Arasain, Jasmine S.

BSED 3 Science
Course Description: Special Topics
Course Instructor: Mr. Justin Espiso

CRITIQUE PAPER

If mother tongue will be defined, it refers to the language which is acquired from the family or
inside a home. Then, it is mastered by the help also of outside society. A child learns first the language
from his parents or the people that surrounds him. Whatever the language that he hears and learn is the
language that he probably will use either at school or in any gatherings.

His perceptive was shaped by the language he learned and at the same time the meaning of the
universe. An individual expresses his perceptive and beliefs by making use of his learned language or his
first language.

Hence, language has played a fundamental role in various societies across the globe. From
enhancing simple things like general communication to creating a viable environment for social,
economic, political and economic growth, language and literature. It becomes very crucial tools in the
growth of human life through constant progress. It has also studied that children’s first language is the
optimal language for literacy and learning throughout primary school.

However, despite of growing evidence and parent demand, many educational systems around
the world insist on exclusive use of one or sometimes several privileged languages. This means excluding
other languages and with them the children who speak them (Arnold, Bartlett,Gowani, & Merali, 2006).
This is somewhat prominent issue in our society. Some education argue that only those countries where
the students first language of instruction are likely to achieve the goals of Education for All. It might be
because learning doesn't have to be complicated since students are only focusing and using first
language.

According to Barrentine (2000) and Sipe (2000), reading aloud to children builds and supports
their listening abilities and enhances their overall language development. This is true since it can be a
practice for betterment in communication. Students must learn by their different senses. It develops
their listening skills as they clearly hear the different terminologies they encounter in studying.

It is evident that students learn to read more quickly when taught in their mother tongue. The
students who learn to read in their mother tongue also learn to read in a second or foreign language
more quickly than those who initially are taught to read in a second language or foreign language.
Hence, mother tongue undeniably plays an important role to students considering that when children
develop their mother tonhue, they are simultaneously fostering a whole host of other essential skills. It
involves critical thinking and literacy skills. These skills are used in formal education, and research tells
us that any skills and concepts gained in the learner’s home language don’t have to be re-taught when
they transfer to a second language.

Cummins find out that children with a knowledge of mother tongue found it easier to pick up a
second language. He also found out that children with only one mother tongue did not know how to use
the language in the same depth just like as children using two or more mother tongue languages. Strong
mother tongue foundation equips children with the skills they need to learn additional languages,
allowing them to transfer their understanding of the structure of language to several new languages.

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