The Use of Mother Tongue in Second Language Teaching

Abstract

The use of mother tongue in second language teaching has been a controversial issue by linguists. Some scholars hold that mother tongue plays a negative role and should be abandoned in second language teaching. However, an increasing number of scholars believe that mother tongue can play a positive role in second language learning and should be properly used. Based on the theory of language transfer, this paper thoroughly explores the specific application of mother tongue in second language learning and offers several pedagogical implications. This paper holds that mother tongue plays a positive role in learning methods introduction, pronunciation teaching,vocabulary teaching, grammar teaching, students class expression, and class management, which can play a positive role in improving teachers teaching efficiency, decrease students learning anxiety, increase students learning confidence, stimulate students enthusiasm for expression in class participation and promote students completion of learning tasks. Therefore, it is concluded that mother tongue should be properly used in second language teaching in order to improve the teaching and acquisition of second language.