Using the Mother Tongue (Arabic Language) in EFL Teaching

Abstract

This paper explores the instructors' and students' reactions to using Arabic language in teaching English as a foreign language in the Department of English and Modern European Languages at the University of Qatar. Therefore, a two-form questionnaire was developed: one for the instructors and one for the students. As regards instructors' responses, it was found that all of the native speakers and 62.5 of non-native speakers of English felt that it was okay to use Arabic in EFL teaching. With regard to students' reactions, it was found that 42.85% of freshmen, 54.23% of sophomores, showing a 13% increase over freshmen; 57.64% of juniors, showing a 4% over junior students and finally 61.53 of senior students favored the use of Arabic, showing an increase of 4% over juniors. Finally, the paper was concluded by recommending a judicious use of Arabic in EFL teaching, and when it is the shortest possible route to make learners understand, since it is believed that the mother tongue does have a vital, facilitating role in teaching the foreign language.