User:Noordin Abdi Kheyley

TEACH YOUR CHILD MOTHER TONGUE BEFORE ANY FOREING LANGUAGE

It has become a common trend to see many parents speaking proudly with their young children in foreign language(s). It is fashionable in urban centres to communicate with youngsters in English. Some parents feel exotic and "urbanized" when their children speak in the Queen's language. The sad part is that the same kids score zero in matters native language.

Mother tongue is supposed to be 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.

Learning to speak in the mother tongue is very important for a child's overall development. Being fluent in the mother tongue, which is also known as the native language, benefits the child in many ways. It connects him to his culture, ensures better cognitive development, and aids in the learning of other languages.

Language is a critical element of culture. It forms the basic foundation of learning one's identity. He who does not know his native language is uncultured. Someone who is uncultured is ignorant or uneducated, particularly about his heritage and history.

They say eyes and ears are poor witnesses to people if they have uncultured souls. This may make individuals mannerless, heartless and biased. Those who abandon their cultural identiy are likely to be modern day slaves. Real emancipation springs from that inward might which we exert upon society.

Let your children learn their mother tongue first.