ENGLISH & NATIVE LANGUAGE: FINDING A BALANCE IN EDUCATION
Keywords:
bilingual education, linguistic diversity, language policy, multilingualism, cognitive development, mother tongue education.Abstract
The increasing dominance of English in education has raised concerns about the marginalization of native languages. While English proficiency is essential for global opportunities, an overemphasis on it can weaken linguistic diversity, cognitive development, and cultural heritage. This article examines the importance of balancing English and native languages in education, analyzing linguistic, cognitive, and socio-economic factors. It explores bilingual education models, challenges in language policy, and successful case studies from countries like Finland, Uzbekistan, and Canada. A well-balanced approach to language education fosters both global competitiveness and the preservation of linguistic identities, ensuring inclusive and effective learning systems.
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