35. The Benefits: Why Use the Mother Tongue?

Content:  
Mother tongue is the language which a child starts hearing after being born and thus, it
also helps in providing a definite shape to our emotions and thoughts. Learning in
your mother tongue also is crucial in enhancing other skills such as critical thinking,
skills to learn a second language and literacy skills

The importance of mother tongue is studied because when children develop their
mother tongue, they are simultaneously fostering a whole host of other essential skills,
such as critical thinking and literacy skills. It is these skills that they take with them into
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.For example, if a child has developed the ability to guess the meaning of a
word through its context, or to infer meaning by reading between the lines, these skills
are easily transferred when they begin studying in a second language. It is much
harder, however, to teach these abstract skills directly through a second language.

The importance of mother tongue was studied by Professor Jim Cummins from the
University of Toronto in Canada. He explored why is it so important that parents speak
their own mother tongue to their children.

His research uncovers the link between a child’s development and their mother tongue.
He found that children who develop skills in two or even three languages, grow up to
have a deeper understanding of how to form sentences and expressions, making the
use of language as a whole a lot easier.

Children speaking just one mother tongue language had a fixed mindset on how to
communicate what they want or need. He also found that children with only one mother
tongue did not know how to use the language in the same depth as children using two
or mother mother tongue languages.

He discusses how children that speak multiple languages have more advanced critical
thinking as they have to explore how to phrase and use the language of choice at that
moment in time.

Furthermore, Cummins found that children with a strong mother tongue found it easier
to pick up a second language and develop their literacy skills.

Benefits of mother tongue education

There are many benefits associated with an education that takes into account children’s
mother tongues:
 Children learn better and faster in a language they can understand (preventing delays
in learning)
 They enjoy school more, they feel more at home
 Pupils tend to show increased self-esteem
 Parents participation is increased. Parents can help with homework and can
participate in school activities
 Studies have reported that when children take advantage of their multilingualism they
also enjoy higher socioeconomic status, including higher earnings
 On average, the schools perform better,reporting less repetition
 Finally, schools report children stay in school longer

References:
The importance of mother tongue was studied by Professor Jim Cummins from the
University of Toronto in Canada
https://www.rutufoundation.ORG/what-is-mother-tongue-education/
https://reva.edu.in/blog/5-reasons-why-it-is-important-to-know-your-mother-tongue-well-
21-february-international-mother-language-day/#:~:text=Mother%20tongue%20is
%20the%20language,second%20language%20and%20literacy%20skills.

Youtube Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsxjK3NGdOM