Expanded Concepts
1. When should you use a student's first language in the ESL/EFL classroom?
It is important to use English in the classroom as the target language and as the teaching language. There are times, however, when the limited use of the students' first language (L1) can be useful. Native speakers in particular should be careful though. Some native speakers lose their value when they begin teaching in the students' L1. Most EFL students have already studied English for years in their L1 but still can't speak fluently. The more you use a student's L1, the more you lose your value as a native speaker and in most cases, a major factor in your hire was that you were a native speaker. If you don't use that skill and ability, they might as well hire a local teacher usually for significantly less than what you cost.
2. Watch this short fun video by Pedro Camaho about when to use or not use L1 in the EFL classroom. He is not a native speaker so please excuse the few errors you hear as the basic ideas are very good.
Here are two short articles written by a teacher with further discussion about Using L1 in the L2 Classroom and Using L1 away from the L2 Classroom. Both articles will open in a new window.
3. Other Important Classroom Concepts for EFL Teaching Methods
Read this British Council article on the use of realia in the classroom.
There is more information on realia in the Student Motivation page on this website.
4. Additional readings
Read the following. Consider these documents as reference material and use them to stimulate your thinking about the concepts involved.
A good review of a variety of EFL teaching methods is at the website of Dr. Jill Kerper Moran of San Diego State University: Second Language Teaching Methods Please note: Dr. Moran's website does not always work well and if you are not able to connect, use this link as an alternative: Archive Page.
