Spanish in Jamaica’s Language Education Policy
摘要
Discussions surrounding Jamaica's linguistic landscape have largely overlooked Spanish, particularly amidst the ongoing debate between Jamaican Creole (JC) and Jamaican English (JE). However, the teaching of Spanish at the primary level is included in a Language Education Policy (LEP) that outlines Jamaica’s linguistic situation. While members of parliament (MPs) resist the idea of JE and JC having shared official status, their refusal to endorse the policy does not pertain to the inclusion of Spanish within it. The author emphasises that the role of Spanish in the LEP does not provoke controversy and is not a contentious issue for the MPs. This chapter highlights specific policy statements regarding the status of Spanish and its instruction at the primary level from a policy perspective. It asserts that although the LEP remains a draft, its principles have been accepted by language and linguistics scholars and continue to influence teaching practices at this level.