The Importance Of Your Mother Tongue | Hantz Hessouh | TEDxYouth@ISBangkok

Summary

Handset Su emphasizes the significance of preserving one's mother tongue, citing Nelson Mandela's belief that language touches the heart. Drawing from personal experience in Canada and Ghana, Su shares the story of a cousin who lost fluency in French, highlighting the risk of forgetting one's first language. The speaker urges international students to maintain their native language to avoid identity loss and to enhance academic achievements, suggesting methods like watching TV news, listening to the radio, reading, speaking at home, and visiting family to keep the connection alive.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The importance of one's mother tongue is emphasized through Nelson Mandela's quote, highlighting that speaking in one's native language touches the heart.
• 🌏 The speaker shares a personal story about forgetting their first language after moving to a different country, illustrating the potential loss of connection to one's culture and family.
• 📚 The script discusses the challenges faced by international students who may neglect their first language while learning English, which can lead to identity loss and disconnection from their heritage.
• 🔍 Research is cited to show that students who maintain their first language while learning English as a second language tend to have higher academic achievements.
• 📺 Takeaway number one suggests watching television in one's first language, especially news, as a way to stay connected to the language and home country.
• 📻 Listening to the radio in one's first language is presented as another method to maintain language proficiency, despite it being less common among younger people.
• 📖 The power of reading in one's first language, including literature and newspapers, is highlighted as a way to not only maintain but also enhance language skills.
• 🏡 Speaking one's first language at home is recommended to keep the language alive in daily life, contrasting with the speaker's current mix of French and English.
• 👪 Visiting home and reconnecting with family and culture is encouraged as a way to reinforce one's first language and remember one's roots.
• 📈 The script concludes with a call to action for maintaining one's first language to avoid the negative impacts of neglecting it, such as identity loss and academic disadvantages.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the speech?

The main theme of the speech is the importance of preserving one's mother tongue and the cultural and personal identity it represents.

What quote does the speaker use to emphasize the significance of language?

The speaker uses a quote by Nelson Mandela, which states that speaking to someone in their own language goes to their heart, emphasizing the emotional connection language has with a person.

Why does the speaker mention Nelson Mandela's quote at the beginning of the speech?

The speaker uses Mandela's quote to set the stage for the importance of language in connecting with people on a deeper level, which is a central point in the speech.

What personal experience does the speaker share about language and forgetting one's mother tongue?

The speaker shares an experience where their cousin, after learning English, could barely speak French anymore, highlighting the potential for language loss even in native speakers.

How does the speaker describe the process of learning English in a new country?

The speaker describes it as a necessity when they moved to Ghana, Africa, and had to adapt to a new language environment.

What promise does the speaker make to themselves after realizing their cousin's language loss?

The speaker promises to never forget their first language, French, and to keep it 'stuck in here,' meaning to maintain their fluency and connection to their mother tongue.

Why is maintaining one's first language considered important for international students?

Maintaining one's first language is important because it helps preserve cultural identity, prevents feelings of alienation, and can lead to higher academic achievements, as suggested by the Intercultural Development Research Association.

What are some of the negative consequences of neglecting one's first language, as mentioned in the speech?

Neglecting one's first language can lead to identity loss, disconnection from one's cultural heritage, and potentially lower academic achievements.

What are the five suggestions the speaker gives to maintain one's first language?

The five suggestions are: 1) Watching television in the first language, 2) Listening to the radio, 3) Reading literature and newspapers in the first language, 4) Speaking the first language at home, and 5) Visiting home and reconnecting with one's culture and language.

How does the speaker conclude the speech?

The speaker concludes by emphasizing the importance of not forgetting one's roots and the value of home, suggesting that maintaining one's first language is a way of staying connected to one's origins.

What is the underlying message of the speech regarding cultural identity and language?

The underlying message is that cultural identity and language are deeply intertwined, and preserving one's mother tongue is crucial for maintaining a strong connection to one's heritage and personal identity.