Diversity of languages provides a readymade opportunity for a polyglot nation. Experts find speaking multiple languages improves cognitive skills. Encouraging students to learn a modern Indian language (including English) other than their own is a good idea from a cognitive perspective. Getting lost in translation is an invitation to fall into rote. First-generation learners and those without adequate home support face another problem. Difficulty in comprehending makes sitting in class challenging and tiresome, resulting in disinterest, avoiding class and even dropping out, reinforcing the cycle of disadvantage. Allowing the use of the local language/dialect in the classroom can break this cycle.
This needs capable teachers to engage and corresponding language tools like quality textbooks and audiovisual content. Teachers must be supported to experiment and to develop the required learning materials. But, before that, educators need to get on the same page on what comprises a multilingual classroom.
