Preliminary communication

THE USE OF CROATIAN IN THE EFL CLASSROOM

Mauro Dujmović

Abstract

The support for an English–only policy has been declining recently and some researchers and teachers have begun to advocate a more bilingual approach to teaching, which would incorporate the students’ L1 as a learning tool.
Humanistic views of teaching have speculated that students should be allowed to express themselves, and while they are still learning a language it is only natural that they will periodically slip back into their mother tongue, which is more comfortable for them. They will also naturally equate what they are learning with their L1 so trying to eliminate this process will only have negative consequences and impede learning.
Inspired by these views and driven by my own interest, I decided to carry out a small study on the use of the native language in the Croatian context. The purpose of this study was to support the fact that in the EFL classes Croatian plays only a supportive and facilitating role.

Keywords

first language (L1); second language (L2); bilingual; monolingual; teaching; learning; skills; students; research; teachers

Hrčak ID:

12624

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/12624

Publication date:

1.6.2007.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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