Role of mother tongue in learning a second language

The mother tongue, native or first language, is what a person has learned from birth and thus becomes the basis for social identity and becomes the medium of learning in school and society. Studies shows that 6 - 8 years of education in a language are necessary to develop the level of literacy and verbal proficiency required for academic achievement in secondary school.
Children's ability to learn a second or additional local language and an international language such as English, French, or German, does not suffer when their mother tongue is the primary language of instruction throughout primary school. Fluency and literacy in the mother tongue lay of cognitive and linguistic foundation for learning additional languages e.g. English language.
When children receive formal instruction in their first language throughout primary school and then gradually transition to academic learning in the second language, they learn the second language quickly. If they continue to have opportunities to develop their first language skills in Secondary School, they emerges fully bilingual learners.

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