Teachers’ Mother Tongue Use to Improve Indonesian Language Proficiency:: A Case Study in Jambi Elementary School

Abstrak

This study aims to describe how teachers use the mother tongue as a strategy to improve primary school students’ Indonesian language skills. The research employed a qualitative approach with a case study design conducted at SDN 3 Kota Jambi. Data were collected through classroom observations, interviews, and documentation. The results show that the use of the mother tongue, Jambi Malay, helps students understand Indonesian vocabulary and sentence structure more easily. Teachers used the mother tongue to explain lessons, give examples, and build closer relationships with students, making learning more effective and meaningful. These findings support Translanguaging and Sociocultural Learning theories, which highlight language as a tool for thinking and social interaction. The study contributes theoretically to language learning strategies and provides practical insights for teachers in multilingual classrooms. The limitation of this study lies in its small sample size and single-site focus, suggesting that future research should involve schools with different linguistic backgrounds.

Kata kunci

• Mother tongue
• Teacher strategy
• Indonesian language skills
• Primary school