MTB-MLE in learning
Gerundio M. Gelig JR.
As educators, we must always be flexible to the rapid changes especially if those shall pave way to the improvement of the learning. Many new updates in the educational system are continuously being introduced which could be the solutions to have a better academic performance among our learners. Utilizing the Mother Tongue as a medium of instruction is one of the highlights introduced in the present curriculum which is the K to 12. Aside from having it as a separate subject, we are expected to teach all the subjects using our own vernacular except in the subjects English and Filipino. We used to just verbalize Kapampangan at home, while we have Tagalog and English in school. Now, it is different. Textbooks and even test materials are expected to be taught using our Mother Tongue. Of course, teachers find it hard at first. But, upon realizing that pupils could comprehend better because the teacher would teach in the simplest language that is mastered by the majority of the students, they are more comfortable in expressing their ideas without language barrier. Instead of having the need to understand the other language, the learners could just focus on understanding about the subject matter. And so I could say that Mother Tongue leads to an advantage because of having better comprehension of the topics being learned. But, there are also some disadvantages. In a classroom situation, not all the students that we teach fully understand and use one language. Though Pampango by ethnicity, there are pupils who find it easier to understand tagalog better more than Kapampangan. Other natives also are already speaking Tagalog instead of Kapampangan. Because of these, instead of making the lessons easier for them to understand, the medium of instruction used by the teacher becomes a barrier instead of a helpful vehicle in understanding the lesson. Some of the vocabularies in kapampangan are not so familiar which makes learning complicated. But, though there are disadvantages, if the use of MTB-MLE in learning leads to better results, then, we must be advocates of this matter, because certainly, whatever the Department is pursuing is for the benefits of our learners.
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The author is Teacher II Eliseo-Belen Elementary School - ANNEX