Bilingualism and the medium of instruction

Abstract

This paper explores Cummin’s dual iceberg metaphor in terms of bilingualproficiency in the Maldivian context and the gradual switch to English-mediuminstruction. Bilingual education was implemented in the Maldives on the premise that theearlier a student is introduced to a foreign language and the greater is her exposure, thebetter will be her proficiency in the foreign language. Research on bilingualism contradictsthis naïve and intuitive understanding of how a student achieves bilingual proficiency.The paper concludes by briefly outlining the manner in which the switch to the English-medium by policy actors was made and the consequent marginalization of mother tongue.and erosion of societal values.