Bilingual Not Effective, Dual Language as the Solution

According to recent research result, bilingual education system in Indonesia is less effective because it neglects Indonesian language. The impact will be felt when children go to the higher level education. Dr. David Freeman, Professor of curriculum and Instruction, and Dr. Yvonne Freeman, Professor of Bilingual Education from the United States, expressed  their research result regarding bilingual education emphasizing more on the foreign languages in schools. According to Freeman, a mastery of foreign languages is important, but not to ignore first language or mother language, in this case is English.

That was delivered by husband and wife Freeman in a seminar held by the school High/Scope School of Indonesia about 'Dual Language, Theory and Effective programs' Wednesday, 13 May. This seminar held in order to commemorate National Education Day. In the seminar, also explained the research result from Thomas & Collier in 1997 toward students in the United States. Children whose initial education using first language (English) have academic level higher than other children whose initial education using foreign language (Spanish) .

Awaring the importance of first language besides English,  Dual Language program is considered as the solution of academic problems that will be faced by children in the future. The Dual Language program refers to additives program, that is co-ordinating the use of language first and foreign languages.

This is closely related to the early formation concep of children's academic. Children who have strong academic concept in his first language, can have a good academic ability in foreign languages. But, on the contrary, children who do not have strong academic concepts in first languag, also do not have strong academic ability in both the language. Still related to Freeman’s research in Washington, United States, shows that children who are running the Dual Language program, in which their academic ability is strong, whether in his first language and foreign languages, are more successful and high paid when working in companies.

According to Antarina S. F Amir, Managing Director of High/Scope School of Indonesia, in practicing Dual Language program, the lesson system using two languages. There is a subject that uses Indonesian language and some subjects that uses English. And in reviews, view, and preview that use other languages. The other way to apply the Dual Language setting ‘Language of The Day' alternately between English and Bahasa Indonesia. Thus, children understand the concept in both Indonesian and English. Children’s ability in speaking Indonesian is sharpened, too.

Until this time, High/Scope School of Indonesia is first school in Indonesia which uses Dual Language program. According to Antarina, this program has been already done during the last two years, but the result is still cannot able to be seen. "Most schools who tried to run the program and failed are those who are not patience in testing Dual Language in their schools. Indeed, it needs patience, because the result could be seen four years later, depending on each children" said Antarina.

Source: http://www.ayahbunda.co.id/berita.ayahbunda/Info+Keluarga/bilingual.tidak.efektif.dual.language.solusinya/002/002/131/all/0/1