On the evolution of English as a written or spoken language.

Just saw a neat story about English on NPR

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Tourism is one of Zanzibar's main industries, and learning English is vital to attain a highly-prized hotel job. It's their ticket out of the hardscrabble life their parents lead in the fishing industry.

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But their primary school education was all in Swahili. Now that their high school is taught in English as the law requires, the students can hardly read the questions on the science quiz, let alone absorb the science.

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What do you think?Edited by Phat, : No reason given.Edited by Phat, : fixed quote

I forgot to change the sub title. I suppose that my reaction to the NPR article was that Young people are wired to think in their language and cultural expression and yet required to learn English in order to succeed at business. I watched a bit of their movie and was empathetic to their passion. Just by making the movie they (the filmmakers) were able to communicate their heart and passion to me despite knowing few ways to express it in English.

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The film examines one of the oldest debates in African education. Should classes be taught in the colonial language of English (or French) or in local languages that students speak and understand more fluently?

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