Why, When and How to Use L1 in the Classroom

Your students’ first language is a valuable teaching tool.

This article was first published as a barefootTEFLteacher newsletter — head over to subscribe and be updated first.

On my initial TEFL training course in 2003, we weren’t allowed to use L1 (the students’ first language) in the classroom.

If you did, the tutors would lower your mark for that lesson, and stern feedback would be given. It seemed that the rule was there so the tutors could check that you could deliver a lesson without using the students’ L1.

Strangely though, that’s as far as the discussion on L1 went — there was no further information on how to best use L1. So when I started my first teaching position, I had an ingrained habit of only using L1 and prejudice against using L2. I’m sure this has been the same for thousands (tens of thousands?) of TEFL teachers worldwide.

In reality, L1 can be a powerful teaching aid.

7 Reasons to use L1

1. To check understanding

After you’ve given students complex instructions, checking that they understand what they need to do is a good idea. Rather than ask students to repeat back to you (which can be unreliable) or ask…