Investigating the Effect of Using L1 (Arabic Language) while Teaching a Target Language (English Language) in Algeria

Abstract

This paper investigates the effect of using L1 (Arabic Language) while teaching a target language (English Language) in the middle school. Precisely at the first year. This investigation concentrates on the teachers’ use of the mother tongue as well as the students’ use of the mother tongue during the English classes. It is therefore an attempt to investigate students' and teacher's attitudes towards the Arabic language. Our main concern here is to investigate this question; in what ways may Arabic language use influence the English language learners inside the classroom? And how English language is affected either positively or negatively by the learner mother tongue. It also focuses on teachers' and Students’ perspective on mother tongue use. The research instruments used includes are questionnaire for teachers in addition to the classroom observation. The population of the study was students of the first year middle school and the teachers of English language at the middle school from different cities in Tiaret (City of Nadorah, DayetElterfes,and Dahmouni). The sample of the study consisted of 38 students and 10 teachers from different establishments in Tiaret.