Evaluating the L1 Use of Adult Intermediate Korean English Language Learners During Collaborative Oral Tasks

| January 9, 2011
Title
Evaluating the L1 Use of Adult Intermediate Korean English Language Learners During Collaborative Oral Tasks

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Author
Dylan Williams
University of Manchester
Abstract
The debate surrounding the use of the first language in the English classroom continues to be a contentious issue. Recent research has noted that the first language does have a part to play in the acquisition process of the second language. In relation to an adult intermediate South Korean EFL context, this study explores how students within this context use their first language as a learning tool, to help them produce the second language, during collaboration on oral pair-work tasks. To observe and analyse first language use in these circumstances the study employs a socio-cultural framework. The outcomes of this study indicate that the first language gives rise to several different cognitive processes during the interaction, which catalyse acquisition of the second language. However, in conclusion it is posited that without proper guidance from the teacher students may have a tendency to overuse their first language tool at the expense of challenging themselves to produce the second language. In this respect, suggestions are made into how teachers can guide their students to be less reliant on their first language tool as they collaborate on oral pair-work tasks.
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Category: Thesis