"Most Bolivians don't speak Spanish in their homes," says linguist Donald Burns. "Although Spanish is Bolivia's official language, about 60 percent of the people are Indians and speak their native tongue, Quechua or Aymara." Dr. Burns is teaching Quechua children to speak, read and write Spanish using a new method: He teaches the children Spanish by first teaching them to read and write in Quechua, their mother tongue. "Once the children learn to read and write Quechua," he says, "they can transfer their new skills to learning Spanish." Burns, a University of New Mexico linguist, has helped establish the bilingual education program for Queschuas. He is under contract with the U.S. Agency for International Development, the foreign aid program. Until recently, Spanish was the only legal classroom language. Indian children beginning first grade often were baffled by the teacher's instruction in a foreign language - Spanish. Last year, Burns delivered the first Quechua book to the children, a primer written in Quechua in the Latin alphabet. The book is titled, "Satuku," a typical name of a Quechua boy. The main author of the book is Burns' wife, Nadine. She worked closely with her husband, Quechua educators and members of the University of New Mexico education team. The Quechua bilingual school is in a remote rural are called Boqueron A'asa in Cochabamba, Bolivia's riches agricultural province. "The youngsters are making amazing progress," says Burns. Learning to read and write Quechua is hard work for this youngster, so he relaxes for a moment with a cup of cool water. (Photo by John Metelsky)
| Date Taken: | 08.12.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.25.2015 11:23 |
| Photo ID: | 2117709 |
| VIRIN: | 150812-O-ZZ999-174 |
| Resolution: | 12879x16000 |
| Size: | 24.97 MB |
| Location: | COCHABAMBA, BO |
| Web Views: | 28 |
| Downloads: | 13 |
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