I.

TOPIC: Mother Tongue as the Foundation of Content and Second Language

Learning
II. GRADE LEVEL: 2nd Year College
III. DURATION: 1 hour
IV. LEARNING RESOURCES:

https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/mother-tongue-multilingual-education-
mtbmle/85712414
https://www.languagesunlimited.com/the-power-of-mother-tongue-its-impact-on-
language-learning-and-
understanding/#:~:text=Research%20has%20shown%2ss0that%20students,are%
20necessary%20for%20language%20learning.

V. COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the lesson, 85% of the class should be able to:

A. Explain the role of the mother tongue in supporting second language acquisition.
B. Demonstrate appreciation for the value of their own mother tongue by
participating in the discussion and reflecting on its role in shaping identity and
learning.
C. Design an infographic that visually illustrates how the mother tongue serves as
the foundation for content and second language learning.
VI. LESSON PROPER
A. PREPARATION
1. Prayer
The prayer will be done by one of the students.
2. Checking of the Attendance
The attendance will be checked by the presenter.
3. Recapitulation of the Previous Lesson
The recalling of the previous lesson shall be participated by the students with
the guidance of the presenter.
4. Motivation
The learners will be divided into two groups. Each group will choose one scratch-
it placards pasted on the board. Both groups will be given one minute to finish
scratching the placards that they chose which will determine what set of pictures
they will be getting, either Set 1 or Set 2. Set 1 contains two pictures. A picture
of a mother and a picture of a tongue. Set 2 contains two pictures (a make-up
foundation and a 2nd place trophy with the word “language” on it). The groups
will be given 1 minute to decipher and write down what the picture shows on the
side of each pictures. The first group who will finish first will be given additional
points.

B. PRESENTATION

What is Mother Tongue and Why Is It Important?

❖ The mother tongue (also known as L1 or first language) is the language a

child learns from birth.

 ❖ It is used to develop basic cognitive skills, emotional connections, and
early literacy.
❖ The second language (L2) is typically introduced later, often in school

(e.g., English in many non-English-speaking countries).

❖ The stronger the foundation in the mother tongue, the easier it is to

learn a second language.

Theoretical Foundations

⚫ Cummins’ Interdependence Hypothesis (1984)

❖ There is a common underlying proficiency across languages.

❖ Skills such as comprehension, critical thinking, and reading can be
transferred from L1 to L2.
❖ If a child develops cognitive skills in their mother tongue, these skills help

them succeed in a second language.

⚫ Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory

❖ Language is a tool for thought and learning.

❖ Children learn best through interaction in a language they understand.
❖ Once their first language becomes a tool for thinking, they can apply it to
learning new languages and concepts.

Benefits of Mother Tongue as Foundation of Content and Second

Language Learning in Education

Explana
Benefit
tion

Learners
can
focus on
understa
Cognitiv
nding
e
ideas,
develop
not just
ment
decoding
a foreign
language
.
 Students
who start
Stronge school in
r their
academi mother
c tongue
perform perform
ance better in
later
grades.

Students
express
themselv
es more
Confide
clearly
nce and
and
particip
confident
ation
ly in a
familiar
language
.

Once a
concept
is
learned
in the
Langua
first
ge
language
transfer
, it can
be re-
expresse
d in the
second.

Mother
tongue
connects
Cultural students
preserv to their
ation identity,
traditions
, and
values.
Challenges When the Mother Tongue is Ignored

1. Limited Comprehension and Misunderstanding

❖ Students may struggle to understand lessons when they are delivered in

an unfamiliar language.
❖ They focus more on decoding the second language than grasping the
actual content (e.g., science, math).

2. Lower Academic Performance

❖ Concepts are harder to learn when students cannot fully understand the

language of instruction.

❖ Poor understanding leads to lower test scores, participation, and

retention of knowledge.

3. Delayed Literacy Development

❖ Students may face difficulties learning to read and write if literacy

instruction is not given in a language they speak fluently.
❖ This can cause a delay in acquiring both first and second language
literacy.

4. Increased Dropout Rates

❖ Confusion, poor performance, and frustration can lead to student

disengagement.

❖ In many multilingual countries, students leave school early because they

don’t understand the language used in class.

5. Reduced Confidence and Participation

❖ Learners may feel shy, anxious, or embarrassed to speak in class when

instruction is not in their home language.

❖ This lowers classroom interaction and hinders oral language

development.

6. Loss of Cultural Identity

 ❖ When students are not allowed to use their mother tongue, they may feel

their culture and heritage are devalued.

❖ This affects their self-worth and sense of belonging.

7. Poor Critical Thinking Development

❖ Students think best in the language they know well.

❖ When forced to learn in a second language before mastering their first,
they may struggle to form complex thoughts or express opinions clearly.

8. Teacher Miscommunication

❖ Teachers may misinterpret students’ silence or errors as a lack of

intelligence or effort, when in reality it’s a language barrier.

9. Increased Learning Gaps

❖ Children who speak minority or indigenous languages may fall behind

their peers who already speak the school’s dominant language.

10. Inequitable Learning Environment

❖ Ignoring the mother tongue benefits only students who already speak the

second language at home.

❖ This widens the gap between urban and rural learners or between rich
and poor students.

C. PRACTICE
The students will be reviewed of their understanding through a simple quiz that
can be answered in chorus. They will answer the questions below.

1. What is the difference between mother tongue and second language?

Answer: Mother Tongue is the language a child learns from birth while
second language is the language typically introduced later, often in
school (e.g., English in many non-English-speaking countries).
2. What are the 2 Theoretical Foundations that shows the importance of Mother
Tongue in learning a second language?
Answer: Cummins’ Interdependence Hypothesis & Vygotsky’s Sociocultural
Theory.
3. What are some of the benefits of Mother Tongue?
Answer: Cognitive Development, Stronger Academic Performance,and
participation, Language Transfer, and Cultural Preservation
 D. PERFORMANCE
1. Assessment

The learners will be tasked to create an essay containing at least 100 words
explaining how mother tongue supports second language learning. The
learners will be given 10 minutes to finish this task on a one whole sheet
of paper.

2. Assignment
Create an infographic using a short bondpaper showcasing how Mother
Tongue serves as the foundation of content and in second language
learning.

Criteria for grading are the following:

Content accuracy – 25
Creativity- 25

A total of 50 points

SYNTHESIS

The mother tongue is the foundation of second language learning. It supports

cognitive development, helps learners grasp new concepts more easily, and
builds confidence in communication. When students first develop strong skills in
their native language, they are better prepared to learn additional languages.
Using the mother tongue in education promotes deeper understanding, cultural
identity, and long-term academic success.
PREPARED BY:
Group 4
Arendain, Eloisa Jhane
Borromeo, Hanelyn
Formoso, Nikka
Paglinawan, Lea Marie
Pentucan, Angelie Kate
CHECKED BY:
Mrs. Cristhel Cañas