This article addresses the need to develop a friendly and productive Language learning environment (FPLE) using the learners as a resource in schools in Uganda. This is in light of the persistent challenging reality that the teaching and learning of languages in schools appears to be still largely traditional, teacher-centered and examination-oriented, thus not as learner friendly and productive as the case should be. A teacher-centered approach alienates the learner from the instructional process and this affects their levels of attainment and performance. As a result, performance in languages in Uganda is not as good as it should be. The article gives an introduction, explores the nature, characteristics and functions of language, outlines the aims of learning Language and language skills, theoretical review, examines the context of a productive language learning environment, with focus on the roles of the teacher and learner as resource persons, and lastly presents the psychological, sociological and educational advantages of a productive language learning environment.
The year 2015 was set as deadline to realise the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which were authored in 2000 by 189 states in the world. Language is at the heart of MDGs (Barron, 2012; Romaine, 2013). Some scholars look at language (development) as a measure and/or determinant of development (e.g. Romaine, 2013). This paper examines Uganda's commitment to the development and employment of mother tongues in education as a way of realising the quality of education in Uganda. It is important to reflect on the trend and level of mother tongue development and employment in education in Uganda to chart the way forward for the post-2015 period. The paper draws from different studies and reports which have focussed on mother tongue education in Uganda. This study faults the government in many ways for failing to sustain the national initiatives of mother tongue education, particularly in terms of poor financing and failure to monitor the implementation of UPE and mother tongue education programmes. The paper proposes a way forward for the realisation of a meaningful Education for All (EFA) in form of Universal Primary Education (UPE) initiative and the mother tongue education policy introduced in Uganda in 1997 and 2006 respectively.
While many young learners of the 21st century have grown up with, and generally prefer to learn using Emerging Technologies (ETs), a few teachers of Luganda language graduate with learning experiences of integrating ETs in their teaching. One of the most crucial stages of gaining experiences in any subject or object of interest is making Abstract Conceptualizations (ACs) about it (Kolb, 1984). Whereas scaffolding ACs has potential to expand teacher’s knowledge of integrating ETs in teaching, it is difficult to enact in a pedagogically sound manner. This paper emerges from a Design Based Research in which 68 Luganda language teacher-trainees at Makerere University were enrolled into a semester-long (17 weeks) blended learning course aimed at cultivating their experiences of integrating ETs in teaching. The study was informed by Kolb (1984)’s Experiential Learning Theory (ELT) and Reeves (2006)’s model of conducting research in authentic e-learning contexts. Six distinct abstract conceptualisations of ETs emerged from trainees’ responses. This paper discusses the implications of such abstract conceptualization in the revitalisation of Luganda language.
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