USA Sponsors Eight Nigerian Teachers to Teach Yoruba in American Universities as Global Interest in Yoruba Classes Grows
In a momentous stride towards cultural and linguistic exchange, the United States has generously sponsored eight Nigerian teachers to partake in the prestigious 2023 Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program (FLTA). This highly regarded initiative, administered by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), presents a unique opportunity for early-career educators with no more than seven years of teaching experience to teach their native language in American colleges and universities.
The chosen Nigerian teachers are embarking on a significant mission to impart Yoruba language and culture during a one-academic-session stay in the United States. The US Missions in Nigeria announced the selection of these educators through their Instagram account on a Saturday. The primary objective of the program is to enhance the teaching skills of the participants while providing them with a platform to share their experiences and insights into Nigerian culture with American society, thereby fostering stronger ties between the two nations.
The Fulbright FLTA Program, spanning a nine-month period, is a non-degree initiative meticulously crafted to promote cross-cultural exchange and language instruction. Its central purpose is to bring foreign language expertise to American educational institutions, thereby facilitating a deeper understanding and cooperation between nations. In the present context, the program’s focus is on facilitating the teaching of Yoruba language in U.S. universities and colleges.
In a related development, Professor Olagoke Alamu, a renowned expert in Yoruba Language and Literature at Ekiti State University, accentuated the significance of employing native languages as mediums of instruction in Nigerian schools. His landmark achievement includes the production of a Yoruba language textbook specifically tailored for Chinese universities offering Yoruba Language as a course. Professor Alamu ardently advocated for the Nigerian government to follow this lead and encourage teaching in local languages, as it has the potential to significantly enhance learning outcomes for students.
Professor Alamu drew attention to the existing National Policy on Education, which already includes provisions for using indigenous languages as the language of instruction in primary schools for the first three years, with a transition to English in subsequent grades. He cited successful examples from countries like Japan and China, where students demonstrated improved performance when taught in their native languages. Additionally, he emphasized that some accomplished academics communicate more effectively in their native languages than in English. Thus, he passionately urged the government to invest in developing resources for teaching in indigenous languages, commencing with the highest levels of implementation.
Noteworthy progress has been observed in Lagos State in promoting the use of Yoruba in official settings. The legislative arm now conducts its business in Yoruba on two days of the week. Professor Alamu expressed hope that other states in the South-West region would consider adopting similar practices. He stressed the importance of developing appropriate materials and terminologies in various subjects to facilitate effective instruction in indigenous languages.
Overall, the participation of Nigerian teachers in the Fulbright FLTA Program in the United States will not only enrich American students’ understanding of Yoruba language and culture but also significantly contribute to the advancement of language education in Nigeria. This commendable initiative aligns with the overarching goals of the National Policy on Education and reflects the escalating global demand for Yoruba language instruction.
