Abstract:

The use of the mother tongue in teaching a foreign language is a controversial topic. While some researchers claim that the mother tongue should not be used in foreign language classrooms, others think that it makes a valuable contribution to the learning process.The purpose of this study was to investigate teachers’ and students’ perceptions on using the mother tongue in EFL classrooms and when to use it in the classroom. The present study was conducted at the end of the fall semester of the 2011-2012 academic year at European University of Lefke. Twenty five English instructors and one hundred and five students participated in the study. The relationship between the perceptions on English language instructors and the students was measured through questionnaires given to teachers and students. The interview was carried out with five preparatory students and five English teachers. The data revealed that the mother tongue was a mediating part of language teaching and learning and there was no significant difference between teachers’ and students’ perceptions on using it in language classrooms. Both teachers and students did not oppose the use of mother tongue in language classrooms. They all thought that the mother tongue should be used in emergency situations. Moreover, they believed that it can be effective in the right situations at the right time.

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