This document discusses mother tongue-based multilingual education (MTB-MLE) in the Philippines. It defines key terms like mother tongue and multilingual. MTB-MLE uses the children's mother tongue in the classroom to facilitate learning Filipino and English. The goals are to develop cognitive skills to operate in different languages, and to preserve Philippine culture. The Department of Education implemented MTB-MLE for 12 languages, and recently added 7 more dialects. Benefits include reduced dropout rates, repetition, and increased student attendance and learning. Not using the mother tongue can lead to learning difficulties and loss of heritage language and culture.

1. Mother
Tongue-
Based
Multilingual
Education

2. Definition of Terms…
 Mother Tongue – (1) Once
native or primary language
an individual has known;
(2) Also referred as “Lingua
Franca”.
 Multilingual – Knowing or
using several languages.

3. Definition of Terms…
 Education – (1) A field of
study dealing with methods
of teaching and learning;
(2) The action or process of
educating or being
educated.

4. What is Mother Tongue-Based of
Multilingual Education (MTB-
MLE) ?
 It is a formal or non-formal
education, in which the
children’s mother tongue is
used in the classroom as a
bridge in learning Filipino and
English.

5. Purpose of MTB-MLE…
 To develop appropriate
cognitive and reasoning skills
enabling children to operate
equally in different languages –
starting in the mother tongue with
transition to Filipino and then
English and to preserve the
Philippine cultural treasure as well.

6. There were 12 languages
considered by DepEd in its
MTB-MLE implementation…

8. 7 dialects recently added by the
DepEd:
Ibanag Tugegarao City, Cagayan and Isabela
Ivatan Batanes group
Sambal Zambales
Aklanon Aklan, Capiz
Kinaray-a Capiz, Aklan
Yakan
Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao
(ARMM)
Surigaonon Surigao

9. Why teaching the
mother tongue as a
subject in schools is
important?
The Philippines is abundant of different languages. However, some of these
languages are fast declining and are about to disappear. And so, Mother
tongue education is important. For it will preserve our country’s cultural
treasure. It also provides learners with a strong educational foundation in the
first language in terms of instruction and a stepping stone in achieving the
aims of education as well as the goal of functional literacy.

10. What are the benefits of MTB-MLE?
Reduced drop-out
Reduced repetition
Children are attending school.
Children are learning.
Parents and community are
involved.

11. Susan Malone, SIL International

12. If the mother tongue is not used…
 Loss of confidence of students in
themselves as learners.
 Inability to learn the official
school language well.
 High repetition and drop-out
rates.

13. If the mother tongue is not used…
 Alienation from heritage
language and culture, from
parents and community.
 Loss of languages, cultures and
of knowledge systems.

14. Another Article…

15. SEC. 4. Enhanced Basic Education
Program.

16. “We should become
tri-lingual as a
country. Learn
English well and
connect to the
World.
Learn Filipino well
and connect to our
country.
Retain your dialect
and connect to your
heritage."
- Philippine President Benigno
Aquino III

17. * Daghang Salamat!!!
