Using the Mother Tongue in the Language Classroom: Hindrance or Help?

2018 ◽  
pp. 91-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Assia Slimani-Rolls ◽  
Richard Kiely
Keyword(s):  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Language Classroom

scholarly journals Encounter in English as a Second or Foreign Language Classroom

1970 ◽  
Vol 15 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 106-109
Author(s):  
Man Bahadur Khatri
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Tertiary Level ◽  
English Learning ◽  
Inductive Approach ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Approach To Teaching ◽  
Teaching Grammar

This article discusses how mother-tongue interference can influence second or forreign language learning, specifically learning English. In Nepal not only does the mother tongue interfere with English learning, but also the methods used in the schools, specifically the grammar translation method and the deductive approach to teaching grammar, influence student learning as well.Key words: Tertiary level; Inductive approach; Deductive approach; Fossilization; Language transferJournal of NELTAVol. 15 No. 1-2 December 2010Page: 109-109Uploaded date: 4 May, 2011DOI: 10.3126/nelta.v15i1-2.4615

scholarly journals Reverse Transfer Of L2 To L1: The Case Of Code-Switching

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (7) ◽  
pp. 57-68
Author(s):  
Shima Ghobadi ◽  
Mohammad Reza Talebinejad
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Code Switching ◽  
Reverse Transfer ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Convenience Sampling ◽  
And Control ◽  
Academic Year

Issues related to the learners’ use of the foreign language and the mother tongue (code-switching) in the foreign language classroom and their role in language teaching and learning processes have been a common area of research. This study aimed at investigating Reverse Transfer of L2 to L1.To this end, 50 Iranian intermediate EFL learners (25 males, 25 females) at Islamic Azad University, Shahreza Branch studies in the second semester of the academic year 2016-2017 were selected through the convenience sampling method. They were then assigned randomly to the experimental and control groups.

scholarly journals Exploring the Effect of Learners' Age Variation and Their Perceptions on the Responses about Mother Tongue Use in L2 Learning

2020 ◽  
Vol V (II) ◽  
pp. 42-53
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ahsan ◽  
Noshaba Younus ◽  
Muhammad Naeem
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
L2 Learning ◽  
Grammar Rules ◽  
Age Variation ◽  
Administrative Information ◽  
Degree Level

The purpose of the current study was to explore the effect of learners' age variation and their perceptions on the responses about mother tongue use in L2 learning at degree level. To find out an obvious understanding of this subject matter, the study focused on 577 L2 learners, for the sake of data collection questionnaire war used as a research tool. The data were analyzed through SPSS (statistical package for social sciences). Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, Analysis of variance (ANOVA), T-Test and Cronbach's alpha. The results of the study indicated that the undergraduate learners showed highly positive perceptions regarding the use of mother tongue in the L2 classroom. The majority of the undergraduate respondents preferred using mother tongue in certain situations for specific reasons such as while learning about grammar rules and its usage in the target language classroom, discussing course policies, attendance, and other administrative information, explaining some difficult concepts, to give directions about exams and in introducing the aim of the lesson, to discuss tests, quizzes, and other assignments appropriately.

scholarly journals Plurilingualism and monolingualism in foreign language classrooms: The perspective of EFL teachers in Saudi Arabia

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-29
Author(s):  
Ali Alsaawi
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Gulf Region ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Efl Teachers

Abstract The idea of teaching a target language via a monolingual medium of instruction in the classroom has long predominated in the pedagogical context. In Saudi Arabia, excluding the students’ mother tongue (Arabic) in the foreign language classroom has been seen as a tool that accelerates the acquisition of the target language (English). This is widely viewed as the most practical and effective method of language learning, especially in the Gulf region, where English is a foreign language employed in the fields of economics and business. The recent academic argument that exploiting the students’ linguistic repertoire, including the mother tongue, in the target language classroom boosts and fosters the students’ learning cycle is still encountering huge resistance, especially among second/foreign language teachers. To explore this dispute from the perspective of English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers in intermediate and secondary schools, a case study was conducted with 34 teachers in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia, through questionnaires and a focus group interview. The study found that most teachers believe that the policy of using the target language (English) only is the most effective method of language learning. They employed the students’ mother tongue (Arabic) on an ad hoc basis to ensure complete comprehension, organize classroom tasks or convey personal remarks. In addition, the study revealed that teachers’ understanding of plurilingualism was unclear and limited to the verbal use of two languages, and that EFL teachers need more clarification on its application in the classroom.

scholarly journals The forbidden fruit: using the mother tongue in a Bogota university EFL programme

2012 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jill Fortune
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Current Debate ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Student Activity ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom ◽  
L1 Use

The current debate on the use of the mother tongue in the foreign language classroom has led to a wide array of literature being written onthe subject. While this can be enlightening, it can also cause confusion and anxiety among teachers when faced with the question of whetheror not it is acceptable to use the L1 in class. This paper analyses current perceptions and practices in terms of L1 use among teachers andstudents in the EFL and ESL settings, based on the hypothesis that the use of the L1 to some degree could be beneficial to EFL learners.Teacher and student activity and opinions are analysed through surveys and interviews before being compared and contrasted with classroomreality through live observation. The findings confirm that L1 use could indeed be beneficial to EFL learners, particularly at the lower levels oflanguage proficiency, but that teachers may need to revisit their reasons for using the L1, as well as their repertoire of pro-L2-use strategies.

scholarly journals Exploring the Factors of Foreign Language Anxiety Among Chinese Undergraduate English Majors and Non-English Majors

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 142
Author(s):  
Mehwish Naudhani ◽  
Zhijie Wu ◽  
Sehrish Naudhani
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Middle Level ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
Speaking Anxiety ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
English Majors ◽  
High Level ◽  
Classroom Anxiety

The study aims to examine three factors of foreign language anxiety i.e. speaking anxiety, foreign language classroom anxiety and teacher-generated anxiety, among Chinese English majors and non-English majors. The data were analysed to find out which of these factors invoke more anxiety. Research data collection was done via Foreign Language Anxiety Scale. A total number of subjects are 101, including 51 English majors and 50 non-English majors, with Chinese as their mother-tongue and learning English as a second language at university. The results revealed that English majors feel the middle level of foreign language speaking and classroom anxiety while Non-English majors experience high level of foreign language speaking and classroom anxiety. Moreover, both groups felt more anxious when they spoke to the teacher. Keeping in view the results of the study, some follow-up studies are recommended.

scholarly journals The Speaking Difficulties Encountered by Non-English Students in Language Classroom

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Rima Rahmaniah ◽  
Asbah Asbah
Keyword(s):  
Mother Tongue ◽  
External Factors ◽  
English Department ◽  
Internal Factors ◽  
Training And Education ◽  
Gross Error ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Second Year ◽  
English Students

This research, entitled “The Difficulties Encountered by Non-English Department Students in Speaking English,” was a study at the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education Muhammadiyah University of Mataram. It was conducted to investigate difficulties encountered by Non-English Department students in speaking. The participants were 15 students from the second semester of Indonesian Department Muhammadiyah University of Mataram. It also aims to investigate the factors which are face by Non-English department students in Speaking English. This research used descriptive quantitative approach. Based on the data from test the difficulties encountered by a second-year student of Indonesian department are first was from the grammar aspect, there were 80% of students almost entirely inaccurate expect in stock phrases. Second, fluency aspect, there were 73% speech is very slow and uneven except, for short or routine sentences. Third, it is the pronunciation aspect; there were 73% of students gross error, and very heavy accent makes understanding difficult require frequent repetition. Fourth is from the vocabulary aspect there were 60% of students their vocabulary limited to basic personal and survival areas. The last it is from comprehension aspect there 55% of students understand only slow, very simple speech on common social and touristic topics; requires constant repetition and rephrasing. Factors were faced by Non-English department student in speaking English there are two factors, from internal factors and external factors. Internal factors such as they are a quiet person; they are hard to learn, difficult to remember vocabulary, difficult to pronounce the word, lack of grammatical mastery, they are lazy to memorize vocabulary, they are lack of confidence and fear of making a mistake. From external factors, they are seldom speaking English in the class, and their environment is not used English, and they prefer to use their mother tongue.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Using L1 in Second Language Classrooms: A Controversial Issue

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khedir A. Almoayidi
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Optimal Strategy ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Classroom Teaching ◽  
Teaching English ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Language Classrooms ◽  
Shed Light

This paper aims to uncover the hidden debate about the efficacy and inefficacy of using mother tongue in second language classroom. Teaching English as a second language is not an easy task to be undertaken. There are many approaches that postulate the optimal strategy for better teaching. As such, numerous researchers in the fields of language teaching and learning hold a belief that the use of L1 in L2 classrooms helps to facilitate learning. However, a significant number of researchers contend that the use of L1 in L2 classroom hinders learning and deprives learners from the exposure to the second language. As such, this paper tries to shed light on both views and to give evidence that using L1 in L2 classroom has a negative impact on L2 learners.

scholarly journals Teachers and Learners’ Perceptions of Applying Translation as a Method, Strategy, or Technique in an Iranian EFL Setting

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 67
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Mollaei ◽  
Ali Taghinezhad ◽  
Firooz Sadighi
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Perceptions And Attitudes ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Language Context ◽  
Quantitative And Qualitative Methods ◽  
Insight Into

It has been found that translation is an efficient means to teach/learn grammar, syntax, and lexis of a foreign language. Meanwhile, translation is good for beginners who do not still enjoy the critical level of proficiency in their target language for expression.  This study was conducted to examine the teachers and learners’ perceptions of employing translation in the foreign language classroom; i.e., the effects, merits, demerits, limitations, as well as its use as a method, strategy or technique. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to collect and analyze the data from graduate and undergraduate learners (n=56) and teachers (n=44), male and female, who responded to two questionnaires. Additionally, only the teachers were interviewed to gain richer insight into their perceptions and attitudes. According to the results of independent samples t-test, there was no significant difference between teachers and learners’ attitude to applying translation as a method, strategy, or technique in learning a foreign language.  Based on the interview results, some teachers believed that employing translation in the foreign language context was helpful but not constantly. They claimed that translation was only effective in teaching vocabulary and grammar apart from leaners’ proficiency level as it can clarify meaning. But some other teachers noted that mother tongue would interfere with learning foreign language; they considered translation as a time-consuming activity through which students cannot capture the exact meaning. 

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