ELT World Discussion

David · Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 7:13 am Post subject: The use of L1 in the classroom

Over on the blog, I recently posted about using L1 in the language classroom:

www.elt-world.blogspot.com/2007/08/teaching-approaches-using-l1-in-class.html

One of my assertions is that this went out of fashion mainly due to pressure from the big publishers to perpetuate a one-book-fits-all mentality: one set of instructions, written in one language, is a lot easier than different instructions for each of the countries you're selling to.

Anybody agree?

Do you have any different theories?

dmb · Superstar Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 1270

Many students want native speakers as their teachers. Many native teachers don't speak their students L1. Hence the necessity of English only course books. Knowing a students L1 has advantages. Use them. Of course it is more difficult in ESL situations where there are many languages.

TheLongWayHome · Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 3:50 am Post subject:

justme · ELT General Joined: 27 Aug 2007 Posts: 710

wildchild · Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 5:58 pm Post subject:

I'm currently teaching some beginning Spanish classes here in the States to young adults. I use our L1 a lot.

As far as I know, many of those who are against the use of the L1 seem to think that young adults or adults should learn language like small babies; they only hear the target language. And as you know, it takes those small babies quite a long time to figure shit out. Adults aren't as stupid as young babies who try to eat whatever they can get their hands on; you can simply explain a grammar point to adults and put them to practice. You would be hard up trying to do that with babies.
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justme · ELT General Joined: 27 Aug 2007 Posts: 710

Hehe. I have to place limits on what toys my small baby can have, because he tends to whack himself in the head or face with whatever he has in his hands... He's clever in some ways but not in others.

I don't know that banning L1 is only trying to make them learn like small babies-- I think it's also trying to create an immersion environment. But even this is a bit daft, as a few hours a week of language class isn't anywhere close to the kind of exposure they'd get in an English speaking country. And having (sort of) learned Turkish by immersion, I know that I also relied on adult intelligence and resources by asking grammar questions, and using books, dictionaries, etc. I wouldn't have been able to learn as much as quickly just by listening too and imitating people.

No L1 use can be really frustrating for students, even moreso if they know their teacher speaks their language-- then it seems like the teacher is being disagreeable. And a lot of time can be wasted by not allowing their adult intelligence and analytical skills to come into play.

On the other hand, too much L1 is also detrimental if they don't get enough L2 practice, or if it leads them into word-for-word translation. Also, there's nothing more annoying than the foreign teacher who uses classtime to improve or show off his/her L1 language skills, and it can be really awful sharing a class with a local who teaches primarily in the L1 because the students develop bad habits, and come to expect L1 all the time from all of their teachers...

Guy Courchesne · Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 9:59 pm Post subject:

I try to keep my Spanish usage to a minimum in class, though there are times when it helps. Being fairly fluent in Spanish and the culture of the students is of far greater value in understanding why students make particular mistakes, or anticipating them in lesson planning.
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mishmumkin · Captain Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 118

David said:

leprofdanglais · Captain Joined: 10 Sep 2007 Posts: 121 Location: France

When I taught in Spain, my use of Spanish was definitely a double-edged sword. It saved me having to waste 10 minutes of a one-hour lesson explaining what a bean was, but lazy teenagers would often want things explained to them in Spanish even when their English was good enough to cope with L2 explanations. With adults you can use L1 now and again without them going "Oh goody, he speaks our language so we don't have to speak his!"
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mishmumkin · Captain Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 118

I found speaking Spanish in Spain was useful if you never told them, but otherwise a crutch-particularly w/ the teenagers, as mentioned above.

ddeubel · Cadet Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 41

I really think that blaming publishers or the "publishing industry" really is way off base. There are sound reasons to produce textbooks without L1. These include many of well researched approaches to language instruction.

That said, I do think that there is a time and place for L1 and it really is about using classroom time effectively.

Generally, there is a lot of literature about L1 interference / transfer issues, which supports the use of L1 in the classroom during specific activities. My beef is that a) a lot of the research is not thorough or deep and only shallow, of one class, one place b) a lot of the research does not go into the age specific issues which are very important when discussing L1 use in the classroom. But generally L1 can be very useful in my opinion with

1. Instructions. But be careful. If it can be done in English effectively, do so. Also, have a signal for the use of L1. I use at all times, a basketball, time out signal. This allows the brain to delineate and compartment. It really works! Then signal again, time out over, play on......

2. Beginners. But be careful. Only with beginners who are maybe older, more fearful of learning language. I don't advocate this with children or those before puberty.

3. Language comparison. Very useful to explain the grammatical and syntactical differences between languages. As said above, use a time out signal!

4. Classroom management. Careful. Only for serious issues when dire communication needs to be done.

5. Personal. When dealing with definitions or questions of an abstract nature that can't be communicated simply or quickly in English. Done with one student or just a few and you quickly relate the L1 equivalent. Then move on....

I wish I could post some really good articles on this. One beef of this type of forum. I do think that the Asian EFL Journal has a whole list of articles focusing on this subject....

DD
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JimDunlop · ELT General Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 542

In my job, not only must I use L1, but I was hired because of my knowledge OF L1 as it's so vital.

What it comes down to is this -- every situation is very different and for any self-proclaimed "expert" to come in and to judge whether or not L1 use is acceptable or justified does not take into account the needs of the students or teacher. As an academic debate this is fine, but in the real world we do what we must to run a successful class and to impart as much knowledge as we can in a limited amount of time. Whether or not that is achieved using L1, that will depend on the specific circumstances.