Yoruba is the second largest language group in Africa and is spoken by about 22 million people in southwest Nigeria, Benin, Togo, the UK, Brazil, USA and the other parts of the world. Yoruba first appeared in writing during the 19th century.
In the early Yoruba community there was not much class distinction between the 'Royal Class' and the 'Ordinary people'. Over a period of time this has changed and a powerful 'Educated class' emerged bringing with it a greater distinction between them and the 'Ordinary people'. The Yoruba thus became a materialistic society and people were judged by their wealth, whether they achieved it through education or less commendable means. The 'ordinary people' were not able to achieve such wealth and this has led to corruption. The solution for many young people was to go abroad. Immigrants settling in different parts of the world had to deal with a sense of cultural dislocation immersed in a varied and very different cultural milieu. This has caused the gradual erosion of the quality and culture of Yoruba. Cultural diversity is a driving force of development, not only in respect of economic growth, but also as a means of leading a more fulfilling intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual life.
Language and culture are inextricably intertwined. The driving force of any culture is the language. Likewise ones language is the core part of their identification. Culture is meaningless without language and a man or woman without culture is lost indeed.
The economics of survival prevents many Yoruba parents from passing on any significant amount of culture. And kids learn American TV culture fast when parents are away at work and kids are home alone.
According to UNESCO Over 3000 languages are in danger of disappearing... Languages are not only adequate tools of communication, they also reflect a view of the world. Languages are vehicles of value systems and of cultural expressions and they constitute a determining factor in the identity of groups and individuals. Languages are an essential component of the living heritage of humanity. One language disappears on an average of every two weeks. Let us not include our Yoruba language along with those disappearing languages. The only way to safeguard our language is by helping our kids to learn Yoruba and immense them in our rich Yoruba culture.
Researches have proved that the level of development of children's mother tongue is a strong predictor of their second language development. Children who come to school with a solid foundation in their mother tongue develop stronger literacy abilities in their school.
It is difficult for busy immigrant Yoruba parents to educating Yoruba language and culture to their kids. Keeping this in mind Gaptel Innovative Solutions Inc., has evolved with highly interactive language software that primarily focuses on helping immigrant kids speak their parents language with ease. This multimedia Tutorial is available at www.YorubaForKidsAbroad.com
The goal of the www.YorubaForKidsAbroad.com is to inject awareness about richness and variety of Yoruba culture and unified spirit into the teaching of the Yoruba language for kids. www.YorubaForKidsAbroad.com is a web site where Yoruba parents and kids abroad can gain access to free videos of the interactive software for Yoruba Kids Abroad – Learn Yoruba In 27 days. Having Yoruba kids abroad understand, speak, read and appreciate Yoruba language and culture has never been easier, faster or cheaper. www.YorubaForKidsAbroad.com is designed particularly for kids in the form of games, Quiz, and lessons which are irresistible and make them learn Yoruba everyday. This software not only teaches language but also correct pronunciation and Yoruba culture.
Please feel free to visit the site www.yorubaforkidsabroad.com for free demonstration of the software. For any further assistance please call 1-306-374-6069 or mail to info@gaptel.com.
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