Ngoni People ' s Attitudes Towards the Use Of Kingoni in Beginner Classes

Abstract

This paper explores Ngoni people ' s attitudes towards the use of Kingoni inteaching beginner classes. The Tanzania educational policy designates Kiswahilias the only language of instruction in public primary schools. The data werecollected in Songea Rural District using interviews, a questionnaire andclassroom observations. The study is guided by the ethnolinguistic vitalityframework, which informs decisions on language attitudes and inclination tolanguage use. The findings show that 77% of the participants wanted Kiswahilito be used, while the rest had different choices, including English. The moredisadvantaged groups such as peasants showed more ambivalent attitudestowards the use of Kingoni. The study concludes that parents support the use ofKiswahili and not Kingoni, but this attitude has pedagogical and linguisticimplications in that children cannot follow instructions; and that they aredenied their right to be taught in a language they know well.