What if students keep using their own language?

Answer 1

What if studnets keep using their own language?The following is content is extracted from 'How to Teach English' by Jeremy Harmer

One of the problems that teachers sometimes face with students who all share the same native language is that they use their native language rather than English to perform classroom tasks. This may be because they want to communicate something important, and so they use language in the best way they know! They will almost certainly find speaking in their language a lot easier than struggling with English.

But, however much teachers might sympathise with their students, the need to have them practicing English (rather than their own language) remains paramount.

There are a number of things that can be done in this situation.

Talk to them about the issues: teachers can discuss with students how they should all feel about using English and/ or their own language in the class. Teachers should try to get their students' agreement that overuse of their own language means that they will have less chance to learn English; that using their own language during speaking activities denies them chances for rehearsal and feedback.

Encourage them to use English appropriately: teachers should make it clear that there is not a total ban on their own language- it depends on what's happening. In other words, a little bit of the students' native language when they're working on a reading text is not too much of a problem, but a speaking Activate exercise will lose its purpose if not done in English

Only respond to English use: teachers can make it clear by their behaviour that they want to hear English. They can ignore what students say in their own language.

Create an English environment: teachers themselves should speak English for the majority of the time, so that, together with the use of listening material and video, the students are constantly exposed to how English sounds, and what it feels like. Some teachers anglicise their students' names too.

Keep reminding them: teachers should be prepared to go round the class during a speaking exercise encouraging, cajoling, even pleading with them to use English- and offering help if necessary. This technique, often repeated, will gradually change most students' behaviour over a period of time.

Answer 2

If students continue to use their own language instead of the target language, it may hinder their language acquisition progress. It's important for teachers to gently remind and encourage students to use the target language as much as possible during lessons for effective language learning. Providing engaging activities and creating a supportive language-learning environment can also help motivate students to use the target language.