Kathleen Malu, William Paterson University professor of literacy and language in the Department of Secondary and Middle School Education , has received a Fulbright Scholar award to complete three months of research in London, United Kingdom. Malu’s research project is titled, “Shifting to English in the Democratic Republic of the Congo? Exploring Language Policy and Practice Using Multiple Disciplines.”
Malu will be hosted by the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London between April 1 and June 30, 2017. SOAS is uniquely positioned to support this research project, Malu says, because of its recently launched Institute of World Languages and its Centenary Anniversary (2016-2017) research theme, “Global Voices.”
This marks Malu’s second Fulbright Scholar award; she was previously awarded funding for teaching and research in Rwanda from 2009 to 2010. There, she prepared English Language pre-service teachers at the National University of Rwanda’s Kigali Institute of Education. At that time Rwanda had changed its official international language from French to English at all levels of education and throughout society in 2009.
Similarly, though French is still the official language in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Congolese are increasingly seeking to learn English – confident this will offer a more effective global voice, Malu explains. Her Fulbright research will explore this unofficial shift in language, drawing upon the disciplines of sociolinguistics, anthropology and language education, as well as her previous teaching and research on language changes in Rwanda.
“The effects of the language policy change have been poorly documented,” the professor says. “This project offers an opportunity to examine the effects of a grassroots change in language use that may, or may not, become official language policy. It is extremely important that this study be conducted.”
While in London, Malu plans to explore, among other topics, whether a shift to English might give the Congolese a more effective global voice and whether elements of the DRC experience can be generalized and used by other countries to inform their education and language policies and practices. She will complete her research by means of a literature review at the SOAS library and the British Library, which attracts scholars worldwide due to its extensive, unique collection of journals and archives. She also plans to have academic conversations with SOAS faculty and participate in as many applicable SOAS Centenary events as possible.
Malu, who teaches courses in William Paterson University’s College of Education that focus on research in education, ESL and bilingual education, says she is eager to bring her forthcoming research findings back to campus.
“As the world becomes a global village, it is extremely important that there is mutual understanding within and across cultures, societies, and nations,” Malu says. “To promote mutual understanding, we must consider the interplay between language, culture and society. It is a great honor for me to receive this second award and I am grateful to the university for its support and encouragement.”
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