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Read more about the Lecture Series Program
lecture series
Minority Language in Today's Global Society:
Perspectives in Mother Tongue Education
Trace Foundation’s lecture series is entitled Minority Language in Today's Global Society. The lecture events in the series will bring together speakers from diverse national and disciplinary backgrounds to examine and share experiences on the selected topics at hand, with a special comparative focus on Tibetan language communities in China. Each event will be organized around different topics such as mother-tongue language use policies and practices, minority language in the internet age, language endangerment and preservation, mother-tongue education models and practices, language diversity and biodiversity, language standardization, linguistics research, and more. The lectures are free and open to the public. A series publication will be produced and distributed.
Speakers
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Shawo Dondrup, Project Manager, Hainan Prefecture Junior Middle School Pilot Project, Trace Foundation, Qinghai Province, P.R.China. click here to read short bio
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François Grin, Professor of Economics, School of Translation and Interpretation (ETI), University of Geneva, Switzerland. click here to read short bio
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Tenzin Norbu Nangsal , Instructor of Modern Tibetan Language, Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University, New York. click here to read short bio
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Tove Skutnabb-Kangas, Professor Emerita, University of Roskilde, Department of Languages and Culture, Denmark and Åbo Akademi University, Department of Education, Vasa, Finland . click here to read short bio
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Minglang Zhou, Associate Professor and Chair, East Asian Studies Department, Dickinson College, Pennsylvania. click here to read short bio
Perspectives in Mother Tongue Education
Both sessions will take place at Trace Foundation & Latse Contemporary Tibetan Cultural Library, 132 Perry Street, 2B, New York, NY 10014
Day 1: Saturday, February 21, 2009, International Mother Language Day
9:00-10:00 a.m. Check-in/breakfast
10:00-12:15 p.m. Morning session
12:15-1:00 p.m. Lunch (on your own)
1:15-5:30 p.m. Afternoon session
5:30-7:00 p.m. Reception
Day 2: Sunday, February 22, 2009
9:00-10:00a.m. Check-in/breakfast
10:00-12:30 p.m. Discussion/closing remarks
Contact: events@trace.org, telephone: (212) 367-7380, fax: (212) 367-7383
*Registration requested. To register, please download the registration form or email or fax it to us. You may also call us with your name, contact email, affiliation, and mailing address.
In recognition of International Mother Language Day, which was proclaimed in 1999 by UNESCO to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism, the second lecture event will focus on mother language in education. According to UNESCO, many studies show that instruction in the mother tongue is more effective for achievement not only for the first language, but also for other subject areas and for second language learning. Despite these findings, mother tongue education is still far from being a widely-accepted model, often due to social, economic, political, or even technological challenges. Why is mother tongue an issue in education? What does mother tongue education look like in practice? Is it truly worthwhile in terms of real costs and benefits?
In China, over 120 languages are spoken; of these, 60 are officially recognized and are protected and supported by legal and policy initiatives. However, one language, Mandarin Chinese, is essential for participation in the broader national economic and cultural life. Because of the challenges this situation poses, China has in recent decades adopted bilingualism as a policy goal. In terms of education, many different models of bilingual education exist, with varying ranges of emphasis on the use of mother tongue as the language of instruction. For minority language communities, what education models are most effective for ensuring both achievement and multilingualism? What models are in practice in western regions of China today? What do these models imply for the vitality of Tibetan language?
These are just some of the questions and issues we will attempt to explore during this lecture event. On Saturday, February 21st, each speaker will present a paper, followed by a discussion with fellow speakers, and a chance to take questions and comments from the audience. The day will end with a reception. On Sunday, February 22nd, the speakers will participate in a roundtable discussion examining the implications for Tibetan and other minority languages in education and achievement in China.
