What is Bidialectal

The unique language situation in St. Lucia and the heterogeneity of the St. Lucian classroom suggest the implementation of an innovative way of using students' first language. Furthermore, the inability of many infant and primary school students to attain satisfactory marks in certain components of national English examinations are two factors which should influence the method of classroom instruction. Thus, the data in this chapter address the use of home language in instruction. In particular, the investigation of eight infant level students exposed to a model of vernacular instruction which included both English and Kwéyòl instruction produced comparative results of phonological awareness in the two languages. The data revealed that over time the students were better able to perceive sounds common to both languages and that their ability to perform phonological tasks may depend on the cognitive nature of the tasks and the cognitive operations required to perform them.