Summary Response to Should L1 be used in EFL Classes

Which do you prefer when you learn English: learning from a native teacher who cannot
speak your mother tongue and only uses target language, i.e. English, or learning from a
teacher whose mother tongue is same as yours? Mohammed Rhalmi in his article titled
“Should L1 be used in EFL classes” discusses this issue. First of all, the author summarizes
the views of opposite parties objectively. In this case these parties are the monolingual
approach and the bilingual approach. Rhalmi quoting the Krashen gives examples about what
monolingual approach supporters think. According to them, the writer informs us, using
mother tongue in learning English is a hinder and may give rise to mistakes. After that the
writer says that plenty of teacher criticize the monolingual approach due to the fact that using
L1 is useful at certain level of learning English. Then author lists logical reasons for using the
mother tongue while learning a foreign language.

According to writer in beginner level L1 should be used and target language follows it.
Besides, using mother tongue will be a shortcut. Rhalmi also states that paralleling two
languages in terms of vocabulary and grammar might be beneficial. After that the author
highlights culture issue of learning language. In his opinion translating proverbs, idioms,
songs and jokes from English to mother tongue can be very useful. Moreover, he points out
important of using L1 when a learner wants to express him/herself or an emergency situation
comes out. His conclusion is that the target language should be used as apparatus of education
and transferred to mother tongue if it is needed. I agree with Rhalmi on all points because my
learning foreign language experiences match what he states and I find his examples logical.

Firstly, I am on the same page with the writer about what he thinks of beginner level. Imagine
that you learn a foreign language that you know nothing about. On the top of it, your teacher
does not speak your language. You do not understand any word and you cannot answer any
question. How would you feel in this situation? I believe most of the people who face this
situation most probably would be discouraged and give up. For instance, I gave Turkish
lesson to Arabic spoken students a year and half ago. Their Turkish knowledge was zero and
my Arabic is only at basic level. Therefore, it was really hard to explain even easiest subject.
However, there were another teacher who can speak Arabic. When she gave a lesson to them
she used Arabic and Turkish together. After that they did not want to take lessons from me
and I cannot blame them. Therefore, in short, as it is stated in the article at least in beginner
levels L1 should be used, but learners should gradually become accustomed to the target
language.
Secondly and more importantly, as it is stated in the article, comparing can be very helpful
while learning foreign language. From my experience while learning foreign languages, I can
say that even the most distant languages have common aspects and this makes the process
easier. When I was learning French, for example, I was always comparing what I learned with
English rather than Turkish, because French grammar is closer to English grammar than
Turkish grammar. Furthermore, vocabulary of French and English is so similar that thanks to
my knowledge of English I learned French vocabulary easily.

In conclusion, using L1 is very important when learning English, particularly in beginner

level. And as the writer suggest, it has very useful sides. However, on the other hand only
English should be used at advanced levels, because learners cannot improve the target
language properly otherwise.