SJS 377T Sustainable Education and Language Learning in Madagascar
This course concentrates on language teaching and educational materials development in collaboration with rural schools in Northern Madagascar. Franklin students in this course work with the Swiss NGO, Boky Mamiko ("Books my Love"), which has cooperated in recent years in Madagascar with local community school directors, teachers, students, and community leaders in the areas of education, employment creation, health and nutrition, and environmental protection. In the first half of the course, Franklin students will gain insights about Madagascar and its educational system using concepts from the study of poverty, employment and development strategies in low-income countries. Students will also learn fundamentals of language teaching pedagogy and materials development, including doing some practice teaching in local Ticino contexts. During the academic travel portion of the course, students learn from school directors, teachers, students, and community leaders about the local culture, environment, language, lifestyle and related challenges. Franklin students will document their experience with pictures and personal notes, which they will use later to develop educational materials. Students also carry out some pilot teaching and testing of the English language skills of the children at the schools. Following a model of reciprocal learning, Malagasy language sessions will be organized by the local students for the Franklin students. Upon return to campus, Franklin students will use what they have learned to develop ad hoc educational materials for teaching English, Italian or other subjects of their choice (such as local geography, history or environmental education). These materials ideally should include some creativity, such as for instance writing or illustrating a children’s storybook, designing flash cards or creating educational games. This academic travel course is best suited for students with some proficiency in French (the country’s second national language) and requires the flexibility to adapt to simple living conditions and to possible changes in itineraries. (Recommended prerequisite: FRE 201)