Don't insist on English! - Patricia Ryan

Summary

The speaker, a veteran educator in the Gulf for over 30 years, addresses the alarming rate of language loss, occurring at a rate of one every 14 days, juxtaposed with the rise of English as the global lingua franca. They recount personal experiences, including teaching in Kuwait and the evolution of English education into a vast international industry. The talk questions the fairness of using English proficiency as the sole criterion for academic and professional advancement, suggesting it creates barriers and overlooks the value of linguistic diversity. The speaker advocates for a more inclusive approach, celebrating the potential of multiple languages to foster innovation and shared knowledge, and warns against the loss of cultural heritage and indigenous wisdom when languages disappear.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The speaker has been living and teaching in the Gulf for over 30 years, witnessing significant changes in language and education.
• 🌱 A poignant example is shared where an English teacher in Abu Dhabi learns local plant names and their uses from her students, highlighting the value of indigenous knowledge.
• 🔍 The script addresses the alarming rate at which languages are disappearing, with one language dying every 14 days, suggesting a potential link to the globalization of English.
• 🏫 English has become the global language, and its spread is connected to the modernization efforts and educational policies of various countries, as illustrated by the speaker's experience in Kuwait.
• 📈 The teaching of English has evolved from a beneficial practice to a massive international business, with English-speaking nations capitalizing on the demand for English education.
• 🚫 The script questions the fairness of using English proficiency as the sole criterion for academic and professional opportunities, suggesting it may act as a barrier to non-native speakers.
• 🧠 It challenges the assumption that intelligence is equated with knowledge of English, pointing out that historical figures like Einstein did not need to pass English tests to make significant contributions.
• 📚 The reliance on English in research and academia is critiqued as a self-fulfilling prophecy that perpetuates the dominance of English and sidelines other languages.
• 🌟 The importance of translation and multilingualism in advancing knowledge is underscored, drawing a parallel to the Islamic Golden Age.
• 💡 The speaker advocates for celebrating linguistic diversity and using language as a tool to spread great ideas, rather than as a barrier to progress and innovation.

Q & A

How long has the speaker been living and teaching in the Gulf?

The speaker has been living and teaching in the Gulf for over 30 years.

What is the rate at which languages are dying according to the speaker?

A language dies every 14 days, as stated by the speaker.

Why did the Kuwaiti government recruit non-Muslim teachers to teach in state schools?

The Kuwaiti government wanted to modernize the country and empower citizens through education, and they were brought in by the British Council to teach English.

How has the teaching of English evolved according to the speaker?

Teaching English has evolved from a mutually beneficial practice to a massive international business, no longer just a foreign language in school curriculums or the domain of one country.

What is the speaker's stance on using English as a barrier for education and opportunities?

The speaker is against using English as a barrier, arguing that it can be dangerous to give too much power to language requirements and that it can exclude many talented individuals.

What historical period did the speaker mention in relation to translation and the spread of knowledge?

The speaker mentioned the Islamic Golden Age, where there was a lot of translation from Latin and Greek into Arabic and Persian, which then spread to other European languages.

Why does the speaker argue that equating intelligence with knowledge of English is arbitrary?

The speaker argues that equating intelligence with knowledge of English is arbitrary because historical giants, like Einstein, did not need to know English to make significant contributions to the world.

What is the significance of the story about the two English scientists and the German scientist mentioned by the speaker?

The story illustrates how different languages can lead to different ways of thinking and problem-solving, and how cooperation across languages can lead to breakthroughs.

What personal anecdote did the speaker share about their daughter's education?

The speaker's daughter studied Science and Mathematics in Arabic and was the best in her class at those subjects when she translated the knowledge into English at her grammar school.

What is the main message the speaker conveyed about language diversity and its importance?

The speaker emphasized the importance of celebrating diversity and using language to spread great ideas, rather than letting language differences keep us in the dark and limit our potential.