WHAT is the role of native languages in ESL classrooms? Do they have one? MaryAnn Cunningham Florez, an ESL Technical Assistant at the National Clearinghouse for ESL Literacy Education in the US, looks at the contentious debate on the use of native languages in ESL classrooms and the effects it may have on learning.
Florez made several decisions prior to the start of classes to help her better manage her own use of the learners' native language Spanish in class.
First, Florez set some guidelines for herself. She focused her use of Spanish in several areas: classroom community building (exchanges that helped establish trust, congeniality, comfort in taking risks); affective support (discussions of difficulties, fears, confusion, victories) and discussions of abstract points related to the language and culture.
These are areas that are very important in the language learning process and ones in which the beginning level learners often have great interest but limited linguistic ability to address.
On the issue of translating words or phrases, Florez concentrated more on providing context, clues or prompts, rather than direct translations. Next, she committed herself to regular observation and evaluation of Spanish use in the classroom. Finally, Florez talked to her learners directly about the use of Spanish in her class, explaining her intentions and expectations and eliciting theirs.
These efforts resulted in mostly positive experiences for the learners and the teacher. In her classroom observations and conversations with her learners, Florez found that they primarily viewed the Spanish language as a means of clarifying and deepening their understanding of grammar points, usage conventions and cultural implications, rather than as simply translation.
For English language beginners, the use of native languages can facilitate the processes of building community, validating experiences and strengthening self-esteem. Teachers can use native languages to foster a supportive network where they explain unfamiliar things to students in a more familiar way. They can also use them to share frustrating experiences with a new language and culture.
