Fighting illiteracy and 'aliteracy'
Author aims to
make standard Arabic fun for children
By Linda Dahdah
Wednesday, March 31, 2004
In the late 1980s, Margo Malatjalian came across a report issued by UNESCO
showing surprisingly high rates of illiteracy.
When she read the information, Malatjalian, who lived in Jordan, had already
established cultural centers for children in cooperation with the Amman
municipality and had her own publishing company, Child World Promotions.
As she had always been active in this field through education programs,
teaching theater and drama, as well as working on Jordanian childrens' TV
programs, she decided to take some immediate action.
With the help of David Doake, a professor in reading and literacy
development, she embarked on a study that found reading was not part of
tradition in the Arab world.
"There is lots of story telling but reading is not part of our growth," said
Malatjalian.
Strong willed, Malatjalian decided to go to the root of the problem by making
literacy development her main concern. She started traveling around the region,
praising the importance of early reading and defending literacy through
workshops which targeted children, teachers and parents.
She comes to Lebanon regularly to lead a series of workshops in private
schools across the country. The main topics? Creating and using supplementary
material from the standard Arabic language curriculum from kindergarten to the
third or fourth grade.
The whole point is "to support the Arabic language by making it more
interesting through the use of new poetry, new and more attractive stories and
literature ... by using arts and integrating drama in education, songs and
music," Malatjalian said.
Rita Nakhle, a third grade Arabic teacher at International College in Ain
Aar, said that Malatjalian's books were interesting because they used standard
Arabic that was easy to understand. "Plus it is real poetry, accompanied by
nice pictures," she said.
According to Malatjalian, Arabic becomes difficult when people don't read
Arabic books regularly.
"There are prerequisites for reading that are hardly met when cultures are
not only faced with illiteracy but also a huge scourge that lies in the
aliteracy of educated people. (aliteracy applies to people who are able to read
but are not interested in reading.)
Nowadays one of the most popular books might be Chef Ramzi's, and I don't
think this has anything to do with literature," Malatjalian said.
If books are ever bought, what usually sells are detective stories, cooking,
fiction and sex, the author said.
Besides, naturally, children imitate their parents, so when there is no
reading environment inside the house, children will not read. Moreover,
according to Malatjalian, it has been shown that children who come from a
reading household do much better at school.
A whole reading environment should therefore be created - a prime
responsibility of the parents, she said. When the state is not helping at all,
the public should react.
"During my discussions with parents, they said that there's no help as there
is no public library in Lebanon or perhaps there's one, but they don't even
know where it is and how to get there. What prevents them from organizing
reading sessions? We cannot count on the state's help so it's up to each mother
and father or others to play his or her part and act," said Malatjalian.
Despite a public perception that there is an absence of public libraries,
several were opened in Lebanon over the past few years.
Malatjalian started writing books only in the late 1980s. She took the
initiative after teachers asked her what kinds of books to buy and read.
Encouraged by her own experience with children, Malatjalian took up her pen to
remedy what she believes to be a complete lack of good Arabic childrens'
literature.
In fact, the author believes that Arabic books are rarely good and not
well adapted. Indeed, most of the time books are translated and thus promote a
foreign culture. When children need to identify with the hero of the
story, this can easily generate cultural conflicts.
Without a doubt Malatjalian's stories are set up in an environment that is
much closer to the local culture than in any "Martine at the Beach" or "The
Story of Ferdinand."
Malatjalian's aim is clear.
It is to create literature, not just books.
"A literature that reflects social, mental and cultural needs. Besides I want
standard Arabic to become a functional language that people use and that would
help them communicate fully in their daily needs," she said.
Another obstacle to Arabic reading lies in the differences between written
and colloquial Arabic.
"Colloquial hinders written, standard Arabic, and everybody thinks it is
difficult. It wouldn't be so if heard right from birth (when parents read
babies stories in standard Arabic)," Malatjalian said.
Focusing on writing what she calls "meaningful" stories, the author deals
with mainstream social issues, such as commitment to the nation, cooperation,
conflict resolution, responsibility and, last but not least, tolerance. Several
books that have not been released yet also tackle critical issues such as child
abuse.
"Several years ago, we tried to talk with parents and religious figures, but
no one admitted to even hearing about it. It is changing a little. Now at least
we are managing to get listened to," Malatjalian said.
In this case, her books would serve parents as well as teachers.
"Literature is safe," she said. "Without it, well-trained teachers might
introduce sensitive issues badly. With such books, they will be able to take
poems as a base to their programs and their discussions. The subject will even
be tackled in a funny way and bit-by-bit they will be able to tackle even
bigger issues," she added.
In her approach, Malatjalian also points her finger at a major social issue
in our culture: The place of the child in society.
According to her, children are over-protected and this affects their growth
in a very negative way. At the same time, they are not given enough freedom and
opportunity to express themselves.
"They are not even given time to think, as if adults did not have confidence
in them. They are simply not given the chance for venture and adventure," said
Malatjalian.
Believing in the capabilities of children, Malatjalian attempts to correct
this situation by giving children their own roles in her books. As such, her
stories always aim at empowering them.
Using childrens' literature and developing their "socio-emotional" skills
will help them learn how to express their feelings of fear, anger, sadness,
happiness and jealousy. "Their natural feelings will come out," said
Malatjalian. This is also aimed at helping teachers and parents let children
express themselves through art.
Above all else, Malatjalian hopes to change rigid educational trends by
helping to create a healthier environment in which children can grow.
Nonetheless, one can easily see that even in Europe things started changing
only a few years ago. As Malatjalian said, there is a new trend in children's
literature: "When writers used to write for the child inside of them, now
the child himself is the one who is telling the story."
Returning to the problem of illiteracy and aliteracy, Malatjalian reminds us
that, "we cannot endlessly play the ostrich. When Beirut is supposed to be the
cultural capital of the Arab world with only one public library, there is
definitely something to do. As no Arab organization will ever take notice of
the subject, it is the duty of the public to act," she said.
As children are the adults of tomorrow, let's hope that Malatjalian's work
will be fruitful and widely received.
|