The Need for a Bilingual Education in the Third Republic

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Periodical article

Title:	The Need for a Bilingual Education in the Third Republic
Author:	Brown, Robert H.
Year:	1997
Periodical:	Liberian Studies Journal
Volume:	22
Issue:	1
Pages:	83-87
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Liberia
Subjects:	English language education African languages languages of instruction Education and Oral Traditions
Abstract:	In the context of the coexistence in Liberia of the English language and the sixteen officially recognized major languages of the country, this paper stresses the need for bilingual education in Liberia. The best way to educate a bilingual student is to begin with a skill he or she has mastered, namely his or her mother tongue, and build on it one step at a time. For example, a pupil's first five years in primary school could be ideally devoted to learning to master the skills of reading and writing in his or her mother tongue, while at the same time being exposed to the English language in a classroom setting. The author presents brief guidelines for the drawing up of a bilingual education programme, paying attention to teacher training and the production of instruction materials.