A Current Issue

For class we looked up articles about more of the history of Tibet.  I was interested in a part of the timeline we had been given that talked about a 1940's protest by the monks regarding a English school.  Since my plan is to teach English I have been interested from the beginning in who wants to or may not want to learn English, and why.  It is important to understand where the people are coming from and the switch that seems to have come from protesting English to seeking it out.

The big difference, I'm sure, is context.  In a context where their rights to their native language are not valued or diminished it makes sense for the focus to be defending those rights and needs even if it means needing to reject other things that may not be actually evil or unwanted, but in the moment there is a better good for them and for their people and culture that is being looked after. 

With these thoughts in mind I found an article or two, from varying perspectives, about a recent (2010) student and teacher peaceful protest and petition signing against removing Tibetan as the main language of instruction for the schools.  This was not in India, but it was still Tibetans and many of the Tibetans in India are recently come from maybe even this time period and so these experiences are part of what has shaped them. 

I know my approach will make all the difference and I continue in my excitement to learn all they have to teach me and learn better how to teach what is near and dear to me, my own language and the culture that will come to them in the ways they want it, hopefully, but come to them inevitably because that is what language brings. Language is essential to identity and I don't know how many times I will say that over again, but it is becoming clearer and clearer to me as my project moves forward.