Evaluation of Malayalam Language Instruction and Learners’ Attitudes, Achievements, and Current Conflcts in Language Instruction: A Study of Second Language Teaching in Kerala Higher Education

Abstract

The conservancy and advancement of the state language, the Malayalam (one of the classical Indian languages), hold significant cultural, social and educational significance in Kerala. Being the official language of the state and the medium of education up to secondary school, it shapes students’ linguistic skills and cultural competencies. However, the value and effectiveness of Malayalam language teaching and learning in higher education remains a question since the use of Malayalam as the medium of instruction is not permitted in higher education in Kerala. This study attempts to evaluate the current state of Malayalam language instruction in higher education sector of Kerala, focusing on learners’ attitudes, achievements, and present conflicts surrounding language instruction. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to wrinkle comprehensive data from students and teachers from various colleges of Kerala. The findings indicate that there is a general positive attitude towards Malayalam, highlighting a strong cultural connection and a desire for proficiency among all stakeholders. However, there are substantial disparities in outcome of learning which indicate that instructional modalities may not sufficiently meet varied learning needs (teacher deficit), as well as perceived gap in pre-requisite basic abilities, vocabulary, word context, spelling, and grammatical norms (learner deficit). The present conflicts in language instruction rooted in curriculum constraints, resource limitations, and a perceived undervaluation of regional languages in favour of global languages. The findings are significant with respect to policy recommendations and pedagogical strategies to promote effective language teaching, enhance student engagement, and reconcile existing conflicts, and ultimately fostering a more robust environment for Malayalam language learning.