Bilingual Education

Winnipeg college to supply province’s first Punjabi bilingual program subsequent yr

Manitoba’s first Punjabi bilingual program will assist bridge the hole between generations, Winnipeg mother and father say.

This system is for everybody who desires to be taught the language, not solely Punjabi audio system. It is going to be out there at Amber Trails Neighborhood College, which is a part of the Seven Oaks College Division.

This system will use Punjabi because the language of instruction for social research, well being and Punjabi literacy. Science, music, bodily training and arithmetic will likely be taught in English. The college is internet hosting an open home Tuesday night for fogeys and households who’re excited by studying extra about this system.

It’s a “a lot wanted and far awaited program … I admire Seven Oaks College Division for bringing this program into the varsity,” stated Jaspreet Hari.

Watch: Mother and father are excited for Punjabi program to start out

Winnipeg college to supply province’s first Punjabi bilingual program subsequent yr

Punjabi would be the language used to show social research, well being and Punjabi literacy

Hari’s household primarily speaks Punjabi at house. Though her 11-year-old son, who already goes to the neighborhood college, is a fluent speaker and typically attends lessons on Sunday at his Gurdwara, Hari plans to enrol him within the Punjabi bilingual program subsequent yr. 

“Youngsters typically are hesitant. They’re like, ‘I do not wanna go, it is my weekend,'” Hari stated.

Whereas her son is not all the time excited to go to Sunday classes, she stated he is very enthusiastic about becoming a member of this system.

“He is very excited … He loves English in addition to Punjabi, and he is proud that he can converse extra languages,” she stated.

Winnipeg’s South Asian neighborhood is experiencing fast progress. Based on Statistics Canada’s 2016 census, simply over 37,000 Winnipeggers recognized as South Asian, and in 2021, that jumped to greater than 62,000. The variety of folks in Winnipeg who take into account Punjabi their mom tongue almost doubled in the identical interval.

Hari stated this system can be helpful not solely as a result of the inhabitants is rising, but in addition to have the ability to bridge the hole between household generations. She stated in some households, kids do not converse Punjabi whereas different relations, like grandparents, do not converse English.

“There’s a hole in each generations. In order that hole will likely be crammed if [children] know just a little little bit of Punjabi,” Hari stated.

When Bhupinder Busser first heard of this system, he stated he was excited for his kids to hitch.

“I used to be very to show my very own language to my youngsters … so [they] can all the time be connected with the Punjab,” Busser stated.

Busser has two kids: a six-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter. He stated it was necessary they be taught the language to allow them to talk with their grandparents, who don’t converse English. 

“The feelings that they’ll specific in their very own language after which in English goes to be completely different,” he stated.

Busser stated he hopes this system attracts households who essential know Punjabi already.

“It is all the time good to study completely different cultures,” he stated.

The open home is being held at Amber Trails Neighborhood College Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

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