The role and importance of Tuvan literature and teaching it in schools in the preservation and development of Tuvan language

Abstract

The authors of the article start off by expressing their concern about the level of command of Tuvan by the younger generation, especially children. Preserving and developing Tuvan language is impossible without literature in Tuvan and teaching it in schools and other educational institutions. The article deals with the issues of teaching Tuvan literature in secondary comprehensive schools of the Republic of Tuva. The authors also provide an overview of textbooks of Tuvan literature compiled at the laboratory of Tuvan philology, Institute for the Development of National Schools of the Republic of Tuva, in compliance with the Federal educational standards of Russian Federation. The textbook provide the mandatory minimum of the standard-provided content of general education and guarantee the required quality of knowledge for school graduates.

In 2013-2017, textbooks titled «Tөreen chogaal» (Literature in the Native Tongue) were compiled and published for Grades 5-9, as well as two accompanying textbooks for Grades 5 and 6. The textbooks rely on the methodological principles of the study program «Tyva aas chogaaly bolgash literatura. Niiti өөredilge cherleriniң 5-11 klasstarynga chizhek programma» (Tuvan folklore and literature. Sample Study Program for Grade 5-11 of Comprehensive Schools).

In comparison to the previous generation of textbooks, these have been largely updated both in their structure and scope of its content. The texts were grouped in the following categories: “Folklore, the nation’s boundless treasury”, “From folklore to literary genres”, “The world of childhood”, “The world of wonders”, “Holy places”, “The Stars of Victory” and “Animal world”. They prominently feature folklore texts, including shaman songs; tests and creative tasks have also been developed. In terms of their content and methodology, the textbooks intend to familiarize students with the spiritual, moral and aesthetic values of the Tuvan nation.

The textbooks in Tuvan literature and the corresponding study programs are the first of their kind and will be further developed and improved.