The theme of International Mother Language Day 2023 is multilingual education, and its power to transform education. As every English teacher knows, it can be difficult for students to use languages other than their mother tongue (L1) if they’re not used to being taught in a multilingual environment, so the theme of the day is an important one for both students’ attainment, and also for helping teachers to develop their skills and understanding of students’ needs and preferences.
If you’ve taught English for a while you’ve probably been asked by non-teachers whether you need to be able to speak your students’ mother tongue to teach English. There have been many debates about L1 use in the English classroom over the years, and there will be for many more. As with many complex topics, the answer about whether to use students’ L1 depends on how well the teacher knows the students and how they learn.
This will depend on a lot of factors, including the type of school you teach at, your students’ levels and whether the class shares a single first language or if there are multiple languages in the class. Some teachers do not even speak students’ L1, while others speak it fluently.
Should English teachers use L1 when teaching?
Many teachers avoid students’ L1 in the classroom. They find students learn fastest in an immersive classroom. ‘English only’ signs or other materials decorate walls to make the classroom feel more ‘English’. If students find this helpful, then it may be useful to limit or stop L1 use in this kind of classroom.
However, others believe that students’ L1 can help them to understand new ideas and language more easily. The L1 can provide comfort and familiarity, boosting students’ confidence. An English-only classroom can be intimidating, and for students who cannot keep up with the lesson, motivation may drop if they believe there’s no way to catch up.
As useful as L1 may be in the classroom however, it’s important to use English as much as possible to help students develop confidence. Teachers may therefore find that a mix of the L1 and English can help students.
For a more in-depth look at this issue, check out our blog on using students’ L1 in the classroom.