Meaningful Learning Article

The article I chose is The Role of English in Individual and Societal Development: A View from African Classrooms, by Ailie Cleghorn and Marissa Rollnick. In this article, the authors discuss when to begin L2 teaching (English, in this case). They feel that, according to studies done, that the best time is either after or at the same time as the student is becoming literate in his first language. This is so that the mother language is not lost while the second language is acquired. The authors delve into meaningful learning when they discuss how important code-switching is for language learners. Just giving students vocabulary and grammar in a second language does them no good if they cannot understand that there are cultural differences between them and other language speakers. The goal is to maintain their own native culture, while preparing these learners for becoming world citizens.