Encouraging mother tongue learning: Nnenna and Kene Mba example
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| 5 year old Nnenna Mba |
Written by Sopuruchukwu Egbodo @SopuruEgbodo
“While a primary one scholar in homeland Nigeria I was punished for speaking my native Igbo language in class, only the English language was permitted, but in my final year in college, I and my fellow graduands were begged with lots of incentives to study the Igbo language at university level in a bid to keep the language alive.”
“While a primary one scholar in homeland Nigeria I was punished for speaking my native Igbo language in class, only the English language was permitted, but in my final year in college, I and my fellow graduands were begged with lots of incentives to study the Igbo language at university level in a bid to keep the language alive.”
Language is a major form of identity for any individual and every Nigerian irrespective of their place of birth deserves to be taught and is supposed to know to speak their mother tongues. It is good to learn a foreign language, but much more better that one knows both his or her mother tongue and a foreign language.
5 year old Nnenna Mba and her 2 year old brother Kene Mba were born in Australia to a Nigerian father of Igbo descent and an Australian mother. The family resides in Australia, but aside a total grasp of the English language, Mr. and Mrs. Mba teach their children to speak their mother tongue, Igbo language.
Watch the Australian born 5 year old Nnenna and 2 year old Kene Mba speak Igbo. See the video below.
Now your turn. Can you speak your mother tongue? Use the comment box below.
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