How can varieties of English using the example of Jamaican Creole be taught? The main objective of this thesis will be the introduction of different methods and materials that can be used for teaching varieties of English using the example of Jamaican Creole.
Hearing different varieties of English when having learned about only two varieties, that is to say, British and American English, may lead to confusion and in some cases even to aversion towards other varieties thinking that only Standard British or American English are ‘real’ Englishes. Without a doubt, it is the responsibility of EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers to raise awareness about English varieties and make the students realize that every variety of English deserves respect and acceptance.
First and foremost, the historical background of Jamaican Creole will be examined and the focus will be on how it emerged and developed. On this occasion, it will be analyzed in what way several languages such as English, Spanish, and African languages have influenced Jamaican Creole. Special attention is directed towards the major terms pidgins and creoles in order to understand how creole languages all over the world have come into existence. In the next step, I will go into further detail on the linguistic profile of Jamaica. The focus will be on the role of Standard Jamaican English and Jamaican Creole in different contexts and situations. As not only one Jamaican Creole exists, the definition of the Post-Creole Continuum will be part of this chapter. Afterward, linguistic features of Jamaican Creole such as phonological, grammatical, and lexical will be further explained and demonstrated through selected examples, in other words, a Reggae song, and a short story. These literary texts will also be used in the further course of this thesis when developing a unit about Jamaican Creole. Linguistic similarities to other pidgin and creole languages will be presented in order to comprehend how they must have emerged and developed in the same way and that some of them have the same origin. In the following chapter, the importance of English varieties in the educational context will be emphasized. By this means, it will be analyzed what role English varieties play in the German curriculum and how they are represented in German course books for EFL learners. In the last chapter, the focus will be on ways to teach Jamaican Creole in school. [...]
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Historical Background of Jamaican Creole
2.1 Emergence and Development of Jamaican Creole
2.2 Pidgins and Creoles
3 The Linguistic Profile of Jamaica
3.1 The Post-Creole Continuum
3.2 Standard Jamaican English
3.3 Jamaican Creole
4 Linguistic Features of Jamaican Creole
4.1 Phonological
4.2 Grammatical
4.3 Lexical
4.4 Linguistic Analysis of Literary Texts
4.4.1 Makeda Silvera’s Caribbean Chameleon (1994)
4.4.2 Capleton’s That Day Will Come (2004)
4.5 Linguistic Similarities to Other English-based Pidgins and Creoles
5 The Importance of English Varieties in the Educational Context
5.1 English Varieties in the Curriculum
5.2 English Varieties in Course Books
6 Cultural Aspects of Jamaica: Jamaican Creole in Literature and Music
6.1 Literary Texts: Short Stories, Poems, and Novels
6.2 Culture: Reggae and Rastafari
7 Teaching Jamaican Creole in School
7.1 Didaktische Analyse - English Around the World as a Unit
7.2 Structure of the First Lesson Using Makeda Silvera’s Caribbean Chameleon
7.2.1 Sachanalyse
7.2.2 Didaktische Reduktion
7.2.3 Learning Objectives
7.2.4 Methodischer Kommentar
7.2.4.1 Introduction
7.2.4.2 Elaboration I
7.2.4.3 Recording Results I
7.2.4.4 Elaboration II
7.2.4.5 Recording Results II
7.2.5 Planned Lesson
7.3 Structure of the Second Lesson Using Capleton’s That Day Will Come
7.3.1 Sachanalyse
7.3.2 Didaktische Reduktion
7.3.3 Learning Objectives
7.3.4 Methodischer Kommentar
7.3.4.1 Introduction
7.3.4.2 Elaboration I
7.3.4.3 Recording Results I
7.3.4.4 Elaboration II
7.3.4.5 Recording Results II
7.3.5 Planned Lesson
7.4 Corpus of Literary Texts Suitable for Teaching
7.5 Corpus of Reggae Songs Suitable for Teaching
8 Conclusion and Outlook
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This thesis examines the pedagogical implementation of English language varieties in schools, focusing on Jamaican Creole. It aims to bridge the gap in German curricula, which primarily emphasize Standard British and American English, by providing methods and materials to integrate diverse varieties. The primary research question is: "How can varieties of English using the example of Jamaican Creole be taught?"
- Exploring the historical and linguistic background of Jamaican Creole.
- Analyzing the role of Jamaican Creole within the Post-Creole Continuum.
- Evaluating authentic literary texts and Reggae music as teaching materials.
- Developing specific educational units that address social and political contexts.
- Promoting awareness and acceptance of linguistic diversity in ESL classrooms.
Extract from the Book
1 Introduction
[The] English language has advanced to a globalized phenomenon and grown out of the cradle of the traditional standard varieties, first and foremost British and American English. Speakers of English today are far more likely to encounter non-native speakers than native speakers of the language […]. We can, therefore, safely assume that today’s learners of English will (have to) communicate with speakers of English from various different backgrounds.
According to Peter Schildhauer et al., it is crucial for students of English as a foreign language to learn about English varieties other than the main taught varieties, which are British and American English, in order to get prepared for authentic situations in their daily lives, especially when traveling abroad. When traveling to Australia, students will get to hear Australian English and Canadian English in Canada. Students will quickly notice that phonology and lexis differ from the varieties they have learned about at school. While walking around in urban areas of the United States, students will most likely hear African American English around them and realize that the grammar is not the same as the Standard British English grammar they have acquired at school. Hearing different varieties of English when having learned about only two varieties, that is to say, British and American English, may lead to confusion and in some cases even to aversion towards other varieties thinking that only Standard British or American English are ‘real’ Englishes. Without a doubt, it is the responsibility of EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers to raise awareness about English varieties and make the students realize that every variety of English deserves respect and acceptance.
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: Discusses the global status of English and the necessity for EFL students to learn about linguistic varieties beyond the standard British and American models.
2 Historical Background of Jamaican Creole: Examines the origins, development, and the classification of Jamaican Creole as a product of colonial history and linguistic contact.
3 The Linguistic Profile of Jamaica: Details the sociolinguistic situation in Jamaica, specifically the Post-Creole Continuum, Standard Jamaican English, and the role of Jamaican Creole.
4 Linguistic Features of Jamaican Creole: Analyzes the specific phonological, grammatical, and lexical characteristics and demonstrates their application in literary and musical texts.
5 The Importance of English Varieties in the Educational Context: Evaluates the treatment of English varieties in German official curricula and their representation in school course books.
6 Cultural Aspects of Jamaica: Jamaican Creole in Literature and Music: Explores the role of postcolonial literature and the Rastafarian movement in shaping Jamaican cultural and linguistic expression.
7 Teaching Jamaican Creole in School: Provides practical lesson plans and material recommendations for incorporating Jamaican Creole into high school instruction.
8 Conclusion and Outlook: Summarizes the major findings and reaffirms the importance of including diverse English varieties in teaching to foster empathy and cultural awareness.
Keywords
Jamaican Creole, Varieties of English, Post-Creole Continuum, EFL Education, Rastafarianism, Reggae, Postcolonial Literature, Sociolinguistics, Language Teaching, Cultural Awareness, Pidgin, Standard Jamaican English, Pedagogical Analysis, Linguistic Features, Language Contact.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this thesis?
The thesis investigates how varieties of English, specifically Jamaican Creole, can be effectively taught in German schools to broaden students' linguistic horizons beyond standard varieties.
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
The work covers historical development, linguistic analysis, pedagogical strategies, cultural context (Reggae, Rastafarianism), and the evaluation of existing educational materials.
What is the central research question?
The research question asks: "How can varieties of English using the example of Jamaican Creole be taught?"
Which scientific methods are applied?
The author utilizes a descriptive analysis of linguistic features, a review of official curriculum documents, and the development of pedagogical lesson structures using authentic materials.
What content is covered in the main body?
The main body moves from theoretical linguistic foundations and history to practical teaching applications, including analyzing songs and short stories for classroom use.
What key terms characterize the thesis?
Important keywords include Jamaican Creole, Post-Creole Continuum, EFL pedagogy, linguistic diversity, sociolinguistics, and cultural resistance.
How does the Post-Creole Continuum function in Jamaica?
It acts as a spectrum ranging from the prestigious acrolect (Standard Jamaican English) to the basilect (Jamaican Creole), with various mesolects in between, used depending on social contexts.
Why are Reggae songs suitable for teaching?
They provide authentic cultural material that addresses socio-political issues, allowing students to engage with real-world English as it is spoken and lived by the Jamaican population.
What role does Rastafarianism play in the linguistic analysis?
Rastafarianism has its own register, known as "Rasta Talk," which utilizes specific lexical items and metaphorical language that reflect religious and social resistance.
- Quote paper
- Sarah Lenhardt (Author), 2022, English Around the World. Teaching Varieties of English Using the Example of Jamaican Creole, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1417946
