It Jeopardizes The "Minor" Language., Knowing That Only The Major Languages Will Be Used

INTRODUCTION:

Republic Act No. 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act directs DepEd to adhere to the

principles and framework of MTB-MLE in its curriculum development. Kindergarten and

Grades 1 to 3 learners are required to receive instruction, teaching materials, and assessment in
their respective regional or native language. Education in the Philippines have long been
influenced by Western ways of teaching. Such is evident in the use of the English language as
the primary medium of teaching in a large majority of academic institutions in the Philippines.
However, why is the subject matters we learn not rooted on our own mother tongue and culture?
Such a method is known as the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) used
in countries such as Japan and Korea. This has been implemented in small schools in the
Philippines using the standard Filipino language or in various other local dialects of its respective
region. However, there are too few schools adopting such a method and it is important to be
taught in one’s own mother language for it is proven to improve the understanding of concepts in
addition to upholding cultural roots.
Opposite arguments:
It jeopardizes the “minor” language., knowing that only the major languages will be used,
what will happen now to the speakers of the so called “minority” language? What language will
these learners use in the classrooms? Take for instance a student who speaks “Samal” the
language of the Mindanao area, these learners may not seem familiar with the Tausug language.
Will the teachers speak the language in the class? This problem will be very problematic in the
sense that, there will really be an emphasis on the notion that some languages are major and
some minor. The pride aspect of the use of the language might be directly or indirectly be
affected and it never takes into consideration migration-related concerns For instance, I was
suddenly transferred to work in Mindanao in the Tausug-speaking community, my husband
wanted to be with me as well as my kids. My husband is a grade three teacher ever since. Will he
get a job as a third grade teacher when he can’t speak the language used in the classroom? What
about my kids? My kids being English speakers in the house should deal with the Tausug-
speaking class? There must be a way to take these issues into account. In teaching mother
tongue-based education in terms of reading is the lack of instructional materials. There are
limited reading materials for students to develop their reading skills. The challenge is that
students have difficulty in understanding some words they are not familiar with.
We believe that MTB-MLE curriculum in the Philippines promotes unity and patriotism among
the young Filipino Leaners. MTB-MLE is an ideal method of improving the Filipinos’
knowledge of our own mother tongue as well as understanding of the concerned topic such use
nurtures cultural roots in our educational system, increases confidence in understanding new
concepts, and promotes the students’ proficiency in our own language. The advantages in
teaching mother tongue-based education are: students are able to express their thoughts and ideas
resulting to high participation in class discussions; the learners feel independent in their choice of
expression; mother tongue can facilitate in explaining the meaning of some English words
through translation thus help the students learn English easily. MTB-MLE not only promotes
Filipino, the national language but also regards regional languages as important in appreciating
Philippine language and culture and all that encompass the Philippine history. The present
generation have demonstrated proficiency in the English language in conversation, academic
papers, and media so why not our own language? It is through education can we bring back the
greater awareness of our mother tongue among the youth before the day comes in the future that
we lose the purity of our mother tongue.

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INTRODUCTION:

principles and framework of MTB-MLE in its curriculum development. Kindergarten and

addition to upholding cultural roots.

generation have demonstrated proficiency in the English language in conversation, academic

we lose the purity of our mother tongue.

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