Attitude in Teaching Tamil among Secondary School Students.

Abstract

Language plays a pivotal role in education as both a medium of instruction and a marker of cultural identity. In Tamil Nadu, Tamil occupies a central position in the curriculum and cultural heritage, making students’ attitudes toward Tamil learning and teaching crucial for academic achievement and language preservation. This study investigates the attitude in teaching Tamil among secondary school students, focusing on demographic variables such as gender, standard, and mother’s education level. A descriptive survey method was employed, with a sample of 1,000 secondary school students in Kaniyakumari District selected through simple random sampling. The Attitude in Teaching Tamil Scale, developed and validated by the investigator, was used to collect data. Statistical analyses including t-test, ANOVA, Chi-square test, and percentage analysis were conducted using SPSS. The findings reveal that a majority of students exhibit moderate to high levels of positive attitude toward Tamil teaching, with significant differences observed based on standard and mother’s education level. Ninth standard students showed higher attitude scores than lower standards, likely due to longer exposure to Tamil instruction and greater familiarity with the syllabus. Additionally, students whose mothers had higher educational qualifications displayed more positive attitudes, reflecting the role of parental support in fostering learning motivation. No significant gender differences were observed, indicating equal exposure and opportunities in Tamil learning. The study emphasizes that teacher competency, classroom practices, and resource availability significantly influence students’ attitudes. These results have important implications for educators and policymakers, suggesting the need for professional development programs, learner-centered teaching methods, enriched materials, and extracurricular activities that enhance engagement with Tamil. Strengthening positive attitudes toward Tamil can improve academic outcomes and contribute to the preservation of the language and cultural identity..