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. [...]
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Historical Background of Jamaican Creole
- Emergence and Development of Jamaican Creole
- Pidgins and Creoles
- The Linguistic Profile of Jamaica
- The Post-Creole Continuum
- Standard Jamaican English
- Jamaican Creole
- Linguistic Features of Jamaican Creole
- Phonological
- Grammatical
- Lexical
- Linguistic Analysis of Literary Texts
- Makeda Silvera's Caribbean Chameleon (1994)
- Capleton's That Day Will Come (2004)
- Linguistic Similarities to Other English-based Pidgins and Creoles
- The Importance of English Varieties in the Educational Context
- English Varieties in the Curriculum
- English Varieties in Course Books
- Cultural Aspects of Jamaica: Jamaican Creole in Literature and Music
- Literary Texts: Short Stories, Poems, and Novels
- Culture: Reggae and Rastafari
- Teaching Jamaican Creole in School
- Didaktische Analyse - English Around the World as a Unit
- Structure of the First Lesson Using Makeda Silvera's Caribbean Chameleon
- Sachanalyse
- Didaktische Reduktion
- Learning Objectives
- Methodischer Kommentar
- Introduction
- Elaboration I
- Recording Results I
- Elaboration II
- Recording Results II
- Planned Lesson
- Structure of the Second Lesson Using Capleton's That Day Will Come
- Sachanalyse
- Didaktische Reduktion
- Learning Objectives
- Methodischer Kommentar
- Introduction
- Elaboration I
- Recording Results I
- Elaboration II
- Recording Results II
- Planned Lesson
- Corpus of Literary Texts Suitable for Teaching
- Corpus of Reggae Songs Suitable for Teaching
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This thesis aims to investigate the teaching of English varieties using the example of Jamaican Creole. The main objective is to explore methods and materials that can be used to introduce students to this unique language, which is often not found in standard German curriculums. The thesis will highlight the importance of understanding the historical background, linguistic features, and cultural significance of Jamaican Creole in order to promote a more inclusive and comprehensive view of English as a global language.
- Historical development and emergence of Jamaican Creole
- Linguistic features of Jamaican Creole in comparison to Standard English
- The role of Jamaican Creole in literature, music, and culture
- Developing teaching materials and methods for introducing Jamaican Creole in the classroom
- The importance of recognizing and respecting English varieties beyond standard varieties
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The thesis begins by examining the historical development of Jamaican Creole, tracing its emergence and evolution from a pidgin language to a creole language. It explores the influence of English, Spanish, and African languages on its formation and provides a definition of the key concepts of pidgins and creoles. Subsequent chapters delve into the linguistic profile of Jamaica, focusing on the relationship between Standard Jamaican English and Jamaican Creole, and the concept of the Post-Creole Continuum.
The thesis then explores the linguistic features of Jamaican Creole in detail, providing examples of phonological, grammatical, and lexical differences from Standard English. It also analyzes literary texts, including a short story and a Reggae song, to illustrate the use of Jamaican Creole in written and musical forms.
Further chapters address the importance of English varieties in the educational context, highlighting the lack of representation of varieties like Jamaican Creole in German EFL curriculums.
The final chapters focus on teaching Jamaican Creole in schools, proposing methods and materials for creating a unit based on literary texts and music.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This thesis explores the complexities of English varieties, focusing on the specific case of Jamaican Creole. It emphasizes the significance of understanding the historical, linguistic, and cultural aspects of this language, highlighting the need for inclusivity and respect for diverse varieties of English in the educational context. Key terms include: Jamaican Creole, English varieties, pidgin, creole, Post-Creole Continuum, linguistic analysis, literary texts, Reggae music, teaching materials, cultural significance, and educational inclusivity.
- 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
