Mother tongues to encourage interculturality. Experiences from UNAN-Managua

Abstract

Nicaragua is a plurilingual, multiethnic, multicultural country. Linguistic and cultural diversity’s acknowledgement and appreciation in Instituciones de Educación Superior (IES, Higher Education Institutions) is crucial to ensure the learning experience in Nicaraguan public universities to be genuinely inclusive and intercultural. Hence, the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua, Managua (UNAN-Managua) ever since 2021 is encouraging interculturality as a transversal axis on institutional processes. This work aims to reflect on the mother tongue in classrooms as a chance to promote interculturality through the use of Spanish, Mayagna, and Miskitu on students from the Pacific Coast and indigenous village in the Caribbean Coast.