Education in Mother Tongue?
By deserve40
@deserve40 (1656)
India
January 6, 2009 9:26am CST
We have schools starting from play group to high school and college which impart education in different languages. Most of the colleges have English as medium of instruction.
But for school level, the education is available in regional languages. But some parents feel that their children should be educated in English Medium school right from the primary level. Some feel that school education should be given in own Mother Tongue. What do you think?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
7 Jan 09
I don't think education through Mother Tongue will create a problem. In India each state has its own regional language and in schools the medium of language is also in the regional language (except English medium schools). But English is teaching as the second language and it is a must to learn the language. I have seen many students who studied in regional language got high grades in exams. In fact learning English is very important in the present scenario. If you know the language well it is an added advantage when in search of jobs. So we can't alienate the English language and at the same time we should love our mother tongue too. People should give respect to both language and learn both with equal importance.
@deserve40 (1656)
• India
7 Jan 09
Well, my purpose of starting this discussion is to have an exchange of views about the prefrence of medoum of instruction in the school.
Regional languages are good and the educatiion in those media is also good. However, some people feel that if children study in their own mother language, they will have better grasping of the subjects. Do you really think that the primary education of children should be in mother tounge only?
1 person likes this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
10 Jan 09
I think a child can learn a new language very easily. In other words if you teach him/her a language other than mother tongue from the primary level, I think it is good. May be you are right, introducing the new language through mother tongue will helps the child to learn quickly.
@arkadeb313 (593)
• India
10 Jan 09
Hi friend deserve40, I am in the first group. That is, I have been educated in regional language which is my mother language too up to plus 2 level. In the degree course I used a mix of regional language and English. And in the post graduation I had to use English only.
On the other hand my kids are in the second group. They are educated in English medium school. I wanted them to be educated in English medium too.
Being myself educated in regional language, I find that knowing English from the start is an advantage. You have a ocean of knowledge open to you since the beginning. For sometime I taught in a college, where I found that the students who came from English medium schools have already read some books which we studied in graduation and above level. It was true for students with other medium too.
Above all, learning the language at a higher class, though takes lesser time, does not imbibe the flexibility in using it. English also is acceptable anywhere in the world and even in India. Besides, studying in English medium gives the advantage of fluency in conversation and more control over the language.So I am in favour of studying in English medium, if possible. However, I am not saying that those studying in regional language are of lesser quality. But those knowing English from the beginning, even if merits are same, have some advantage.
Nice discussion
@deserve40 (1656)
• India
10 Jan 09
So you feel that the children if educated in English medium right from the school level will be more useful. However, some people feel that the children can have better grasping of the subjects which are being explained to them in their mother tounge/regional language.
At younger age the memory of the children is sharp but the understanding is not developed and that is why some people feel that the primary education would be better in mother tongue/regional language.
Thanks for the response.
