Volume 3,Issue 7
A Reflection on Using the L1 and L2 in EFL/ESL Class
The application of the mother tongue in English teaching has long been the focus of debate among educators. Understanding the beliefs of English teachers is helpful for English teachers to realize effective teaching and effective education, and training. This study intends to reflect on whether English teachers use their mother tongue to teach English in class, and the different teaching results brought by using L1 or L2 to teach English. The language used by teachers in classroom teaching is known as “medium of instruction” [1]. In English classroom teaching in China, the use of medium instruction can be divided into three types: English, the combination of English and Chinese, and Chinese. English teachers often think that the use of media language in the classroom will greatly affect the students’ English learning. Therefore, there are two views on the use of the medium of instruction: one is to advocate the use of English teaching, and the other is to advocate the proper use of the mother tongue in English classes. These two conflicting views put English teachers in a dilemma. The paper enables teachers to better understand the influence of belief on teaching, and provides some reasonable suggestions and a basis for improving teachers’ professional quality.
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