Mother Tongue Use in EFLClassrooms Discourse: a Case Study of 3rd Year Pupils in a Secondary School in Tlemcen

Abstract

Decisions whether to use or not to use the mother tongue in EFL classrooms are the most problematic ones that EFL teachers and learners face. The purpose of this study was to find out whether secondary school teachers and pupils use their mother tongue in the EFL classrooms. More precisely this study attempted to find out the occasions and situations where mother tongue occurs, for which purpose, and whether the participants were in favour of using their mother tongue. This research was a case study of 35 pupils and 6 teachers from “the two martyrs’ brothers Iben Mansour Abderrahim and Habib” secondary school in Tlemcen city. Data collection was based on two research instruments: questionnaires administrated to both teachers and pupils, and a classroom observation. The findings revealed that both teachers and pupils were in favour of the use of MT in EFL classrooms. It was even considered as a facilitating teaching technique. However; they both agreed that its use should be moderate highlighting the importance of using the foreign language as much as possible.