Adult education has come a long way in Nigeria, and many adults have been enrolling in the system in order to gain the experience or acquire the knowledge they did not have while growing up. In this article, I will be showing you the importance of mother tongue in adult education. This importance may not only relate to the adult education system in Nigeria, but it cuts across that of the world as well.
It is a common belief or very obvious that as we move towards a society in which the medium of teaching in the classroom is English, we tend to move away from our mother tongue. This is the situation the Nigerian educational system at large has found itself. The first language a toddler learns from birth is termed as the birth language, and it lays a crucial role in his or lives for a variety of reasons. February 21 of every year is tagged as International Mother Language Day, and on each event, they normally stress the reasons why it is important to know your mother tongue very well.
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This emphasis should not be laid only on the normal educational system, but it should also extend to that of adult education. That is why in this article I will be stressing the need and importance of mother tongue in adult education in Nigeria.
Before we proceed, let me give you a clearer understanding of what a mother tongue is.
What is Mother Tongue?
Language is defined as a system of communication that consists of a set of sounds and written symbols that are used by people of a particular country or region for talking or writing.
The Mother tongue is defined as the first language a child is exposed to from the time of birth. It is actually the language in which the child is spoken to before he or she begins to understand words. It can also be referred to as a person’s native language. It is actually the dominant language that defines a person’s thoughts.
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The importance of the mother tongue as a medium education cannot be overemphasized. At the time children develop their mother tongue, a host of simultaneous development also occurs, such as critical thinking and literacy skills also takes place in them. It actually builds up a child’s social, cultural, and personal identity.
Now, let us shift to the main purpose of this article, which is the importance of mother tongue in adult education.
5 Importance of Mother Tongue in Adult Education in Nigeria
Some importance of mother tongue in adult education is as follows.
Intellectual Development
Various studies have proven that cognitive development as was as intellectual development is comparatively faster in those who are fluent in their mother tongue. It has also been proven that if a student (be it an adult as well) is educated in his/her mother, the rate of his or her educational success is higher than someone who is taught with another language which is different from their mother tongue.
Better Connection with His or Her Culture
Languages are the most important way of keeping the cultures of people alive. If you will agree, the direct translation of one language to another might not carry the same essence as it is with the source language. As a result of this, the best way to thoroughly know about a culture is to understand the language. Our mother tongue helps us to stay connected to our culture and our roots.
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Hastens Second Language Learning
If someone understands his or her mother tongue very well, it is quite easier for him or her to master a new language. This is one of the major importance of mother tongue in adult education because most adults are already used to their mother tongue right from birth.
Commercial Benefits
As businesses are moving towards the local direction, the importance of mother tongues has increased exponentially. Having a firm understanding of your mother tongue is immensely helpful if you are interested in becoming an entrepreneur in your locality. The opportunities related to monetizing with the help of one’s mother tongues are vast in today’s business scenario.
It Brings Pride
Having a proper understanding of your mother tongue is a matter of pride. It boosts your confidence and creates awareness in your mind while also helping you connect with your cultural identity in a better way.
Conclusion
The mother tongue has a huge positive influence in defining the personality of an individual. However, the medium of education in Nigeria which is usually English also encourages parents to speak to their children in their second language. This can bring confusion in the minds of children and hence they may face difficulties in mastering both the first and second langue.
Analyzing the importance of mother tongue in adult education, I can now say that it helps adults to connect faster to what they are been taught because we all believe they are already perfect in their mother tongue before now.
