Search

This paper discusses the potential of bilingual education and its possible implementation in Kyrgzystan, focusing on why bilingual education can be useful in solving linguistic tension in Kyrgzystan and which organizational questions must be considered to make bilingual education effective. The paper begins by examining and refuting common concerns (children will be traumatized if they are spoken to in a different language, and children will confuse the two languages and end up unable to speak either one correctly). Next, it presents common models and experiences with bilingual education from other countries (submersion, immersion, partial immersion, transitional immersion, maintenance immersion, and two-way immersion). Finally, it discusses issues related to curriculum, teachers, textbooks, and classroom composition. It concludes that children who attend bilingual education programs naturally grow up with two languages, have more positive attitudes toward other ethnic and linguistic groups, and are more confident about their own ethno-linguistic identity. It asserts that bilingualism is a prerequisite for dialogue and understanding between ethnic groups in Kyrgyzstan. (SM)

This study examined the role of multilingualism in the Kyrgyz educational system, noting how language learning and language attitudes are related. It analyzed language biographies (semi-narrative interviews in which informants discussed their lives as speakers of two or more languages) and observed language classes. Participants were bilingual college students. Results indicated that language learning and attitudes influenced each other in both directions. While language classes conveyed concepts about how useful language skills were, the skills taught were basically context-reduced (reading and reciting), and they did not lead to successful interaction in the target language. This led to frustration and decreased motivation. Immersion in Kyrgyzstan's Russian schools resulted in immersion shock for Kyrgyz speakers, who were still perceived as minority language speakers. This shock was less strong in urban areas, where communication in Russian occurred outside the school. Students came to school with the knowledge that Russian was the language of opportunities and that Kyrgyz enjoyed little prestige. For this reason and because language and ethnicity were perceived as almost synonymous, Russians put less effort into learning Kyrgyz. Consequently, the educational system put strong pressure on Russian language learners but hardly any on Kyrgyz language learners. (Contains 12 references.) (SM)

A survey of the status of language usage in the Soviet Union begins with an overview of patterns of usage of Russian, Ukranian, Uzbek, Belorussian, Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Armenian, Georgian, Lithuanian, Moldavian (Romanian), Tajik, Turkmen, Kirghiz, Latvian, and Estonian. The stability of these languages is discussed in the context of centralized efforts to make all non-Russian U.S.S.R. citizens bilingual in Russian, with the use of Russian encouraged in all aspects of public life. A matrix follows that rates all of these languages on: (1) their usage rating using State Department classifications; (2) increase and decrease trends by the year 2000; (3) chief of state use in addressing the populace; (4) use in armed forces, government, court, and diplomatic communications, written and oral; (5) use as a language of instruction or required language in higher education, on the secondary and elementary levels, and in adult education; (6) use in the popular press, radio and television broadcasting, and film; (7) business and professional use, written and oral; (8) use in intellectual circles; (9) the alphabet situation; (10) their status in literature; (11) use in public signs and notices; and the (12) availability of instructional materials and dictionaries for use by English speakers. Explanatory notes give the number and population percentages using the languages, the type of alphabets used, and specific instructional material titles. A selected bibliography is also included. (MSE)

The article offers information on the performance and forecast for macroeconomics, energy, metals, and agriculture sectors across the globe and in Kyrgyz Republic over a 20 year period as of 2011. It says that global economy would recover through the continued economic development of India and China. It adds that renewable energy market is the quickest growing energy resource. Statistics are offered on the country's gross domestic product (GDP), money supply, and interest rate from 2005-2014.

The article discusses the aggregate income of household in relation to the Targeted Social Assistance (TSA) in the Kyrgyz Republic. It is stated that the basic criterion for the provision of state allowances is the per-capita income of the family. It is noted that a household is comprised of all members who live together. It shares that the difference in the concept of household and family has an impact on calculating the aggregate income.

The article offers news briefs related to Kyrgyzstan, which include, violence between ethnic Kyrgyz and ethnic Uzbeks, and discovery of oil well by the Chinese company, Chzhunnen Oil Exploration in Batken Oblast, southern Kyrgyzstan.

The article reports on the security of Kurmanbek Bakiyev as Kyrgyz president and his executive power in Kyrgyzstan. It mentions that Bakiyev brought the National Security Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under presidential control in October 2009. It notes that Bakiyev is supported by the Communist Party and the AkZhol legislature, which pushes the expectation of a success amendment to the legislation

The article discusses the view of the Business Monitor International on the economic development in Kyrgyz. It mentions that economic growth forecasts in Kyrgyz shows 3.8%estimated growth rate. It mentions that financial crisis in U.S. and Eurozone has been for the growth on domestic economic activity in the region.