Takalani Sesame: Educational Media in South Africa
Research interests
• Multicultural education in different countries • Early Childhood Education • Educational Transfer
Relevant Background: South Africa
• 60% television access • 17% children age 0-6 enrolled in Early Childhood Development Services • Department of Education invited Sesame Workshop to produce a program, as part of their Early Childhood Development Initiative
Sesame Workshop’s Coproduction Model
• Over 120 million viewers in 130 countries • Over 20 “coproductions” • Coproduction format:
– 50% “culturally neutral segments from SS library” – 50% locally produced, culturally-specific content – Work with local educators, artists, and producers
Sesame Street Coproductions
Afghanistan-2004 Bangladesh- 2005 Brazil- 1972 Cambodia- 2005 China- 1998 Egypt- 2000 France- 1978 Germany- 1973 India-2006 Indonesia- 2006 Israel/ Palestinian Territories- 1998 • Japan-forthcoming • Jordan- 2003 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Kosovo- 2005 Kuwait- 1979 Mexico- 1972 The Netherlands- 1976 Northern Ireland- 2008 Norway- 1991 Phillippines- 1983 Poland--1996 Portugal-1989 Russia-1996 South Africa- 2000 Spain- 1979 Sweden-1981 Turkey- 1989
Takalani Sesame
• Production began 2000 • Target audience: age 3-7, some focus on rural areas • Estimated viewership: 8 million • Intended for use in homes, classrooms, community centers • Funded by USAID, South African Broadcasting Company, Sanlam, SA Dept. of Education
Overview of Takalani Sesame’s content
1. Language practices 2. Academic Goals 3. Social Goals
Language Practices
• Eleven national languages • DOE’s “mother language education” policy-difficulties in compliance and enforcement • TS: originally, language interspersed • Now: schedule: Monday: English; Tuesday: seTswana, Wednesday: tshiVenda, Thursday: isiZulu, Friday: sePedi, Saturday: English. • Radio: able to broadcast in 12 languages, and broadcast by regions
Academic Goals
• Basic literacy, numeracy • Challenge for radio: can’t show letters/ numbers-- focus on storytelling, songs • Impact studies:
– Some growth in letter/ number recognition – Caregivers: changes in teaching styles
Social Goals
• HIV/ AIDS:
– Kami introduced in 2002 – Impact Study:
• Safety • Tolerance • Self-esteem • [video clip]
Racial Tolerance and Respect
• • • • Language and accents Bert and Ernie Interracial cast Urban/ rural distinctions
Continuing Research
• How do Sesame Workshop’s strategies for teaching racial tolerance translate into South Africa’s racial context? • How does Sesame Workshop “localize” its programming?
• Thoughts, questions, need to reminisce about favorite segments of Sesame Street?
– naomi.moland@nyu.edu