Patois and English
published: Sunday | November 30, 2003

THE EDITOR, Sir:

ON A trip to the Yucatan this year we were informed that many of the very young children in this area speak only Mayan.

When they start school they are taught for the first two years in both Mayan and Spanish. Then in Spanish only after that period.

Since we are having problems with young children understanding English when they start school, could we not apply the same system and teach the first two years when they are learning to read and write in both patois and English? Then in English only after that, but at least the children would have a reference point from which to understand/translate what they have been brought up to speak to the language in which all text/reading books are written.

I am etc.,

YVONNE S. TODD

Kingsway, Kingston 10