Whose “Bilingual” Education? The Perspectives from the Sociology of Curriculum (78137)
Session Chair: Aaron Ward
Wednesday, 27 March 2024 15:00
Session: Session 4
Room: Room 707
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
In alignment with the National Development Council, the Ministry of Education introduced the "Blueprint for Developing Taiwan into a Bilingual Nation by 2030" in 2018, with the goal of activating bilingual education and fostering Taiwan’s bilingual talents for global engagement. Education is identified as the primary driver for nurturing bilingual skills.
However, a notable deficiency in the policy is the absence of a clear definition for "bilingual", leading to a predominant focus on "English education." The study seeks to explore why "English" has become the central component of our "bilingual education." The research aims to uncover the rationale behind policy formation, the policy development process within the social context, and the role of individuals in shaping this educational directive.
Consequently, the study adopts a sociological perspective, particularly focusing on two key aspects of the curriculum: ideology and social control. The author contends that Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) serves as a crucial methodology by delving into the intricacies of the political landscape.
Drawing from the CDA, the author constructs an analytical framework to examine bilingual education, leading to two primary conclusions. First, the promotion of family and bilingual education is advocated through the encouragement of "speaking mother’s words." Second, the study suggests that acquiring proficiency in mother tongues can contribute to the cultivation of a more diverse set of multilingual talents. The proposed orientation for bilingual education underscores the importance of commencing at the family level and emphasizes the need for implementation within a conducive learning environment.
Authors:
Ru-Fen Luo, National Kaohsiung Normal University, Taiwan
About the Presenter(s)
Ru-Fen, Luo is currently a doctoral student in National Kaohsiung Normal University in Taiwan.
See this presentation on the full schedule – Wednesday Schedule
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