Bilingual Education Models

Jigsaw Reading: A Powerful Collaborative Strategy for ESL Classrooms Looking for a student-centered strategy that boosts communication and comprehension in your ESL lessons? Try Jigsaw Reading—a cooperative learning technique where every student becomes both a learner and a teacher. What is Jigsaw Reading? Students are divided into groups and assigned different parts of a text. They first become "experts" in their assigned section, then return to their groups to teach what they've learned. This approach promotes active reading, listening, and speaking skills—all essential in language acquisition. How to Implement It: 1. Divide students into home groups (4–6 students). 2. Assign each member a unique section of the text. 3. Students join expert groups to study and discuss their section. 4. Return to home groups—each student teaches their part. 5. Wrap up with a class discussion, quiz, or reflection activity. -Why It Works for ESL Learners: Builds communication and collaboration Encourages peer teaching and accountability Supports reading fluency and comprehension Boosts learner confidence with manageable text chunks -Pro Tips for ESL Teachers: Scaffold with vocabulary lists and sentence starters Use visuals to aid understanding Monitor and guide group discussions Choose level-appropriate, culturally inclusive texts Integrate speaking or writing tasks as follow-up -Bonus Tip: You can extend this strategy into a project-based task—students create a summary poster, infographic, or even a mini-podcast to present their topic! Let your students lead the learning—because when learners teach, they remember more. #ESLTeaching #CollaborativeLearning #JigsawReading #ActiveLearning #ELT #ESLStrategies #TeacherTips #TESOL #TEFL #LanguageLearning #StudentCenteredLearning #EnglishTeaching #ReadingSkills

The secret to learning a language isn’t about how you study. It’s about how you feel: Many people learn poorly   👉🏻 spending hours on vocabulary/grammar 👉🏻 following instructions, exercises & apps 👉🏻 reaching a plateau and getting frustrated   Linguists can tell you   👉🏻 Languages are about communicating, not speaking correctly 👉🏻 Everyone has their own best style of learning. 👉🏻 You learn most effectively when you’re “present”   Every method has something to offer. But you’ll learn faster and better when you: 👉🏿 Embrace immersion and mistakes. If you can’t spend time in country, surround yourself with a language-rich environment: TV, podcasts, conversation partners, exchange apps, social media accounts, online fora. Write daily journal entries or posts. Change your phone settings. Solve problems, complete real tasks imperfectly. 👉🏿 Make it fun your way Use what you love: News videos? Soap operas? Social media? Movies? Podcasts? Audio books? Lessons? Group lessons? Social activities? Sport? Comedy shows? Support networks? Hobbies? Events? Language challenges? What’s enjoyable? Brainstorm and learn with AI. 👉🏿 Fall in love with the culture Explore all that intrigues you. Ethnicities, histories, music, cuisine, pop culture, youth trends, regions, hierarchies, families, art, entertainment, traditions, ideas. 👉🏿 Work in an environment that lifts you up and gives you energy Dive in and get things done using your new language, however badly. Make mistakes and laugh at yourself. It's not what they taught at school. It took me time to change. Once I did, it helped me improve my Thai, Spanish, Korean and other languages. What’s your best tip? #diplomacyforall

“Norway is a small country; we must collaborate more.” With these words, the new Minister for Research and Higher Education, Sigrun Aasland, announced that Norway will scrap its mandatory Norwegian language training for international PhD students and postdocs. Only weeks ago, I wrote that researchers warned that this policy would “hamper international recruitment.” Norway listened. Fast. Still, the damage is done. Spring is PhD application season. How many PhD applications did they lose while debating this? Once you lose top research talent, it is hard to rebuild trust. Mandatory language training meant three months of classes — for people already under pressure to publish, teach, network, and survive in a competitive job market. As Nobel laureate Edvard Moser put it, the reversal is “an enormous relief” — but warned it could be reversed again after elections. It is still unclear if Norway will also drop the B2 language requirement for permanent academic staff — a tougher requirement than for Norwegian citizenship. The numbers speak for themselves: 44% of PhD candidates and 74% of postdocs in Norway are international researchers. Smart countries attract talent. They do not build walls around it. Learning the local language is valuable. Forcing it is counterproductive. Especially in small language regions where academic careers are inherently global. You can protect a language. But if you drive out your researchers, what exactly are you protecting? This is a wake-up call for every country flirting with academic protectionism right now. Once research environments start to close in on themselves, it is not just language that will be lost. It is innovation. It is collaboration. It is future leadership. Talent goes where it is welcome. #Academia #PhDLife #HigherEducation #ResearchMatters #InternationalTalent #Norway #SciencePolicy

Prof. Krishna Kumar’s incisive article “A Multilingual Classroom” is more than a commentary on CBSE’s recent circular. It is a clarion call to reimagine the very foundations of how we structure knowledge, power, and belonging in Indian classrooms. For far too long, English has functioned not simply as a medium of instruction but as a marker of cultural capital. It has shaped hierarchies of aspiration, legitimacy, and success. Kumar traces this back to our intellectual inheritance, where figures like Tagore, Gandhi, Vivekananda, and J.P. Naik emphasized the primacy of the child’s mother tongue in education. They understood that learning is not merely linguistic but deeply embodied, rooted in the child’s lived experience and cultural imagination. CBSE’s recent move to foreground the mother tongue in early primary education has the potential to be a turning point. This is not a minor administrative directive but a philosophical shift. If carried through with conviction, it could begin to undo the alienation that many children feel when schooled in a language that neither reflects their reality nor affirms their identity. What is needed now is a radical rethinking of the future. A truly multilingual classroom must be rooted in equity, empathy, and epistemic justice. It must allow children to think, dream, and express themselves in the languages that hold meaning for them. This means: - Curriculum must move beyond textbook translation and begin producing knowledge systems grounded in regional thought and expression. - Teacher training must empower educators to handle multilingual classrooms with pedagogical creativity, not see them as problems to be managed. - Assessment frameworks must respect linguistic diversity and stop punishing students for not conforming to monolingual norms. - Parental engagement must involve reframing aspirations around linguistic richness instead of monolithic English dominance. CBSE’s decision, Prof. Krishna Kumar argues, if implemented with care, sensitivity, and structural support, could move us closer to an education system that he calls systemic equity—not through uniformity but through honoring differences. #MultilingualEducation #CBSEReform #LanguagePolicy #IndianEducation #MotherTongueMatters #DecolonizeCurriculum #PedagogicalJustice #KrishnaKumar #EducationPolicy

Could Small AI Models Help Keep Indigenous Languages Alive? 🔥🔥🔥⬇️ We often think of AI as driven by Large Language Models (LLMs) which require vast amounts of data. But what if the future of language preservation lies in Small Language Models (SLMs)? In my recent interview with Lawson Stapleton from LanguageWire we explored how SLMs could be the key to revitalizing indigenous languages that are on the brink of extinction. While LLMs dominate due to their massive datasets, SLMs are designed to be more focused, cost-effective, and adaptable, exactly what’s needed for low-resource languages. It’s hard to argue with Lawson’s compelling main premise:“Using a small language model, we would be able to create a conversational, searchable, translatable mechanism that not only preserves the language but also contributes to it. It would create huge amounts of access and put people back into the world pipeline. It’s also something that can be used by the community itself as a sense of empowerment.” Instead of leaving indigenous languages behind, SLMs offer a tailored approach that bridges the gap between modern tech and cultural preservation. They empower communities to use, preserve, and celebrate their own languages…not as a relic of the past, but as a living, evolving means of communication. Is it time to rethink how we could use AI for linguistic diversity? Could AI Be An Unexpected Difference Maker for Indigenous Languages? Does the Localization industry hold a special responsibility to support language initiatives that make technology inclusive and community-driven? What are your thoughts on using AI to save endangered languages?

"The curriculum was never neutral—it was just never built for us." Black children walk into classrooms and immediately begin the work of code-switching, translating, suppressing, and surviving. White children walk in and see themselves— in the books, in the language, in the heroes, in the holidays, in the classroom norms. They are not just learning content—they are absorbing validation. What Happens in the Brain? The brain latches onto familiarity to process new information. That means: Relevance = retention Cultural connection = cognitive ease Representation = emotional safety Without these, cognitive load skyrockets—and learning stalls. Culture Fuels Comprehension Research shows that culturally responsive pedagogy: Increases reading comprehension Activates prior knowledge more efficiently Enhances motivation and attention Supports metacognition and critical thinking The Real Problem? We keep trying to close the reading gap with instruction, while ignoring the cultural gap baked into the curriculum. “You cannot separate literacy from identity. If students don’t see themselves, they don’t see the point.” —Dr. Gwendolyn Battle Lavert

🌱 Someone out there is still afraid to speak… not because they can't, but because no one showed them how! Last week, someone told me: “I wish I could speak good English ... I think I missed my chance.” That hit me hard. So I’m starting something new: ✨ Every Saturday, I’ll share a post with free tools or resources to support others. Because sometimes, all someone needs is a little nudge — and a link. 📚 This week’s “Support Saturday” is for all the English learners out there. Whether you're starting from zero or helping someone who is, here are some powerful, FREE websites to begin the journey: 🔹 BBC Learning English 👉 https://lnkd.in/dvjJTTrV 🎯 Grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation & real-world videos. 🔹 Duolingo 👉 www.duolingo.com 🎯 Fun, gamified English learning for daily progress. 🔹 British Council – Learn English 👉 https://lnkd.in/dJq8-G8v 🎯 Courses, grammar, videos & games for kids and adults. 🔹 Memrise 👉 www.memrise.com 🎯 Real-life videos that teach vocabulary and conversations. 🔹 ESL Lab 👉 www.esl-lab.com 🎯 Listening practice with quizzes — from beginner to advanced. 🔹 Quizlet 👉 www.quizlet.com 🎯 Flashcards for fast, easy vocabulary learning. 🔹 EngVid 👉 www.engvid.com 🎯 Free video lessons from native English teachers. 🔹 VOA Learning English 👉 https://lnkd.in/d3RAvuFP 🎯 News in slow, clear English to build vocabulary. 🔹 Khan Academy (Grammar) 👉 www.khanacademy.org 🎯 Simple, structured English grammar lessons. 📩 If you know someone who’s been putting off learning English — tag them, send this, or just share it. You never know how far one kind gesture can reach. 🌍 🪴 #SupportSaturday #GivingBack #PayForward #LearnEnglish #FreeResources #GrowthMindset #GiveBack #LifelongLearning #Education #Learning

In Japan, Finland, and Korea, children learn in the language of their homes—and consistently lead global education rankings. In contrast, millions of Nigerian children are taught in English, a language many don’t speak at home. The result? Lower comprehension, fragile confidence, and underperformance in key learning years. Visionaries like Prof. Babs Fafunwa, Prof. Chinyere Ohiri-Aniche, and Prof. E. Nolue Emenanjo have long championed the power of indigenous languages in education. Their work shows what research confirms: children learn best when they understand the language of instruction. Teaching in our local languages, especially in the early years, isn’t regression—it’s a proven path to learning equity, cultural resilience, and national development. It’s time to rethink our foundations.

India doesn’t speak in one tongue. She sings in a thousand. Let’s nurture every note. When we speak of India, we don’t speak of one language, one region, or one culture. We speak of a civilization where every language is a heartbeat, every dialect a living memory. But recently, data revealed the government's allocation on Indian languages over the last 10 years. The differences are glaring. While some languages have received significant support, many — even those with ancient roots and crores of speakers — have barely been touched. This isn’t about pitting one language against another. This is a call for justice, for inclusion, for celebration of all voices. 🌾 Sanskrit is the mother of many Indian languages — it holds the spirit of our Vedas and Upanishads. 🕌 Urdu is the soul of poetry, resistance, and syncretic culture. 🪔 Hindi connects hearts across the Hindi belt and carries a diverse literary tradition. 🏹 Tamil is the world’s oldest living languages, is a treasure of Sangam literature and Dravidian philosophy. Telugu is the language of music, devotion, and classical dance. Kannada gave birth to Vachana Sahitya and reformist voices of equality. Sindhi, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Konkani, Malayalam, Odia, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili, Assamese, Manipuri, and every other regional language — they each bring their own sacred song to the soul of Bharat. Yet, many of these languages are underfunded, undervalued, and under threat. If this continues, we risk losing not just words — but entire worlds. Let’s remember: A language is not just a tool of communication. It is identity, It is belonging, It is history, It is freedom. It is time for equal respect. Equal investment. Equal preservation. We must urge our governments, institutions, and people to: 1. Create equal opportunities for all Indian languages in education, media, and public life. 2. Invest in literary preservation, digitalization, and youth engagement. 3. Encourage bilingual and multilingual learning— not as a burden, but as a blessing. 4. Respect each language — big or small — because no voice is regional in a country like India. A nation that forgets its languages forgets its ancestors. But a nation that embraces its languages will always stay rooted, proud, and united. Let us stand — not for one language — but for all. Because India is not a single voice — she is a divine chorus. Let every child grow up proud of their mother tongue — whether it's Sanskrit or Santhali, Hindi or Haryanvi, Tamil or Tulu. Unity in diversity is not just a slogan. It is our sacred duty. #PromoteAllLanguages #IndianLanguagesMatter #UnityInDiversity #LinguisticEquality #BhashaPrem #MotherTongueMatters #SanskritToSanthali #DravidianLanguages #IndoAryanLanguages #VoiceOfIndia #OneNationManyVoices #CulturalHeritage #InclusiveIndia #LanguageIsIdentity #DigitalIndiaDeservesEveryLanguage

When a university closes a language department, it sends a clear message that understanding other cultures isn’t a priority. That seeing the world from someone else’s perspective doesn’t matter. That speaking only one language is enough in a world that’s anything but monolingual. But the reality is that language education is not a luxury reserved for a select few. It’s one of the most practical, forward-thinking investments an institution can make. Students who study languages don’t just learn how to communicate - they learn how to notice. They pick up on nuance. They become attuned to different ways of thinking, problem-solving, negotiating and building relationships. In today’s workplaces - whether in business, diplomacy, science, health or the arts, that kind of cultural awareness is a serious advantage. And yet, year after year, we watch language departments shrink or disappear entirely. The justification is usually financial. But the cost of losing these programs goes far beyond budgets and spreadsheets. When you cut a language department, you limit what students are exposed to. You narrow their world. You make it harder for them to connect with the communities they’ll serve. You reduce their ability to collaborate internationally, to operate with empathy, to work in multilingual teams, or to genuinely understand the forces shaping global events. You also send a message to students from multilingual or heritage backgrounds that their languages - and by extension, their identities and cultures - are not worth valuing or studying. The impact goes further than that. Fewer students studying languages means fewer future teachers, fewer translators, fewer culturally competent professionals in multiple sectors. It’s a slow erosion of connection and understanding at a time when we need both more than ever. We say we want graduates who are adaptable, open-minded and globally aware. But if we don’t support the programs that help build those qualities, those are just words. Keeping language departments open isn’t about convention - it’s about relevance. It’s about equipping people to live and work in a world that is interconnected, multilingual and diverse. Let’s stop treating languages like an optional extra. They’re a core part of the future we all need to invest in and benefit from, and they elevate every field of human interaction.