The Place of Mother Tongue in Language Teaching and Learning in Nigeria

Abstract

The paper examines the significance of mother tongue in language teaching and learning in Nigeria. The decline in the level of language learning as reflected in the performance of students in the primary and secondary schools across the nation is partly related to neglect of the mother tongue in language teaching and learning across board. Anchoring on Sapir-Whorf hypothesis as the theoretical framework, the researcher uses the descriptive design to showcase the fact that the mother tongue plays pivotal role in language teaching and learning in Nigeria. Consequently, the continuous neglect of the mother tongue in our primary and secondary schools in Nigeria will go a long way not only to create a disenchantment in the minds of young learners as they daily experience a disconnect between the language used in imparting knowledge and their immediate milieu because of the failure of the foreign languages to appropriately capture their daily experiences; but also to widen the gap of the constant yearning for disintegration that still bedevils the nation. The paper recommends amongst others that to overcome the challenges faced in language teaching and learning thereby solving the problems of insecurity, corruption; and hence, foster unity and patriotism that would lead to peace and development, mother tongue must be given its place of pride in language teaching and learning in Nigeria. Therefore, policy makers must begin to inculcate studies in mother tongue as part of education curriculum especially at the primary and secondary school levels which would engender a firm educational foundation for learners. It also recommends that language teachers as role models must emphasize the significant role of mother tongue in language teaching and learning. This will go a long way to stir interest and love for mother tongue in the heart of young learners.