If your child is going into grade 5 this September, please make sure your child chooses Punjabi as the second language. Your child, then will continue to study Punjabi from grade 5 to grade 8. If your child doesn’t choose Punjabi, he will be offered French as second language. It is therefore, very important that your child chooses Punjabi as the second language. In BC, every student is required to take a second language in grade 5.
After studying Punjabi for 4 years in school, the students will be able to communicate with their parents, grand-parents, and Punjabi community as a whole.
According to the Census Canada 2011, Punjabi is the 2nd most-spoken language in British Columbia. It is also the 3rd most-spoken language in Canada.
Being bilingual in English, Punjabi will increase your child’s career opportunities. If he becomes a professional like doctor, lawyer, financial advisor, contractor, dentist, the knowledge will help him/her communicate in Punjabi with their clients. This will help bilingual professionals to earn goodwill of their clients and help develop their business.
Punjabi students, who neglect to choose Punjabi as their second language in grade 5, often repent and feel bad about the missed opportunity-to learn Punjabi from grade 5 to grade 8 in school. Knowledge of Punjabi will also help them keep their identity and culture. They say, “Loose your mother tongue, loose your culture.”
So parents, take it as your duty to make your children chose Punjabi as a second language in grade 5 this September.
Prof. Kuldip Pelia
Tel. 604-339-2654
