Category: General

01 Dec 2023 03:40

Joined:	03/03/2011
Level:	Gold
Points:	10278

Points:	10

Is it necessary to learn a third language at the primary school level?

Most of the schools/boards in India follow the three-language formula, i.e., mother tongue or regional language, official language/associate language of the Union Government either Hindi or English (medium of instruction), and any other Indian/foreign language such as French, German, Spanish, etc., as a third language. In my opinion, the medium of instruction through which the pupils acquire knowledge of the subjects taught in school easily and communicate with others should be either the mother tongue/regional language or English at the primary level. If they choose the mother tongue as the medium of instruction, then English may be considered as a second language since it is spoken worldwide and vice versa.

I feel that the inclusion of a third language as a part of the curriculum for primary kids may be a burden. Learning a new language has always been of personal interest depending upon the individual's parameters or personal goals, not to be the bread and butter of livelihood and it would be like hiking Mount Everest. Thus, learning any third language need not be made mandatory up to fifth grade. If the secondary school kids are interested, they may learn as per their choice.

#775931

01 Dec 2023 06:47

Joined:	25/11/2014
Level:	Diamond
Points:	43292

Points:	8

What the author has indicated could be one way where kids should not be overburdened with the inclusion of third languages at their primary stages. However, I think that kids are blessed with the talent to pick any language faster at their initial stages. Once they go to higher classes and then the third language is introduced, there might be an element of fear of failure in grasping the third language. This situation does not arise if the kids are allowed to learn all three languages simultaneously once they are inducted into the schools. This is because the kids don't have the analytical abilities to judge that they are being over-pressurised. They would accept the third language formula as a part of education and would adjust accordingly.

#775933

01 Dec 2023 07:41

Joined:	19/02/2011
Level:	Gold
Points:	16543

Points:	4

Yes, I agree with the author. The third language must be optional and not mandatory. I am from Madhya Pradesh and we follow the state board curriculum in our school. This is an English medium school. The first language is English and the second language is Hindi up to the primary level. The third language in primary classes is optional and no students want to learn a third language. Parents also do not want to put a burden on their children. In middle and high school classes, the English is first language, Hindi is the second language and the student has to select a third language as per his choice. But the third language in middle school and high school is mandatory.

Honesty is the best policy.

#775936

01 Dec 2023 12:01

Joined:	02/01/2012
Level:	Gold
Points:	51633

Points:	4

I think as per the new Education Policy, the three language formula says that every student in India must learn three languages. It states that every student will have learn two Indian native languages of which one should be the regional language and then English as the third language. I don't want to get into the purpose or utility of the policy but I agree with the author that burdening a primary student with an additional subject which may or may not be useful to him at a later stage is totally uncalled for. Earlier too, we had three languages but the option was there to select between Hindi and the regional language, meaning that one had to learn only two languages, but it was only from the secondary school level.

'Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all'.
-Aristotle

#775944

01 Dec 2023 19:55

Joined:	02/06/2009
Level:	Diamond
Points:	145553

Points:	4

The three-language formula has its advantages. However, it is not required to learn a third language in primary school. During the 1960s and the 1970s, primary school students used to learn only their mother tongue. They were taught the English alphabet in 5th standard only. The students were taught a third language in the 8th class only. But later on, English was introduced in primary school itself.
These days English has become very important for all students and many schools teach subjects in English only even for KG class students. So it is a must to have two languages in primary classes but a third language can be introduced in 8th class so that students will not get burdened because of a third language.

drrao
always confident

#775950

02 Dec 2023 10:05

Joined:	03/03/2011
Level:	Gold
Points:	10278

Points:	7

In my opinion, any new language should be learned with more interest and fun, not be imposed at this point and time with a complex curriculum at all levels, may it be state boards, CBSE, ICSE, etc. There is no need for any third language at all. If the kids are interested, they can learn any new language outside the school since there are numerous language institutions/tuition centers or even free online apps like Duolingo, Busuu, Google Translate, etc. My kids learned Hindi in the '90s through private tuition alone while they studied through the Matriculation Board. At that time there was no third language at all. With the present scenario of both parents being employed dumping more burden on the kids would have adverse psychological effects, I presume.

#775960

02 Dec 2023 22:07

Joined:	10/07/2018
Level:	Gold
Points:	33843

Points:	8

I don't think it is necessary for kids to learn a third language, but learning a couple of languages other than the mother tongue is always advantageous. It is required when you are moving out of your boundary. For the sake of simplicity, let me put aside the foreign languages and concentrate on the languages we use in India. If you do not know the regional language of the place in India where you have visited, you can manage it with either Hindi/English. So, if you are from Assam and visited any other place in northern India you can very well manage it if you know Hindi along with Assamese. You may find problems communicating in southern states where Hindi is not so popular and for that, you need to know English. In such cases, knowing English and Hindi other than your regional language will help you. So if you are from a place in India where Hindi/English is not your mother tongue/regional language then it is always helpful to learn Hindi and English along with your mother tongue.

In this age where people are going to places to find new jobs and making a career with varied interests, learning a couple of languages can open up more opportunities and for that, I would say if you can go ahead on master a new language and the earlier the better. Students should be given options to choose from and not be overburdened in any way.

Sankalan

"Life is easier when you enjoy what you do"

#775963

03 Dec 2023 18:38

Joined:	04/05/2009
Level:	Gold
Points:	31278

Points:	5

In Economics there is a term 'Joint Supply' which means we have to buy some items along with one item forcefully. For example pen and ink, Meat and bone, etc. Similarly, in schools, there are efforts by the state governments to offer breakfast to the students. Through this, there are two mottos are attained one attendance and the second feeding the needy persons/students.

Similarly, if the third language is offered at the primary school level the students indirectly learn the third language which is an asset to them. Moreover, children can get a strong knowledge of languages if they study at the primary school level.

Is it necessary to learn a third language at the primary school level?

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