The Teaching of Creole in Guadeloupe
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Mirna Bolus
Abstract
While the teaching of Creole and in Creole have both been practiced in France’s overseas departments since the 1950s, it was not until the beginning of the 21st century that the French government instituted two competitive qualifying examinations for teachers of Creole. This article discusses the state of the teaching of Creole in Guadeloupe. The introduction of Creole in schools appears to be a step towards offi cial recognition of linguistic diversity by the republic. However, it serves a dual purpose: it meets the requirements of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages while, at the same time, preempting demands by local rights activists that might upset the supposedly peaceful atmosphere of the DOM. Keywords: CAPES; teaching of Creole in Gouadeloupe; Langues et Cultures Régionales (LCR)
Abstract
While the teaching of Creole and in Creole have both been practiced in France’s overseas departments since the 1950s, it was not until the beginning of the 21st century that the French government instituted two competitive qualifying examinations for teachers of Creole. This article discusses the state of the teaching of Creole in Guadeloupe. The introduction of Creole in schools appears to be a step towards offi cial recognition of linguistic diversity by the republic. However, it serves a dual purpose: it meets the requirements of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages while, at the same time, preempting demands by local rights activists that might upset the supposedly peaceful atmosphere of the DOM. Keywords: CAPES; teaching of Creole in Gouadeloupe; Langues et Cultures Régionales (LCR)
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Creoles in education 1
- Raising critical language awareness in Hawai‘i at Da Pidgin Coup 31
- Chabacano for everyone? 55
- The Teaching of Creole in Guadeloupe 81
- Integrating local languages and cultures into the education system of French Guiana 107
- Kriol in Caribbean Nicaragua schools 133
- Swimming against the tide 167
- Introducing French Creole as a language of instruction in education in St. Lucia 183
- Bilingual education among the Karipúna and Galibi-Marwono 211
- Language and education in Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao 237
- Cape Verdean in education 273
- Trilingual education 297
- Bibliography 323
- Biographical sketches of contributors 351
- Index 355
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Creoles in education 1
- Raising critical language awareness in Hawai‘i at Da Pidgin Coup 31
- Chabacano for everyone? 55
- The Teaching of Creole in Guadeloupe 81
- Integrating local languages and cultures into the education system of French Guiana 107
- Kriol in Caribbean Nicaragua schools 133
- Swimming against the tide 167
- Introducing French Creole as a language of instruction in education in St. Lucia 183
- Bilingual education among the Karipúna and Galibi-Marwono 211
- Language and education in Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao 237
- Cape Verdean in education 273
- Trilingual education 297
- Bibliography 323
- Biographical sketches of contributors 351
- Index 355
