First Language Interfere in EFL Classes: Revealing Students’ Perspectives and Teachers’ Reasons in ELL:

Nihta Vera Frelly   Liando; Devilito Prasetyo Tatipang; Ceisy Nita   Wuntu

doi:10.31849/reila.v5i1.13183

Nihta Vera Frelly Liando Universitas Negeri Manado, Manado, Indonesia
Devilito Prasetyo Tatipang Universitas Negeri Manado, Manado, Indonesia
Ceisy Nita Wuntu Universitas Negeri Manado, Manado, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.31849/reila.v5i1.13183

Keywords: Mother Tongue, Students’ Perspectives, Teachers’ Reasons, ELL, EFL

Abstract

Multilingualism is a common phenomenon among Indonesian students who are proficient in both national and local languages. However, the use of the first language (L1) in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms has been a subject of ongoing debate. This study explores the use of the first language (L1) in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms by investigating the perspectives of Indonesian students and teachers’ reasons. The study used a qualitative approach with a in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted with teachers, and questionnaire for the students, convenience sampling was used to select 105 participants from grade 12 of IPA, IPS, and Bahasa. Results showed that the majority of students had a positive perspective on the use of L1 by their English teachers during lessons. However, there was no significant difference in the students' perspectives based on gender and major classes. Teachers' reasons for using L1 included bridging students' knowledge, motivating students, and creating an active learning atmosphere. However, the overuse of L1 was found to be a potential problem, as it could lead to a lack of mastery of the target language. The findings suggest that the use of L1 in EFL classrooms can be beneficial but should be used in moderation to avoid students becoming too reliant on it. Teachers should use L1 as a means to facilitate learning, not as a substitute for the target language. This study provides important insights into the use of L1 in EFL classrooms from the perspectives of both students and teachers. These findings have important implications for language teaching practices and policies, not only in Indonesia but also in other multilingual contexts worldwide. Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of L1 use on language acquisition and to develop effective strategies to minimize its negative impact.

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Author Biographies

Nihta Vera Frelly Liando, Universitas Negeri Manado, Manado, Indonesia

Nihta Vera Frelly Liando is an associate professor at the English Education Department in the Faculty of Languages and Arts at Universitas Negeri Manado. She obtained her first degree from Universitas Negeri Manado in 1993, followed by a Master of Arts by Research from the University of Adelaide and a Ph.D from the University of Queensland, both in Australia in 2007. Dr. Liando has presented at various conferences in Indonesia and internationally and has published articles in national and international journals. Her research interests include teaching English as a foreign language, sociolinguistics, and educational psychology. In addition to her academic work, Dr. Liando is actively involved in the English teacher association in Indonesia, TEFLIN (Teachers of English as a Foreign Language in Indonesia), and currently serves as the Coordinator for Sulawesi and Maluku Region. She has been the Head of the Department of English Education since 2020.

Devilito Prasetyo Tatipang, Universitas Negeri Manado, Manado, Indonesia

Devilito Prasetyo Tatipang is a researcher, journal editor, and full-time postgraduate student at the English Education Department of the Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Manado. He completed his first degree at the same university in 2021 and has since presented his research in various international conferences in Indonesia. He has also published articles in several nationally accredited and reputable international journals. Devilito's research interests include issues in English Language Teaching (ELT), technology in ELT, applied linguistics in ELT, motivational studies, and pedagogy for English language learners (ELL). He is currently completing his master's degree at the same university and is also serving as a research assistant to a senior lecturer.

Ceisy Nita Wuntu, Universitas Negeri Manado, Manado, Indonesia

Ceisy Nita Wuntu is an associate professor at the English Education Department, Faculty of Languages and Arts at Universitas Negeri Manado. She obtained her first degree from Universitas Negeri Manado in 1989, followed by a Master of Humanities and a Doctoral degree from Gadjah Mada University in 1996. With publications in various national accredited and reputable international journals, Dr. Wuntu is recognized for her research in Environmental Literature, Cross-Cultural Communication, Popular Literature, Literary Criticism, and Literary Theory in ELT. Dr. Wuntu also serves as the Head of the Master of English Education Study Program at Universitas Negeri Manado since 2020.

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