This study aimed to determine the level of usage and effectiveness in using Mother Tongue as medium of instruction in teaching primary grades in Tabaco South District, Tabaco City Division. Specifically, it answered the following: 1. What is the level of usage of mother tongue as a medium of instruction along: (a) pre- instruction phase (b) during instruction phase (c) post- Instruction phase? 2. What is the level of effectiveness on the use of Mother Tongue as medium of instruction?; 3. Is there any relationship between the level of usage and effectiveness of mother tongue as medium of instruction in teaching primary grades at Tabaco South District, Tabaco City Division? 4. What challenges are encountered by the teachers in using mother tongue as medium of instruction in teaching the primary grades?; and 5. What training design maybe suggested addressing the challenges met?
Descriptive-survey research method was employed in this study. A validated researcher -made survey instrument was administered to seventy two (72) respondents in Tabaco South District, Tabaco City Division. The teachers from kinder to Grade 3 of elementary schools in Tabaco South District, Tabaco City Division were taken as respondents. The statistical measures employed in this study were frequency count and weighted mean.
Findings
The salient findings of the study are as follows:
1. The level of usage of Mother Tongue as medium of instruction along pre-instruction had a weighted mean 4.30; on during instruction phase is 4.41 and on post-instruction phase with 4.26. The average level of usage along the three areas was 4.32 with an adjectival rating of often.
2. The level of effectiveness on the use of Mother Tongue as a medium of instruction in teaching the primary grades along pre-instruction was 4.30; during instruction with 4.35 and post-instruction with 4.32. The average level of effectiveness is 4.32 with an adjectival rating of effective.
3. The computed Pearson coefficient of correlation in pre-instruction arrived at 0.83 in pre-instruction; 0.87 during instruction and 0.92 in post instruction. All these values are interpreted as high correlation. When the r values were subjected to t-test; the values obtained for the pre-instruction and during instruction were 12.45 and 4.76 respectively. The tabular value computed in post-instruction was 18.36. When these values were compared to the critical value of t at 0.05 level of significance which is 1.67; these values are greater than the tabular value thus there is a significant relationship between the level of usage and effectiveness of Mother Tongue in the primary grade along pre-instruction, during instruction and post-instruction.
4. On the challenges encountered the highest frequency is indicator 9 which is “Lack of administrative support” and this is rank first and the lowest frequency is indicator 1 which is “Presence of the Diversity of Learner.
5. The researcher crafted a training design to address the problems encountered by Primary Grade teachers in teaching using mother tongue as a medium of instruction.
Conclusions
Based on the findings, this study has come up with the following conclusions:
1. The level of usage on the use of Mother Tongue as medium of instruction in teaching primary grades in Tabaco South District is often.
2. The level of effectiveness of Mother Tongue as medium of instruction in teaching primary grades in Tabaco South District is effective”.
3. There is a significant relationship between the level of usage and level of effectiveness of Mother Tongue as medium of instruction teaching primary grades in Tabaco South District.
4. Lack of administrative support is the challenge mostly encountered, by primary grade teachers in the use of Mother Tongue as medium if instruction.
5. A training design is effective way of addressing the challenges met by primary grade teachers.
Recommendations
The following recommendations are offered
1. Teaching approaches and techniques of Primary Grade Teachers be improved.
2. Teaching strategies of Primary Grade Teachers using Mother Tongue be enhanced.
3. Interesting activities in teaching the pupils be provided to ensure mastery of the lessons.
4. Teaching procedures that jibe with the subject matter in teaching be utilized.
5. Incentives, awards and praises be given to pupils to encourage active participation.
Areas for Further Study
There are possible areas that future researchers developed on the usage of mother tongue in teaching primary grades of teachers teaching K-12
- Strategies employed by the teachers for the realization of MTBMLE.
- Usage of Localized Materials in Teaching Mother Tongue to Primary Grades
- Instructional materials to be Used in teaching Mother Tongue
- Level of usage and effectiveness of Mother Tongue in teaching reading
- Mother Tongue as medium of instruction: Its effectiveness.