What does it mean for a child to learn in a language they truly understand? How does language shape not only comprehension, but also confidence, identity, participation, and belonging in the classroom? And what must education systems do to ensure that linguistic diversity becomes a strength rather than a barrier to learning? In Episode 5 of LLF Speaks Season 2, Padma Shri Awardee Dr Mahendra K Mishra, Trustee and National Advisor – Multilingual Education at Language and Learning Foundation, joins Smriti Mishra, Senior Manager – Multilingual Education at Language and Learning Foundation, for an in-depth conversation on Multilingual Education: Learning in the Language of the Child. The episode explores why multilingual education is foundational to equitable and meaningful learning, particularly in linguistically diverse contexts like India. Drawing from both global perspectives and field experiences across Indian classrooms, the discussion unpacks how children learn best when teaching begins in the language they speak, think, and understand at home.

From the role of mother tongue-based learning in strengthening comprehension and foundational literacy to the importance of bilingual pedagogy, translanguaging, culturally relevant materials, and community participation, the conversation reflects on what effective multilingual classrooms can look like in practice. The episode also examines the challenges that continue to shape multilingual education in India — including language hierarchies, gaps in teacher preparation, lack of contextual learning materials, and the disconnect between policy and classroom realities. Importantly, the discussion highlights how multilingual education is not only about language inclusion, but also about preserving children’s identities, strengthening participation, and building more equitable systems of learning for every child.

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