Language Use in ESL Classrooms

• In Event: 18.058 - MTCC Roundtable Session Four
  In Roundtable Session: 18.058-6 - Understanding Language Use and Language Learning in Second Language Acquisition Classrooms

Abstract

The use of first language (L1) during second language (L2) instruction has been widely debated among language educators, but no consensus has been reached on whether monolingual, bilingual, or multilingual approaches should be applied. This study examines how languages are used in classrooms and discusses the functions of L1 use, by combining video observations from 60 recorded English L2 lessons and student surveys in seven secondary classrooms (age 13–15) in Norway across two school years. Findings indicate that teachers’ L1 use during L2 instruction is dependent on practices rather than students’ needs, and that strategic use of L1 develop vocabulary and scaffold comprehension. The study found no use of languages other than English L2 and the dominant L1.

Authors

• Lisbeth M Brevik, University of Oslo

• Ulrikke Rindal, University of Oslo