Dear Editor,

I read with disgust every day the letters being published about teaching students in patois. It infuriates me because those who are pushing creole are esteemed lecturers who speak English very well. They were taught by teachers who spoke the language well and they are expected to communicate in English whenever they attend international functions.

I am absolutely amazed that we expect our students to compete globally and yet we are encouraging teaching them in a language that will prevent them from doing just that.

We encourage too much mediocrity in this nation. The best way to learn a language is to become immersed in it. Ask the students who participate in programmes such as AFS Intercultural Programmes. They are placed in homes where the language of the country is spoken and before you know it they are speaking it. We need to practise speaking the language more.

I am Jamaican and I speak patois. It has its place just like the language of the many tribes in Central America and the African nations, but the world does not trade in these languages. English is the universal language. We need to promote growth and encourage our children to learn the language of trade if we want to move forward as a nation. Think globally! Japan is taking our people to teach their people English, so is China. Let's stop the talk about teaching in a language that is not accepted globally, not to mention that the language is not standardised locally.

Spend our time thinking up ways to encourage the children to learn the language. Make them see the importance of the language. Allow our nation to be able to compete globally.

Christine Barrett

ctreciab@hotmail.com