MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING HUE UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES ------------ HOANG NHAT LINH AN INVESTIGATION INTO EFL CLASSROOM TEACHERS’ USE OF L1 AND ITS EFFECTS ON STUDENTS’ LEARNING IN HAI BA TRUNG HIGH SCHOOL IN HUE CITY MA THESIS IN THEORY AND METHODOLOGY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts, Hue University of Foreign Languages HUE, 2018 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING HUE UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES ------------ HOANG NHAT LINH AN INVESTIGATION INTO EFL CLASSROOM TEACHERS’ USE OF L1 AND ITS EFFECTS ON STUDENTS’ LEARNING IN HAI BA TRUNG HIGH SCHOOL IN HUE CITY MA THESIS IN THEORY AND METHODOLOGY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING CODE: 60.11 SUPERVISOR: PHAM HONG ANH, Ph.D HUE, 2018 BỘ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO ĐẠI HỌC HUẾ TRƢỜNG ĐẠI HỌC NGOẠI NGỮ ------------ HOÀNG NHẬT LINH NGHIÊN CỨU VỀ VIỆC SỬ DỤNG TIẾNG VIỆT CỦA GIÁO VIÊN TIẾNG ANH VÀ ẢNH HƢỞNG CỦA NÓ ĐẾN VIỆC HỌC CỦA HỌC SINH TẠI TRƢỜNG THPT HAI BÀ TRƢNG – HUẾ LUẬN VĂN THẠC SĨ LÍ LUẬN VÀ PHƢƠNG PHÁP DẠY HỌC BỘ MÔN TIẾNG ANH MÃ SỐ: 60.11 NGƢỜI HƢỚNG DẪN KHOA HỌC: T.S PHẠM HỒNG ANH HUẾ, 2018 STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP This work has not previously been submitted for a degree or diploma in any university. To the best of my knowledge and belief, the thesis contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the thesis itself. Date: 10/12/2018 Signature Hoang Nhat Linh i ABSTRACT The debate on whether to use first language (L1) in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom has been an issue for years, and it is still a controversial issue among the researchers and teachers. Some argue that L1 should totally be banned in the classes while others claim that it can be used to some extents for certain purposes.
In this paper, this study aimed at investigating EFL classroom teachers‟ use of L1 and its effects on students‟ learning in Hai Ba Trung High School in Hue city. We attempted to find out when and why teachers use L1 in classrooms and how it affects students‟ learning process. The study was conducted during the second semester of the 2017-2018 academic year and it was based on a mixed method research design. A total of 7 EFL teachers and 189 students participated in the study.
The data were collected through questionnaires, classroom observations and interviews which were administered both to teachers and students. The findings indicated that L1 was an inseparable part of language teaching, and it was often used by teachers in all of types of lessons, however, in writing and grammar ones, L1 was used with a more amount. In addition, it was revealed that teachers used L1 mostly in the first stage of the lessons and in some typical situations, such as when defining and explaining vocabulary items, explaining difficult concept or ideas, explaining complex grammar points or structures, providing feedback and explaining students‟ errors, showing activity objectives and giving instructions. Moreover, three main reasons for this use were also displayed.
Firstly, L1 was thought to be an aid to comprehension. Secondly, using L1 could save time in activities and finally, teachers‟ L1 use might create comfortable environment in class. Both teachers and students had positive attitudes toward the use of L1 in EFL classroom. The teachers believed that using L1 in teaching could enhance students‟ learning as long as it was used wisely and in proper portion.
The study also addresses pedagogical implications and makes suggestions for teachers and further research. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis is a result of a long term work as an MA student at Hue University - University of Foreign Languages, English Department. To begin with, I would like to express my deepest gratitude my supervisor, Dr. Pham Hong Anh, who always supported and encouraged me, listened to and supported me, explained things in patience, and helped me a lot to do research and learn new things during this long process.
Without her encouragement as well as her feedback in each phase of the writing process with her invaluable ideas, I would have never been able to finish my thesis. My special sincere thanks are due to participants in Hai Ba Trung High school including enthusiastic teachers of English and students here. I am totally aware that it was not an easy thing to do, and it took great effort for them to do all these things, and I know that not everybody would do it. Apart from these, I would love to thank all of my MA course classmates for supporting and encouraging me during the process, especially my best friends who are always willing to be with me in challenging time.
Above all, my deep thanks and appreciation are extended to my beloved family for their patience and consistent support during this long and vigorous journey. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents Pages CHAPTER 1. Background of the study. Rationale of the study.
Aims of the study and research questions. Significance of the study. Site of the study. Structure of the study.
Theoretical backgrounds of L1 use in EFL classroom. The overview of L1 use in different language teaching methods. When EFL teachers use L1 in class.3 The reasons why EFL teachers use L1 in class. Effects of teachers‟ use of L1 on L2 learning.
Previous studies related to the use of L1 in EFL classroom. Summary of the chapter. Research site and participants. The research site.
The participants of the study. Research instruments for data collection. Questionnaire for teachers. Questionnaire for students.
Interview for teachers. Interview for students. The procedures of data analysis. Summary of the chapter .29 FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION.
Responses to research question 1: When and why do teachers use L1 in EFL classroom?. Lesson(s) in which teachers use L1. Teachers and students‟ perceptions towards the lesson(s) in which teachers often use L1. Observed amount of L1 used by teachers.
Stage(s) of the lesson(s) in which teachers use L1. Teacher‟s perception towards their use of L1 in each stage of different lessons. Observed amount of teachers‟ L1 use in the stages of different lessons. Specific situations in which teachers use L1.
Teachers‟ and students‟ perception towards the specific situations in which teachers use L1 .2 The observed amount of L1 used by teacher in specific situations. Reasons why teachers use L1 in EFL classroom. Teachers‟ and students‟ perception towards the frequency of teachers‟ L1 in the classroom and the reasons for it. Teachers' perceptions towards the reasons why they used L1 in classroom.
Responses to research question 2: How does teachers‟ use of L1 affect students‟ learning?. Teachers‟ perception towards their use of L1 as a learning facilitator. Students‟ perception towards teacher's use of L1 as a learning facilitator. Students' perception towards the particular effects of teachers' L1 use on their learning.
Students‟ perception towards the suitable frequency of teachers‟ using L1 in classroom. Summary of the findings. Teachers‟ use of L1 varies in different type of lessons and stages in each lesson. Teachers‟ use of L1 is often used in several typical situations.
Teachers‟ use of L1 is used in EFL classroom for some reasons. Teachers‟ use of L1 is used as a facilitating tool for students‟ learning. Negative effects of teachers‟ L1 use on students‟ learning and the strategies to improve. Summary of the chapter.
Overview of the study and conclusion. Recommendations to educational administrators. Recommendations to EFL teachers: .Suggestions for further studies:. Limitations of the study .70 vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviations Stands for ELF English as a Foreign Language L1 First language L2 Second language S Student T Teacher TL Target language vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 4.1: Teachers and students‟ perceptions towards in which lesson(s) teachers often use L1 .2: Observed amount of L1 used by teachers in each type of lesson .3 Teacher‟s perception towards their use of L1 in each stage of lessons.4: The observed amount of teachers‟ L1 use in the stages of different lessons .5: Teachers' and students‟ perception towards the frequency of teachers‟ using L1 in the classroom.6: Teachers' perceptions towards the reasons why they used L1 in classroom.7: Teachers‟ perception towards their use of L1 as a learning facilitator .8: Students‟ perception towards teacher's use of L1 as a learning facilitator .9: Students' perceptions towards the effects of teachers' use of L1 on their learning .10: Students‟ perception towards the suitable frequency of teachers‟ using L1 in classroom .50 viii LIST OF TABLES Table 3.1: The checklist of the classroom observation .1: Teachers‟ and students‟ perceptions towards the specific situations in which teachers use L1 .2: The observed amount of L1 used by teacher in specific situations .39 ix CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION This chapter summarizes the information about the background to the study on the use of teachers‟ L1 in EFL classrooms.
Additionally, the rationale of the study, its aims as well as its significance and the site of the study are also presented in this chapter. Finally, the structure of study is displayed. Background of the study English is indispensible in an increasingly interconnected and globalized world. Consequently, many countries emphasize teaching English language to their citizens.
Similarly, in Viet Nam, English has been taught for a long time and it has been a compulsory subject in most schools throughout the country. As a global language, its various areas have been largely investigated, especially that of EFL teaching and learning. Richards and Renandya (2002) believes that “Second and foreign language teaching is one of the world‟s largest educational enterprises and millions of children and adults worldwide devote large amounts of time and efforts to the task of mastering a new language”. Researchers and teachers constantly desire to find helpful methods and techniques for improving EFL teaching and learning process.
So far, many factors have been found to have serious effects on EFL pedagogy and one of them is using L1 in EFL classroom (Lin, 2013). The argument on whether to use L1 in teaching a foreign language has been an issue for years, and it is receiving a great amount of attention among linguists and teachers. It has a long history surrounded by controversy and on-going debate over its role and value. Some argue that L1 should totally be banned in the classes while others claim that it can be used to some extent for certain purposes.
In Vietnamese context, students have fewer opportunities to practice English outside the class, therefore, they need to maximize their time to learn and get English exposure in the English classroom. However, it is evident from my own experience and my observation of other EFL teachers‟ teaching practice that the majority of Vietnamese EFL teachers 1 hardly use English most of the time in classroom. On the contrary, they often use L1 with the great amount and it actually lessens students‟ opportunity to practice their English skills in the classroom. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that in addition to interfering impacts from using L1 by teachers, students also get positive results in learning language acquisition from it.
Accordingly, investigating teachers‟ and students‟ perspectives on the use of L1 and the practical use of L1 in EFL classroom is very necessary for teachers to adjust their teaching strategies and implement appropriate techniques to improve the language teaching. Rationale of the study This study derives from the following personal concerns. Firstly, as a language teacher and learner, I was trained not to use L1 in the ELF classroom because of its interfering effects. However, from my experience in learning and teaching foreign languages, I realize that using L1 may have positive effects.