An Exploration into Oromo Folklore Portrayed in Second Cycle Primary Language Textbooks
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Date
2006-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The maIO purpose of thi s s tud y is to identify and explore th e mealllngs of folkl or ic
contents included in second cycle primary Oromo langua ge te xtbooks to be tau g ht as
integral part of the four language s kills. The method e mplo yed to ana lyze and interpret tb e
folkloric contents was qualitati ve content analysi s. The folkloric contents found in the
texts; the curriculum developers; teacher educators and second cycle primary te ac hers,
were the sources of information that had been ana lyzed and interpreted. Apparently th e
se mi structured interview guide and open end ed questionnaires were used as a supporti ve
data co ll e ction in struments. All of the folkloric contents found in the texts were
purposively analyzed and interpreted und er this stud y.
According to the major findings the entire passages found in the texts were ninet y nin e.
Among these fifteen passages conta in e d folkloric contents. From the four forms of
folklore; oral literature and performing folk arts are found in the texts. Between the se th e
oral literature genres are dominantl y portra ye d. The re st forms s uch as : soc ial fo lk custom
and material culture are not reflected in the texts. From oral literature genres: eleven folk
tale s, thirty s ix proverbs , and twenty five riddles were found in the te xts. They were to be
learned in a ll grades except seventh g ra de. In seventh grade th e only ora l literature genre
to be lea rned is folktale . Among folk ali genres : one pa storal song, two love songs, and
one chi ldren play grou nd rhyme were found in the texts . They were to be learned in grade
five and grade e igbt. Tbe identified genres (types) of oral literature and performin g folk
arts are five and the item s of th ese genres were totally seventy six in number. If not some,
the folkloric contents designed in the syllabu ses are linked to the texts developed.
With regard to the main recommendations, ex ploring prior to selecting folkloric contents
and selecti ng genres from all forms of folklore or folk life studies is advi sable . Tbe careful
linkage of folkloric contents between the syllabuses and textbooks is an imp o rta nt
p e rformance in cutTicu lum development. The vertical and hori zo ntal organi zation of so me
folklori c contents n eed s assess m e nt. With re sp ect to teacher education ba sed on fo lklori c
contents, conductin g another re search is re commended .
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Keywords
Oromo Folklore Portrayed