Abstract
This study tries to investigate the students' perspective on the use of their L1 (Thai) in the acquisition of the L2 (English) in Ubon Ratchathani University. The study adapts questions used in previous studies to capture weather students think Thai should be used in the English class room and in what situations students use their L1 in English class. Convenience sampling method was applied. An online questionnaire was created and distributed through social media and the REG system of the university. 75 respondents took the survey. Going by the finding 100% of students believe that Thai should be used in the class room. This is consistent with (WILLIAMS, 1999) whose finding revealed that 88.7% of students and 100% of teachers believed that the L2 should be used in the L1 classroom in the University of Puerto Rico. It is also consistent with other studies (e.g., Kovacic&Kirinic, 2011; Sharma, 2006) who concluded students would prefer having their first languages used a Little in the English classrooms. The situations in which students use and will prefer the teachers to use their L1 in the L2 classroom are consistent with those outlined by (Cook, Using the first language in the classroom, 2001). Therefore students in Ubon Ratchathani University will find it difficult to adapt to an all English class room. In other to avoid or limit such difficulties, students L1 should be systematically used as a classroom resource (Cook, 2001). Failure to do so may create a negative learning environment.
Author Information
Henry Fonji Achaleke, Ubon Ratchathani University, Thailand
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