾 Key Stage 2 Teacher, Excellent International School, Kuala Lumpur (Deadline: 09 Mar 2024)
🇫🇷 Programme Specialist, UNESCO, Paris (Deadline: 13 Mar 2024)
🇳🇱 Assistant Professor (Computer Vision and Image Processing), Maastricht University, Maastricht (Deadline: 17 Mar 2024)
🇲🇦 Professor / Associate Professor (Implementation Science and Healthcare Innovations), Bond University, Gold Coast (Deadline: 24 Mar 2024)
🇺🇸 Social Emotional Learning Teacher, International Rescue Committee, New York (Deadline: 19 Apr 2024)
Disclaimer: The Global Citizenship Foundation does not endorse or assume responsibility for the content, products, services, policies, or practices of external links, providers, or any third-party materials referenced in this newsletter. Please use your discretion when accessing external links or resources.
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The Global Citizenship Foundation is a leading specialist international organization based in South Asia (NCR Delhi, India) and the European Union (Tallinn, Estonia). Its principal mandate is to realize the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 4 and Target 4.7 (Education for Global Citizenship and Sustainable Development). Since 2016, the GCF has impacted education in 70+ countries, striving to transform education for human and planetary flourishing.
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