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reflective johan

The document reflects on the use of the first language (L1) in a French B2.1 classroom, highlighting its role in aiding comprehension and facilitating learning. It discusses both the advantages, such as clearer explanations and effective peer communication, and disadvantages, including the risk of students becoming overly reliant on their L1. The author advocates for strategic and limited use of L1 to enhance understanding while encouraging practice in the second language (L2).

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johanghiguera22
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2 views

reflective johan

The document reflects on the use of the first language (L1) in a French B2.1 classroom, highlighting its role in aiding comprehension and facilitating learning. It discusses both the advantages, such as clearer explanations and effective peer communication, and disadvantages, including the risk of students becoming overly reliant on their L1. The author advocates for strategic and limited use of L1 to enhance understanding while encouraging practice in the second language (L2).

Uploaded by

johanghiguera22
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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UNIVERSIDAD DE PAMPLONA

FACULTAD DE EDUCACIÓN
DEPARTAMENTO DE LENGUAS Y COMUNICACIÓN
LICENCIATURA EN LENGUAS EXTRANJERAS

Reflective Worksheet: Recalling the Role of L1 in a Past Classroom


Experience

Part 1: Describe the class you are recalling (a recent class)


1. When and where was this class?

Luis Carlos Galan, 06/05/2025

2. What was the focus or topic of the lesson?

La prise de notes

3. What level was the class?

French B2.1

Part 2: Use of L1 in the class


1. Was L1 used by the teacher?
☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Occasionally

2. Was L1 used by students?


☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Occasionally

3. In what situations was L1 used? (Check all that apply)

☐ Explaining grammar ☐ Clarifying vocabulary ☐ Giving instructions

☐ Managing the class ☐ Cultural explanations ☐ Giving feedback

☐ Peer discussions ☐ Other: __________________________

4. Do you think the use of L1 helped or hindered your learning? Why?

According to my experience, using the L1 helped with comprehension because it made the
concepts of an unfamiliar topic easier to understand. When the teacher used the L1 to
explain key points, I was able to connect the new information to what I already knew, which
made learning faster and less confusing. This supports the idea that the L1, when used
wisely, can be a helpful bridge to understand complex or new content in the L2.

Part 3: Personal reflections on L1 and L2 use


1. Have you ever depended too much on your L1 to learn an L2? If so, how?
UNIVERSIDAD DE PAMPLONA
FACULTAD DE EDUCACIÓN
DEPARTAMENTO DE LENGUAS Y COMUNICACIÓN
LICENCIATURA EN LENGUAS EXTRANJERAS

Yes, the use of L1 has helped me a lot, especially in understanding French, since it's
very similar to Spanish. I’ve been able to recognize patterns and structures that are
common to both languages, which makes learning French easier. The L1 has also
been useful in understanding English, particularly in certain aspects like verb
tenses, where I can draw connections to how they work in Spanish. This
comparative approach has made learning these languages feel more manageable
and less overwhelming.

2. What strategies from your L1 have helped you understand or remember L2 content?

My strategy is to use the L1 to identify what I really want to say in the L2 and organize my
ideas more clearly in my mind. This works best for me in writing, as I have more time to
reflect and ensure my ideas flow properly before translating them into the L2. However,
when speaking, I tend to take longer if I try to do the same process, since I need to think and
respond more quickly in real-time.

2. Have you ever confused L2 structures due to interference from your L1? Give an
example.

Yes, I often confuse certain things from my L1 with the L2. For example, in English, I
tend to mix up many syntactic structures of sentences, and sometimes I organize them
incorrectly. In French, I’ve made mistakes by incorrectly translating words, thinking
they are very similar to their counterparts in my language. For instance, I once confused
"yo espero" (I wait) with "j'espère" (I hope), even though they look alike, their meanings
are different, and this led to incorrect translations.

Part 4: Critical Thinking


1. What are the advantages of using L1 in the L2 classroom, based on your experience?

One advantage of using L1 in an L2 classroom is that it allows for easier clarification of


concepts. Sometimes, when a topic or idea is difficult to explain in the L2, switching to the
L1 helps the students understand faster and with less confusion. This can make the class
more effective from the teacher’s perspective, as it saves time and ensures that all students
are on the same page. Additionally, for group work, using the L1 can help students
communicate more effectively with each other, especially when discussing complex ideas or
organizing their thoughts, leading to better collaboration and understanding.

2. What are the disadvantages or risks?

One disadvantage of using L1 in an L2 classroom is that it can become a bad habit. If


students rely too much on their native language, they may stop practicing the L2 as much,
knowing they have a sort of "comfort zone" where they can fall back on their L1 for
explanations or understanding. This can limit their exposure to the L2 and slow down their
UNIVERSIDAD DE PAMPLONA
FACULTAD DE EDUCACIÓN
DEPARTAMENTO DE LENGUAS Y COMUNICACIÓN
LICENCIATURA EN LENGUAS EXTRANJERAS

progress, as they may not push themselves to think or speak directly in the new language,
which is crucial for developing fluency and confidence.

3. If you were the teacher in this class, what would you do differently in terms of using
L1?
If I were a teacher, I would only use the L1 when I see that most students are really
confused about a topic. In those cases, switching to the L1 would help explain things
more clearly so everyone can understand better. After that, I would go back to using
the L2 to keep students practicing and learning the language. This way, the L1 would
help when needed but wouldn’t stop them from learning the L2.

Part 5: Theoretical Connection


1. How does your experience reflect or contradict these authors’ ideas about L1 use?
I agree with some of the author's ideas, which suggest that certain strategies for
using the L1 can be beneficial, but they must be used responsibly. While using the
L1 can help clarify difficult concepts and support understanding, the best way to
improve in an L2 is through practice. Excessive use of the L1 can actually harm
the learning process, as it reduces exposure to the L2 and limits opportunities to
practice thinking and communicating directly in the new language. Therefore, the
L1 should be used strategically and sparingly to avoid relying on it too much.

2. Would you support limited use of L1 as a future teacher? Why or why not?

Yes, I would support the limited use of L1, especially at lower levels of L2, because L1
remains a useful tool to improve in L2. It can help clarify difficult concepts and build a
foundation for understanding the new language, making the learning process smoother and
more effective.

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