Should English teachers speak the language of their students
Should English teachers speak the language of their students?
An English only policy should be implemented in all ESL and EFL classrooms. The best English lessons are often the result of a teacher who only speaks English. Such lessons enhances the student’s listening and speaking skills by hearing the correct way to pronounce things and comprehending what the teacher is explaining, which are the most important skills in order to communicate. However there is always an exception to the rule. There are valid arguments that approve the usage of the first language of the students in English Language Teaching (ELT). This essay will expose the advantages and disadvantages of such statement.
In order for students to become fluent in a language they need to be involved with the language itself. Speaking only English in the classroom helps the learners to familiarized with the language, by doing this students won’t be afraid to use and experiment with it. Besides it will stop the habit that English Language Learners (ELL) have, which is structure sentences based on the grammar of their first language or translating in a literal way whatever they are trying to say.
On the other hand providing explanations in the learners’ L1 is a way to further the learning process. Nonetheless this method might not work with some grammar points that only exist in English language. As a consequence students won’t be able to relate it to their mother tongue so it will be confusing for them.
Many teachers have agreed that allowing students the use of their first language with other students creates a distraction, which affects the productivity of the lesson, therefore their learning process. This arguments stands for the implement of the policy in the classroom, stating that the learners will be more focus on the task of learning English if this is the only language spoken among students.
Despite of being a distraction this could also be helpful, as long as students use their L1 to explain
An English only policy should be implemented in all ESL and EFL classrooms. The best English lessons are often the result of a teacher who only speaks English. Such lessons enhances the student’s listening and speaking skills by hearing the correct way to pronounce things and comprehending what the teacher is explaining, which are the most important skills in order to communicate. However there is always an exception to the rule. There are valid arguments that approve the usage of the first language of the students in English Language Teaching (ELT). This essay will expose the advantages and disadvantages of such statement.
In order for students to become fluent in a language they need to be involved with the language itself. Speaking only English in the classroom helps the learners to familiarized with the language, by doing this students won’t be afraid to use and experiment with it. Besides it will stop the habit that English Language Learners (ELL) have, which is structure sentences based on the grammar of their first language or translating in a literal way whatever they are trying to say.
On the other hand providing explanations in the learners’ L1 is a way to further the learning process. Nonetheless this method might not work with some grammar points that only exist in English language. As a consequence students won’t be able to relate it to their mother tongue so it will be confusing for them.
Many teachers have agreed that allowing students the use of their first language with other students creates a distraction, which affects the productivity of the lesson, therefore their learning process. This arguments stands for the implement of the policy in the classroom, stating that the learners will be more focus on the task of learning English if this is the only language spoken among students.
Despite of being a distraction this could also be helpful, as long as students use their L1 to explain