Language can often be a barrier in Indian classrooms, especially when students are taught in a language they’re not fully comfortable with. If you’ve ever seen a child struggle to understand a lesson just because it wasn’t in their mother tongue, you know how real this problem is. That’s where AI is starting to make a difference. With tools that can translate, simplify, and personalise learning in regional languages, AI is helping students learn better in the language they understand best. In this blog, let’s look at how AI is helping make education more inclusive for every child in India, no matter what language they speak.
What is Vernacular Education?
Vernacular education simply means teaching students in their local or regional language. In India, this could be Hindi, Tamil, Punjabi, Marathi, or any other language that students use at home and in daily life. When students learn in a language they’re most comfortable with, they understand concepts better and feel more confident participating in class.
Vernacular education also helps keep local culture and identity alive. It gives equal importance to every language and ensures that learning is not limited by linguistic barriers. By making classroom content available in regional languages, you help create a learning space where every child feels included and understood.
What Is the Problem with Vernacular Education in India
Vernacular education in India faces several practical challenges that affect both teaching and learning:
-
Limited Quality Resources:
Most high-quality textbooks, digital materials, and reference content are still produced mainly in English. This makes it harder for regional-medium students to access updated and reliable study material.
-
Teacher Preparedness:
Many teachers in regional schools are not fully trained to use digital tools or AI-powered resources in local languages. This gap limits how much technology can actually improve learning in these classrooms.
-
Digital Divide:
Students in rural and semi-urban areas often don’t have consistent access to devices or strong internet connections. Because of this, using online or AI-based learning tools becomes difficult.
-
Standardisation Issues:
Different states have their own syllabuses and language variations, which makes it tough to create uniform digital content that fits everyone’s needs.
-
Student Disengagement:
When students learn in a second language, they often struggle to understand lessons, which can lower participation and overall performance.
Read more : What is Student Engagement, and why is it important?
-
Impact on Career Opportunities:
Students who study only in regional languages may face challenges later when they appear for competitive exams or pursue higher education, where English dominates.
Read more : Importance of 21st Century Skills for Students
How AI Is Bridging the Gap in Vernacular Education in Indian Classrooms
AI is making it easier for students across India to learn in their own languages. Here’s how it helps:
-
Real-Time Translation and Transcription
AI tools can now translate lessons and study material from English into regional languages instantly. This helps teachers explain topics better and lets students learn in the language they are most comfortable with. Voice-based translation apps are also becoming common, giving both students and teachers an easier way to understand and respond.
-
AI Chatbots and Voice Assistants in Local Languages
Chatbots that speak Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, and other Indian languages are helping students get quick answers to their questions. Voice-enabled learning apps also guide students with pronunciation and listening skills, making learning in their native language easier and more comfortable.
-
Localised Content Creation
AI can also help create educational content that’s tailored to different regions. It can adapt lessons, like science or math, to suit state board curricula and translate them into local languages. This gives students access to quality resources that match what they’re learning in class, in the language they know best.
-
Personalised Learning with AI
AI can track how students are performing across different languages and subjects. This helps teachers spot where language is becoming a barrier and adjust their teaching accordingly. By understanding each student’s learning pace and struggles, AI supports more personalised learning plans that work for everyone.
How Extramarks Helps Bridge the Gap in Vernacular Education
India’s classrooms are as diverse as its languages. While many schools continue to teach in English or Hindi, millions of students are still more comfortable learning in their mother tongue. Extramarks understands this reality and is using AI to make learning equally meaningful for every student, no matter what language they speak.
Through its AI-powered suite, Extra Intelligence, Extramarks is helping teachers deliver lessons in regional languages without needing to manually translate or rewrite content. The platform’s AI Language Converter plays a major role in this transformation. It allows teachers to translate lessons, explanations, and even voiceovers into six Indian languages including Hindi, Punjabi, Bangla, Telugu, Tamil, and Marathi. With just a few clicks, teachers can switch the language of their classroom content while keeping the accuracy and tone intact. This helps students understand lessons better and feel more confident in subjects that might otherwise seem complex in a second language.
By supporting multilingual learning, Extramarks aligns closely with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which encourages the use of local languages as the medium of instruction in early and middle school education. The result is a more inclusive learning environment where no student is left behind because of language barriers.
Closing Thoughts
Language should never hold a student back from learning. With the help of AI and platforms like Extramarks, classrooms in India are slowly becoming more inclusive for children from all language backgrounds. By making learning available in regional languages, we’re not just improving understanding but also making students feel seen and heard. This approach respects their roots while opening doors to quality education. As more schools adopt these tools, the gap in vernacular education can shrink further, giving every child a better chance to learn, grow, and thrive.
Priya Kapoor
Priya Kapoor is an accomplished education professional with over 18 years of experience across diverse fields, including eLearning, digital and print publishing, instructional design, and content strategy. As the AVP – Academics at Extramarks, she leads academic teams in creating tailored educational solutions, ensuring alignment with varied curricula across national and international platforms...Read More
