Have you ever wondered how a multilingual classroom could actually work in today’s teaching reality? India’s education system has been trying to answer that for decades, and the NEP’s mother tongue mandate brings the conversation back in focus. The Three language policy re-emphasizes learning in the mother tongue along with Hindi and English to build stronger language foundations.
This week, Lt. Gen. Surendra Kulkarni joins us to unpack the NEP’s mother-tongue mandate and what it means for real classrooms. He reminds us that “children learn best in their mother tongue, but imposing one solution on all can be counterproductive.” His insights on flexible grouping, translation tools, and multilingual tech show us how to make language-inclusive learning both seamless and impactful.
Thinking about implementing the NEP’s mother tongue mandate? These practical insights will help you take the first step.
Implementing the NEP’s language mandate doesn’t mean changing everything, it simply gives you an extra tool. Using the mother tongue alongside other languages can make lessons clearer, inclusive, and far more meaningful for young learners.
According to Kulkarni, “Children will learn best in their mother tongue,” but implementation must be thoughtful. For mixed groups, he advises schools to “cluster students,” provide “translation options,” and avoid “imposing” one language on all. With the right support, students “automatically cross-learn” and thrive in multilingual environments.
Here are 4 classroom-ready strategies to make implementing the NEP’s language policy easier and more effective.
Make Skills the New Core Subject
Until now, skill-based education in schools was more of an add-on than a necessity. That’s about to change. Starting with Classes 11 and 12, and possibly as early as Class 6, students will learn practical, job-ready skills in the form of a core subject, right alongside academics.
Divide Your Lessons
Make multilingual teaching easier by layering your languages. Begin by teaching core concepts in the mother tongue so students feel grounded. Then introduce key vocabulary or instructions in the second language. Finally, use the third language for fun, supplementary tasks that build familiarity without overwhelming learners.
Use Tech to Translate
Tech can simplify multilingual teaching instantly. Use translation tools to bridge gaps quickly and help students follow along without confusion. Extra Intelligence’s Translate feature lets you convert content, instructions, and concepts seamlessly, ensuring every student learns in the language they understand best, even in a diverse classroom.
Encourage Peer-to-Peer Teaching
Lean into your classroom’s natural diversity by pairing students who speak different languages. Let them explain concepts to each other in the language they’re most comfortable with. It builds confidence, strengthens understanding, and turns language differences into a collaborative learning advantage.
Incorporate Local Context
Bring lessons closer to home by using local stories, examples, festivals, and community references to explain concepts. Our guest expert highlighted this beautifully: “When teachers link content to a child’s lived reality, learning stops feeling foreign. It becomes familiar, joyful, and easier to remember.”
Bringing NEP’s language mandate into the classroom doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With a few intentional strategies and the support of tools like Extra Intelligence, you can make multilingual learning smooth, inclusive, and genuinely enjoyable for students. Surender Kulkarni captured it perfectly when he said “Effective teaching isn’t about choosing one language over another, it’s about using every language to help every learner succeed.”
