The St John’s Academy in Portsmouth will become the first school on the island to introduce the Chinese language in its curriculum.
The language will be taught during the new school year, according to the institution’s principal, Dr. Juliana Magloire.
“We live in a changing world and in the dynamics of international affairs the Chinese are taking a more important role in business,” she told DNO in explaining the rationale behind the move.
She pointed out that China is the world’s largest manufacturer “so if our students want to get into business as an island, we have to look outside of the island and China is one of the places we should focus on”
“An additional language which can help them move their business forward or help them get jobs in the international market is great,” she said.
Dr. Magloire noted that the students are excited to begin learning the new subject.
Currently, 37 students are enrolled at the school and the principal indicated that the school has had quite a successful year.
“We participated in various activities just like a school that has been around for years,” she said. “We did not conduct ourselves like new comers, we jumped right in and participated in all the activities that were available and the students did great.”
The principal stated proudly that thus far the school has been receiving a positive response and the students enrolled there, are performing well academically.
She noted that the school’s mission is “to offer a sound academic, technical and moral education, to young people, that will provide them with the knowledge and skills required to be successful in their personal lives, to build good Christian families and to assume sound leadership in their communities and beyond.”
Registration for the new school year will begin on Tuesday May 7, 2013 from 8am – 12pm Monday through Friday.
The registration fee is $150 and parents are asked to bring along with them, a copy of their child birth certificate, health passport, recent school record and two passport size photos.
The school also wishes to invite families and friends to come down to the purple turtle beach on Monday 6th May, May Day, from 11am – 6pm, to patronize its grand fundraising activity.
St. John’s Academy is the first completely private, Roman Catholic school in Dominica.
It held its official opening ceremony in January, 2013.
Would it not be more appropriate for the children to master the French language? I mean, really master it ! It is my understanding that Patois/ creole Dominican style is frowned upon by many and right here in the UK, when the kids migrate to us, they claim they don’t speak the language nor understand it. This is surely a disgrace.
Conversely, it might be a good idea to learn key Chinese words and phrases, considering the current sea change in relation to migration, settlement and the progressive type of people – occupation on the island.
Knowledge is power and ignorance of what is spoken by others may render the island somewhat vulnerable.
I have no problem with learning foreign languages… as a matter of act I too was encouraging just such an idea not just for Chinese, but we have to be vigilant
You’re contradicting yourself my love. What do you mean we have to be vigilant?!
Should learning a new language not be viewed as a bonus to one and the intellectual capacity of a nation?
I can’t see what we’re supposed to vigilant about myself. Absolute foolishness!
Isn’t it amazing that we’ve always had foreign languages like French & Spanish in our school curriculum, yet, very few students actually capitalise on pursuing one or both throughout their school journey.
For instance, a lot of them put very little effort towards learning those subjects available to them, and once they reach the classes where they can drop foreign languages, that is the very first thing most of them will do.
Go around Dominica and take a poll of students either currently in school or those who have left, to see how many students actually bothered to take a foreign language/s externally at CXC or A’ Level.
Before St John’s Academy introduced this much needed initiative teach educate our students with the Chinese language to begin with, there really wasn’t any uproar from Dominicans about “Creole'” being thought in our schools.
Dominicans spend far too much time engaging in negative, toxic row-row, which does 0% for the island. Those same people who are running their mouths with nonsense, how many of them actually take the time to listen to a news segment in “Creole'” and more importantly encourage their children to listen to it?
Instead one travel to Dominica and you’re hearing some children and young people going out of their way and actually trying their utmost to speak that “American Ghetto Ebonics”, which is one of the lowest portrayals of literacy and diction in the US, and definitely not a practice that is looked upon favourably either, not to mention one not being taken seriously by employers, educational establishments etc, in the mainstream world.
Essentially, this are the issues we need to “be vigilant” about, not the learning of Chinese or any other foreign language for that matter; and get our “poppy cot” opposition to raise their placards in protest, as it affects our children’s evolvement, intellectual prowess and development, when our kids are trying to emulate a dialect that isn’t of any positive benefit to them or the island.
Well done St John’s Academy for taking the initiative, and I wish you all the very best introducing even more foreign languages for our students to benefit from! Hats off to you all!
I am trying to figure out what all the fuss is about. St. John’s academy is a private school owned by the Catholic church. Parents pay a tuition and not a cheap one at that to send their children to school. If you all do not want your children to speak Chinese that Is you all’s problem. those of us who send our children to this school and are paying our money welcome the introduction of this language.
OMG!!! Are you kidding me. What’s next?. Are we going to send a group of teachers from Dominica to China to teach creole or cocoy?. Our young people can hardly speak English. Why not teach them to speak better English before confusing them with the Chinese language. Learning Chinese is not a bad thing, I for one think it is good to be able to speak different languages. At least we will know what they are saying in front and behind our backs.You know that is a common thing among the Chinese people.
In the meantime Dominicans we must keep our eyes and ears open otherwise we maybe overrun by the Chinese. It looks like they want to conquer the world.
yow,you must be asleep man,they already conquere the economic world.they are everywhere on earth.
Such ignorance my dear! Dominica is a minute entity in this very big world of ours.
I’ve got news for you in case you’ve been stuck somewhere all this time, all the big rich countries are already conducting business with the Chinese and that includes introducing even more Chinese languages in our school, workplaces, organisations etc.
As has been mentioned before, Dominica is but one small piece of the puzzle here, so let’s be clear about it and not get twisted with primitive semantics.
If Dominica wants to remain at the bottom of the competition realm in this fast changing/growing global economic sphere, then by all means don’t evolve by learning to communicating with investors and business people from China.
On the other hand if Dominica doesn’t want to be left out of the loop, unlike so many other islands who’ve already began making the language more accessible to its students and populace then that’s a no brainer.
All this talk about learning creole….seriously if I started a class privately, how many adults would register?
Hear, hear and besides there’s also lots of room for our children to learn in addition to creole’ other languages such as Chinese, Japanese, German, Manderin and to be fair any language that will enhance the lives of our students and make them more marketable not just in Dominica, or the Caribbean region but also internationally as well.
The world is a lot smaller than it used to be and one could be sent on assignment with their job at the last minute anywhere around the globe, that’s why acquiring new languages is beneficial.
Looking at this from a perspective of a Human Resources Practitioner over in London, England, who regularly sits on recruitment boards and paper sifting exercises, I know who would most appeal to me if several students are competing for a role.
The one who multi-lingual in addition to having all of the relevant experience and qualifications, not to mention a positive, conscientious attitude with diligence will definitely get my vote every time. Prospective candidates need to bring to the table qualities and skills others do not possess, which will then be an asset to the recruiting organisation and garner them extra marks.
Encourage your children and students to learn more than one language whether that be Creole’ in addition to another, how ever many they can handle and do well at it, as believe me that will stand them in good stead as they progress through their lives and educational discovery.
Great initiative Miss Magloire………Great job!!!!!
And what does that say about Dominicans if they have no interest in learning creole? Their own language?
We so love to chant “massah days over” but we really have no understanding of what that means at all. Being free to cuss Mr. amd Mrs. so and so, in the street and wear weaves does not mean massah days are over.
Nice move Dr.I hope other schools follow suite.
no problem with making them learn chinese, but if you’re going to teach them chinese teach them creole as well. and for all you people knocking creole what you need to understand is you need to know where you come from before you know where your going, like it or not creole is our mother tongue, would the chinese start teaching english before chinese? knowing your culture and where you come from is what i see lacking in many of the youths today, many of them lack confidence in their own culture and heritage, lol and you think teaching them chinese is going to uplift dominica?
Learning Creole’ is also fine as well and there’s nothing wrong with pursuing all avenues available.
I believe it is much easier for one in Dominica to learn the Creole’ language, in comparison to the Chinese one, as Creole’ resources are widely available on the island.
Perhaps if the olden day’s ignorance and class system didn’t play such a prominent role in our society, we wouldn’t be having this discussion now, as people in Dominica or those with Dominican parentage would all be bi-lingual now like so many cultures around the world
It really great to see someone who is bi-lingual and can use each language when its required fluently. Just goes to show the power of the human brain. Well done and hopefully Creole’ and other languages will be introduced shortly as well.
Excellent idea………….other schools around the island and I mean not just [Secondary or Primary] schools, but Pre-Schools take note, as not only is it better for children to learn new languages from a young age but they’re also better able to acquire multiple ones too.
This is a good news. .Verbal communication is better than gesturing
And the issue/problem is?
It’s a private school where the parents pay to send their kids. What’s the big deal if they are paying for their kids to have chinese as a second or third or fourth language.
Magwehsa…everything is twisted by Dominicans.
It’s freedom of choice.
You want you kid to be taught creole …and it is not taught in PUBLIC schools? Then, frankly my dears, pay for a tutor to teach your kid creole, or if you can afford … start your own school. A bit farfetched granted, but it’s just an example to highlight the FREEDOM OF CHOICE we have.
Do not send your kid to the school if you do not wish your kid to have the opportunity to learn Chinese. Then again – it’ not mandatory from what i read – that means, it’s an option, a choice…
when you invest in the private schools then have a say ..
Very interesting thought. Of course, there is nothing from stopping people wanting to learn creole either if they want. For instance the London borough of Tower Hamlets offers a course in creole in their adult education programme and I believe there are summer schools in Haiti for the same purpose. Nothing wrong with creole but I do think that children should learn proper English first or simultaneously though.
What I don’t understand with Dominicans is that, they have no problem buying the the Chinese products but when come to learn there language they are having a problem and a very negative one to.
Ihiope you are not saying that we are only interested in inferior things?
“Chinese??”
I think we Dominicans are going way above ourselves in doing the least important things with our time.
Revamp the Sports and Cultural activities that the DFP had in place and our youths will be ready to face the would on all fronts.
Putting Chinese Language into our kids curriculum sends the wrong message, stop the hype.
Absolute, rubbish/foolishness…………No one here is talking about anything “Political” but incase you’re still dozing off, the topic being talked about is “Educational” choices for our children’s linguistic capabilities and future evolvement.
Now crawl back under “the big rock” from whence you came. Learn to engage in topical discussions which don’t have any political overtones attached. Try it you’ll love it and perhaps learn a thing or two along the way!!!!!!
Ignoramious nonesense!!!!!!
Outstanding move…I applaud you
sa ki vlé apwann’ palé kwéyol vini scottshead,granbay,paixbouche,sen’jo,thibaud,vié kaz,
A truly good move. Applaud and appreciation for this.
If you really have a serious interest in your children’s future one should push for all the schools to teach Madarin Chinese.
China is taking over the economic world by storm and if one is able to communicate in the most spoken first-language in the world, you will definitely have a clear advantage especially when it comes to developing serious business relationships.
Think bigger than Dominica. We are no longer in the 19th and 20th Century. Everything that put the western world ahead (Industry,manufaturing, services,IT)the Chinese have taken over and mastered. The Chinese are everywhere we know about and alot of places we don’t know about.
As a matter of fact in the UK they started teaching Chinese in primary and secondary schools over 4 years ago, and there is currently an outcry that NOT ENOUGH Manadrin Chinese is being taught in these schools which may be ‘…hampering young people’s future prospects and putting the UK’s economy at risk…”
Dominica, this is the 21st century and if we don’t get on board we’ll be left behind. Good work St. John’s Academy!!
Well I couldn’t have said it any better and articulated the facts so superbly well as you’ve done in your comment.
That is exactly the point, infact all of those things you taken the time to carefully highlight for the readers on here.
The sooner some Dominicans get up and smell the delicious aroma of our Dominican coffee brewing and take notice, the better equipped our island will be able to compete in an extremely fast changing “Global Market Economy.”
Absolutely spot on and highly encouraging!
Best wishes
Great move Miss Maglore.Can we go to the job market with creole or cocoy?Oh no. I did not learn creole at school or at home.This was my neighbourhood language and i learnt it.We are ashamed to speak creole and cocoy but we want it taught at school.
BINGO
Reading some of the comments here, one is left to ask, “Why not English?” Unless you feel that you have commanded the language there’s no need to ask.
I think it’s a great idea, since that a lot of Dominicans go to China to study it gives them a legs up, literally. Narrow minded people who have never left our Sisserou shores are the ones crying about the creole dialect. May I ask, “How can this dialect help us again?”
How absurd, that’s a no brainer “why not English”, as English is already and has always been one of the core subjects that every student whether they want to or not has to take at school.
Therefore “why not English”, shouldn’t even be an issue, as I learned English Grammar and English Literature when I attended school in Dominica and did exceedingly well at both too.
I’m confused what your point is as far as English is concerned in our schools.
Besides Dominicans the more languages that one can master and acquire along the way, will only stand them in great stead for future and host country stand to benefit even more in terms of interpreters when conducting business transactions, not to mention a huge boost to our travel guides and Tourism Industry as well. All positive, so no need for the misinformed hysteria.
“Open your minds Dominicans to new horizons and possibilities, then step out of your little cocoons for a change.
Three cheers for St John’s Academy.
Smart move and the other schools should follow suit.
y chinese huh? why not cocoye, patois or more universally accepted languages like French/Spanish
The school already offers French and Spanish for your information… Get your facts before commenting please… Typical!
In order to learn Chinese properly I think one should have to master English first.I think I will leave it at that .
more universally accepted languages???? huh? if you are uneducated then please refrain from posting.
I would like to learn chinese. Today’s student….tomorrow’s leaders. Great move.
Me too….Dominica State College should introduce classes
would love to be in that!!!
not only is this school the first in the island ,it is almost one of the few that teaches chinesse.
Dr Magloire,
I salute you for being so forward thinking. I am acquainted with your experience in international relations and your passion for languages. I was just telling a few colleagues that I intend to learn Chinese and I am already fluent in three languages, with a working knowledge in a fourth.
Completely dumbfounded by this! We have yet to establish Creole into our curriculum but we are teaching Chinese. To those who talk about creole should be left to be taught at home, how small-minded you all are! It only shows how ashamed you all are of your own culture! Could you imagine if every Dominican was taught and could speak Creole!
Regardless of the good motive behind this initative, we need to start at home, embrace our own and teach Creole. If we are going to teach Chinese, we should teach Russian as well. Don’t you all know the business opportunites many miss worldwide because they do not know how to speak Russian?
Imagine if this school was the first to establish a Creole curriculum?
Only in Dominica!
I dont understand the thumbs down!
Creole should be taught!!! I totally agree with you but so should chinese french spanish japanese russian as many languages as possible.
But yes Dominica should be ashamed that creole is not taught!!!!
What Creole you talking about? The only place creole can take you is Creole Music Festival. It definitely can”t take you to Harvard University.
Are you serious?
It’s about embracing our heritage. Our history. It’s about real pride not pride becasue you have an SUV or blackberry or weave that you stole money so you coule buy it.
It’s about our pride in our nation and our history. Respecting the struggles of our ancestors who worked so hard to provide what we enjoy today but are hell bent on destroying.
Harvard? Creole being taught in schools is 100% about DOMINICA.
some student went to china to study and had to thought Chinese for a year. Some went to Venezuela and was thought Spanish for a year. And that was not an issue so if it is thought here why should be a problem, when Chinese come to Dominica the first language the learn is creole. let us not be negative and think positive. It is the welfare of the children
“Taught” not “Thought” uh weh meme bagay la.How will we learn Chinese when we have problems with English? Mandarin is not known to be an easy language .Papa Bon Dieu Help us !
Mandarin is far easier to learn to speak than English, French or Spanish to a non-native speaker…
As expected, a visionary move, Dr. Magloire, my once-upon-time teacher and mentor. Positive move. If I know you well, you are not easily deterred by public, emotional reaction.
China is currently the emerging economic juggernaut. And probably will be far into the next millenium. No one can dispute that. Therefore the move is a good one, calculated to give our students (citizens) a tremendous leg up in the global economic space.
Hear, hear absolutely well said “Truth Seeker” and I applaud you for your spot on articulation on this issue. Couldn’t have said it any better myself and well done for that!
Fantastic move by Dr Magloire and that shows true vision. I have no doubt she and the school will introduce even more languages in the future for our students to engage with and evolve for the better.
Well done!
wish the creole language was taught in the communities of wesley and marigot as well . remember the adults can’t speak so they can’t teach it to their children.
yo pa vlé palé kweyol,gen marigot epi wesley.pa palé sotte ban mwen!
DNO must be having a slow news day…. Thats not news….
I simply can’t stand ignorant comments like this on DNO..
Is only about rapist and crime you want DNO to report on. Small minded dominicans, wonder why we areso backward
OMG!!!! Why are some Dominicans so small minded?? No wonder the country is not elevating to the heights it needs to be due to such ignorance. I wish I had the opportunity to learn the language when I went to school there…rosetta stone is not cheap.
mostly everyone is making a fuss saying why not creole instead of chinese. nobody said why not creole instead of french or why not creole instead of spanish.
so therefore the issue is with chinese language and not the introduction of chinese into the schools.
secondly, why do we wait for schools to teach our children eveything. as one person describes creole as the “mother language”. is it our responsiblility as parents to teach our children some words in the language to familiarize them. Education starts at home not in the classroom. a child is better at imitating his/her parents words or actions than a teacher’s word/action.
start teaching your child at home and stop expecting teacher to be parents and teachers at the same time.
I know right!
TEACH CREOLE in school! Right now I abroad studying and when I tell people I from DA, they opening conversation in creole! I SO SHAME!
I cannot even well hold a conversation in creole
TEACH CREOLE IN SCHOOL! SMH at this Government! It is high time that we teach our very own cultural language in school! shit man! stupes!
How much chineese we going to speak like that? are we going China? we must ignore ourt verey own, and teach another? nonsense!
you say you abroad studying!?
The responsibility of preserving the national language is of national interest. Thats why u can`t DEPEND on the average family to teach creole, specially now it is a dying tongue.
Education is always the responsibility of the state, not parents. Parents on the other hand are responsible for TRAINING/REARING their child.
To teach properly in any subject you need specialist training, something parents are not tooled to do. If your primitive concept of learning was true then their is NO need for schools.
Is this the first in the Caribbean…that would be very interesting if we were the first and we became the center of Chineese Buisness in the Caribbean.
MAybe I am just dreaming, that if we were the first and they look to DOminicans to do their translations and other business.
But again, the Government might be putting out initiatives but we as a people fail to grab the iniatives and all we do is bump gums (or bump fingers and keyboards 0n DNO).
and creole
?
I wish I had learn some Chinese meet so many on the job
Is dat! this isn’t about teaching Dominican children a foreign language, it’s about making the school more attractive for the influx of Chinese and their children who will be in the north. Therefore if the school(smart move) can show they embrace the language and culture, more students, more money. It’s all economics at the end of the day. By the way I would do the same thing if I saw a niche market waiting to be harnessed so I’m in no way knocking the school, just telling the real story. If not the Chinese will open their own school which they are still looking into.
excellent point once again. you have brains and are a true patriot
Ya I agree ,Remember it is a Catholic School .They taught us two years of Latin.That has no money in it .Not many of us became Priests
so Chinese might be more profitable as You said
Is the language being taught Mandarin?
most likely brother…the other languages in china are not “standardized” therefore since mandarin is the standard language in china then yes it would be taught.
They did not specify maybe they dont realize the difference between Mandarin and Cantonese
Could we follow the chinese classes as an adult ?
Great move.
All well and good for foreign languages (french, spanish, dutch, portuguese, russian, croatian, mandarin chinese!!!). But when are we going to introduce Kreyol in its written form to the school curriculum. What does KEK have to say in this regard.
so our mother language will never find a place in our schools too .WHY NOT ?
@anonymous – we should not wait for the schools to teach the “mother language”. Our children should grow up with the creole language. once in awhile, parents should teach their kids a few words in creole. why wait for school to do everything. We dont wait for school to teach our children ABC, we start them off ourselves from the age of 2, so why not do the same thing with creole.
Not all parents can speak Kwéyol! so your contribution, though emotionally appealing , totally lacks rational merit. If you were so educated about what you are speaking about you will know that Kwéyòl is always spelt with a ‘K’
It indicates that you have a small banana republic mentality. If the civilised world employed your approach they would still be in the dark ages.
Awesome and I also believe that economics should be one subject that should be introduced into the high school curriculum as a main focus area as well. The introduction of the Chinese language should serve as an indicator as to the changes coming to the island.
well… the parents spending good money so it is the least they can do..
Yes….it has begun
Chinese being taught in schools is not a sign of anything other than good move. We learn spanish and french in school does that mean Spain and France were taking over?
Whether the chinese are in Dominica or not, China is emerging as the world’s next superpower and it’s only smart to learn that language as every global organization and business want to do business with the chinese.
It’s a good move.
Now when the news, for example, is in chinese and its the chinese national anthem played at functions and creole festival, thats when we start to get worried
You hit it spot on! Learning Chinese, like any other language is a valuable asset; education is preparing individuals to enter into the global market. I’m not knocking Kreyol,but where is the economic value of teaching Kreyol as a foreign language? Let the children learn it as we all did before, at our parents knees!
….Now when the news, for example, is in chinese and its the chinese national anthem played at functions and creole festival, thats when we start to get worried…
That time will be too late.
LOL @ correction very true!!!! I stand corrected!!!
I don’t mind at all but shouldn’ we concentrate on getting our people to master their own language first? Judging by comments posted on DNO we still have a long way to go.
we not teaching them creole but we will teach them Chinese SMH
ummm, education starts in the home. If a parent is that concerned about their child learning Kweyol, shouldn’t THEY be the ones to introduce it into their language??? Many of us parents are only speaking Kweyol when we don’t want our children to know who we “ponging bef on”
And you all can thumbs down my comment how you all like, you all know it’s the gospel truth am speaking.
i think foreign language learning should start at a much earlier age…like kindergarten…if you want kids to be fluent in the language or even just ok…it should be taught/introduced at kindergarten level
I am deeply impressed and know that this school will offer a very good alternative for those of us parents who needed such a sound educational institution in the north.
will it be taught by a Dominican who just learned the Chinese language and can’t pronounced the words they are supposed to be pronounced
a Dominica will have an accent they wont be able to pronounced the words properly
Stop being so negative! I was taught French by a Dominican. Even if I cannot speak it properly, I can atleast read it and know the grammar.
You all are so small minded.
why target the Chinese language. you never hear some French teachers hashey the language????
he is correct!! this language is not easy to pronounce. even the chinese themselves have problems in properly pronouncing their own words themselves. there are dominicans who can teach yes, but it would be better to have a chinese national teach it, especially from foundation. i know, i have studied it.
Wow! Very cool! I’m so looking forward to sending my son there when he’s of age!