Coronavirus and Local Languages: How do you say, "wash your hands"?
Coronavirus and Local Languages: How do you say, "wash your hands"?
COVID-19 doesn't care what language you speak.
All of us are at risk. But millions of people who speak lesser-known languages don't have a single resource on COVID-19 yet. The information gap is enormous – and lives are at stake.
"Wash your hands" isn't enough to combat this pandemic, but it's already more than some communities are hearing. Below you can learn how to say it in 454 different languages and counting. You can also download our hand-washing posters to share in print or on social media.
Are you multilingual?
Help us translate key guidelines into as many languages as possible! See current translations of the About Coronavirus comic book, or start your own now.
Know something we don't? Submit an addition or correction.
-----------------------
Author: Ethnologue
Published Date: March 2020
This was first published on the Ethnologue website.
Literacy in multiple languages promotes inclusive societies
Literacy is essential in today's world, where having foundational skills in reading and writing are a gateway to accessing various forms of information, knowledge and opportunities to thrive in any society. Alarmingly, there are more than 700 million illiterate adults, and this number is at risk of increasing due to low literacy levels in primary schools. At present, 70% of children in low- and middle-income countries globally are unable to read and understand a simple text by the age of 10. This statistic, commonly referred to as ‘learning poverty,' suggests that future generations are at real risk of not acquiring knowledge from written content throughout their edu
MLE BLOG: Teaching multilingual classrooms in India: a need for learning from indigenous teaching practices
DepEd: Mother tongue-based multilingual pedagogy crucial
An official of the Department of Education (DepEd) reiterated last Monday the importance of Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE), especially to learners from Kindergarten to Grade 3. According to Dr. Rosalina J. Villaneza, chief education program specialist at the Teaching and Learning Division of the Bureau of Learning Delivery, the purpose of a multilingual education program is to develop appropriate cognitive and reasoning skills enabling children to operate equally in different languages—starting with the mother tongue. Villaneza made a presentation before the Committee on Basic Education's third public hearing on the implementation of the MTB-MLE program under the K to 12 Law (Republic Act 10533). "Learners begin their education in they understand best—their mother tongue—and develop a strong foundation in their mother language before adding additional languages,” Villaneza stressed. "And
DepEd admits 'lack of focus' on comprehension skills development in mother tongue-based teaching
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 4) — Amid debates over the effectiveness of mother tongue-based multilingual learning, the Department of Education (DepEd) has admitted that the program's implementation has become rife with problems. According to DepEd Chief Education Program Specialist Dr. Rosalina Villaneza, there is a mismatch between the language used by teachers as a medium of instruction and the language children use in their everyday lives. Villaneza said teachers who use their mother tongue usually focus their efforts on making the students understand the lesson rather than prioritizing the students' comprehension skill development. "Magfo-focus (sana) ang teacher sa pag-develop ng comprehension skills—sequencing of events, noting details—hindi po umaabot doon ang mga teacher kasi their effort is to really m