Teachers' L1 Use in the Foreign Language Classroom : A Study of Teacher Practices and Learner Attitudes

This study aims to answer the questions of when and why foreign language teachers use their learners’ first language (L1) in the foreign language classroom. Additionally, the study also explores learner attitudes toward teachers’ use of the L1, and compares these attitudes with the teacher practices. In order to answer the research questions, international peer-reviewed studies have been used and analysed. The findings include L1 use in a number of different situations, for example during grammatical and lexical explanations, when giving instructions on classroom activities, and in informal interactions with the learners. Teachers may use the L1 in order to facilitate learners’ understanding, to save time, and to create a positive and welcoming classroom environment. The investigation of the learner attitudes shows that they are not always aligned with the teachers’ beliefs and practices. The learner attitudes are also ambiguous, displaying a variety of opinions for or against the teachers’ use of the L1. One possible explanation for the wide range of opinions could be the different levels of target language proficiency among the learners, with advanced learners leaning more toward less L1 use by the teacher, while beginners lean more toward the use of the L1. However, this could not be shown to always be the case, suggesting that other factors might also influence the attitudes toward the use of the L1. In the light of the results of this study, the discussion mainly revolves around the possible benefits and disadvantages of L1 use in the foreign language classroom, and what implications this might have for foreign language teachers. For example, more L1 use could result in less meaningful communication in the target language, which might pose a lost opportunity for language acquisition. On the other hand, the L1 could also lead to learners feeling more comfortable in class, lowering their affective filter and thus result in improved language acquisition