ABSTRACT:In foreign language teaching, whether mother tongue should be used in foreign language classes is a controversial issue. Some researchers think that mother tongue should be avoided to use in foreign language classes. But more and more researches indicate that the outcomes to teaching without any mother tongue are not ideal as expected. In real foreign class, what is the real situation about the use of mother tongue? What attitudes students and teachers hold? What are the advantages and disadvantages of using mother tongue in foreign language classes? What are the reasons to use mother tongue? Through questionnaires and class observation, this study investigated 120 students and 25 English teachers of No.2 middle school in Mengzi form above-mentioned aspects. The SPSS version 18.0 was used to analyze the data of questionnaires. There are three findings in this study: First, most participants hold positive attitude of using mother tongue in English classes. Second, Although there are some disadvantages of using mother tongue in English class, most participants think using mother tongue in English class is helpful to student’s learning and teacher’s teaching. Third, most teachers think the main reasons to use MT in English classes are students’ English levels are generally low and the evaluation system of testing. Besides, this study discusses the pedagogical implications and recommendations.

Keywords: mother tongue; junior middle school; English teaching; role

TABLE OF CONTENTS

摘要

ABSTRACT

1 INTRODUCTION-1

1.1 Settings of the Research-1

1.2 Definition-1

1.3 Purpose and Significance-2

2 LITERATURE REVIEW-4

2.1 Theoretical Framework-4

2.2 Overseas Researches-4

2.3 Domestic Researches-5

3 METHODOLOGY-6

3.1 Research Methods-6

3.2 Participants-6

3.3 Sources of Data-6

3.3.1 Questionnaires-6

3.3.2 Classes observation-7

3.4 Data Collection Procedure-7

4 DATA ANALYSIS-9

4.1 Data Analysis of Questionnaire-9

4.1.1 The frequency of using MT-9

4.1.2 The attitude about the use of MT-11

4.1.3 Advantages of using MT-12

4.1.4 Disadvantages of using MT-13

4.1.5 When to use MT in English classes-14

4.1.6 The reasons for teachers to use MT-15

4.2 Class Observation-16

4.3 Discussion and Recommendations-17

5 CONCLUSION-19

5.1 Implications-19

5.2 Limitations-20

REFERANCES-21

APPENDIX A-22

APPENDIX B-24

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS-26