The issue of “Biliteracy and Trilingualism”

Objectives of
Kindergarten Education

Early childhood
education is the foundation of education for human beings. When a baby is born,
the first person they interact with is their mother, and the mother is also the
first teacher. Therefore, the language used for communication is the mother tongue,
which is the language used by the mother and the common language in the family
and society. Consequently, the primary objectives of kindergarten education in
all countries, for children under the age of 6, are focused on the healthy
development of the child’s mind and body, as well as the development of the
child’s language skills.

Importance of the
Mother Tongue

All countries in
the world use the mother tongue as the medium of instruction. Children must
first master their mother tongue, and only later, in the upper grades of
primary school or even in secondary school, can they choose to learn a foreign
language under the guidance of a specialized teacher. Unless they are the
subjects of a colonial power, in which case they would need to learn the
language of the ruling country, such as Vietnamese students learning French in
the past, Taiwanese students learning Japanese, or students in India and Hong
Kong learning English.

1. Language is a
tool for “communication” and “learning”, and the mother
tongue is the common language in the family and society. Therefore, it is of
utmost importance for children to be able to listen, speak, and master their
mother tongue.

2. The development
of language is closely related to the development of thinking. Children learn
to communicate with others through their mother tongue, which stimulates their
brain’s response, thinking, questioning, association, and memory, leading to the
acceptance or expression of ideas. This is an interdependent relationship
between language and cognitive development. Therefore, the learning of language
has a profound impact on the development of children’s thinking.

3. Being familiar with the mother tongue and mastering the national language allows for a deeper understanding of one’s country’s history and culture. This fosters a sense of identification with one’s homeland, enhances national consciousness, and has a profound influence on one’s feelings, dignity, and love for the motherland. This patriotic and family-oriented mindset should be cultivated from an early age, which is recognized by all countries around the world.