To Use or Not to use...?

Using mother tongue is not the problem actually. The problem is when and how to use it. Before answering this question, it should be born in mind that mother tongue use must be considered “as a means to an end”. The target language must be used where possible and mother tongue when necessary.  Here are some examples of appropriate use of mother tongue in EFL classes.

• Beginners

• The mother tongue can be probably more beneficial to beginners. As they progress in their learning the target language will take the lead.
• L1 can be time-saving.
  Instead of going through a long explanations in the target language, it is sometimes easier and more efficient to give a translation of a vocabulary item or an explanation of a grammar point. Imagine a teacher  who wants to teach the word “car” to French students and start by phrasing the explanation as follows “a car is a road vehicle with an engine, four wheels, and seats for a small number of people” while a simple translation of the word ( or perhaps the use of visual aids) would be enough.

Comparison
A comparison of English and the mother tongue can be a very enriching experience. In fact, discovering the similarities and differences of both languages can enhance the TL acquisition.