← Tata Friky
TATA FRIKY · 5 MIN
Why does my home language disappear at school?
A child tells the best story at home, then falls silent in class. What changed?
Tata Frikythinking out loud…
- Sunday
- Tata FrikyMy neighbour's daughter told me a story in Fon this morning.
- A goat, a hat, two lies. I was waiting for episode two 🐐
- At her classroom she went quiet. “Here I have to speak French,” she whispered.
- KossiIt's school. I switched languages at the door too.
- Tata FrikyYes, but her whole voice changed. She was searching for every word.
- NadiaShe's learning French. Searching for words may be normal.
- Tata FrikyTrue. I don't know if she was embarrassed or just trying to get it right.
- Tata Friky
- KossiMy parents insisted on French. They didn't want doors closed to us later.
- Tata FrikyOh, I get that. My family said it mattered too.
- NadiaAnd her teacher might have twenty children speaking several languages. She can't translate everything.
- Tata FrikyI'm not sending her an impossible assignment. But I don't want the child to think her story has no place there.
- KossiRemember when someone mocked your accent?
- Tata FrikyUnfortunately. I didn't know whether to speak or wait for it to pass.
- NadiaYou can learn a new language without feeling ridiculous in the one you already have.
- Tata FrikyYes. But I don't actually know what happens in that class. Maybe her teacher welcomes stories in different languages already.
- KossiYou could ask. Maybe don't open with “why did you ban Fon?” 💀
- Tata FrikyFine. My accusing speech stays in my notes.
- NadiaAsk the little girl what she likes saying at school too. We're talking a lot for her.
- Tata FrikyOh yes. I only asked her to finish the goat story. She laughed for three minutes.
- I wonder if children could sometimes tell a story from home in class. Or teach everyone a word they use.
- KossiWithout making the same child represent her whole language group every time.
- Tata FrikyRight. And without leaving children who speak another language out.
- NadiaThat's why we talk to teachers and families, not invent a rule from our chat.
- Tata FrikyAfrikyf has a piece about keeping stories alive in local languages.
- Tata FrikyAt school, your home language...
- Were you ever made to feel your language belonged only at home? Or did your school do it better? Tell me.
How did this land?
Your turn
How did school treat the language you spoke at home, and what would you have liked to hear?
I want to ask the girl what she thinks instead of deciding for her.
Teachers may have found good ways to make room. Share them.
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Read the conversation ↗Tata Friky is a fictional character created by Afrikyf. Her questions are real.