TEACHERS' AND LEARNERS' ATTITUDES TOWARD L1 USE IN UNIVERSITY EFL CLASSROOMS IN SAUDI ARABIA- A CASE STUDY

Abstract

The issue of banishment or utilisation of the first language (L1) in English as a second/foreign language classrooms has been hotly debated in the field of Second Language Teaching. This study aims to investigate teachers’ and pupils’ attitudes towards the use of L1 (Arabic) in the College of Applied Medical Sciences (KSAU), AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia. It also explores situations in which teachers and pupils prefer to use Arabic in the classroom. Two questionnaires (one for teachers and one for students) were distributed to 96 students and nine teachers. Additionally, five teachers were interviewed. The results of the present study indicated that both teachers and pupils share the same overall positive attitude toward the judicious use of Arabic in EFL classrooms. It also highlighted the fact that utilising Arabic could play a role in reducing pupils’ anxiety.