Published

2020-01-01

Using Spanish in English Language Chilean Classrooms? Perspectives from EFL Teacher Trainees

¿Usar el español en la clase de inglés en aulas chilenas? Perspectivas de futuros profesores de inglés como lengua extranjera

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15446/profile.v22n1.77494

Keywords:

English as a foreign language, English language teacher training, use of L1 in the L2 classroom (en)
formación inicial de profesores de inglés, inglés como lengua extranjera, uso de L1 en la clase de L2 (es)

Downloads

Authors

This article presents a study which explores perceptions of Chilean future teachers of English as a foreign language regarding the usage of Spanish as L1 in English lessons. The participants belong to first- and fourth-year levels of their programs at four universities located throughout Chile. The data collection tool was Mohebbi and Alavi’s (2014) Likert questionnaire, along with an open questions section. The data were subjected to descriptive statistical analyses and mean difference tests. The results indicate that the participants would use Spanish in the English class mainly for two reasons: (1) for pedagogical-didactic purposes and (2) to maintain the student-teacher relationship. The study concludes that there are no statistically significant differences in regard to the course-level year the subjects are enrolled in or regarding the university with which they are affiliated.
Este artículo presenta un estudio que investiga las apreciaciones respecto del uso del español como L1 en la clase de inglés que tienen futuros profesores de inglés como lengua extranjera chilenos que cursan primer y cuarto año de su programa de estudios en cuatro universidades de Chile. Los datos se obtuvieron a través del cuestionario tipo Likert de Mohebbi y Alavi (2014) junto con una sección de preguntas abiertas. Los resultados indican que todos los participantes sí usarían el español en la clase de inglés, principalmente por dos motivos: con fines pedagógicos-didácticos y para mantener la relación estudiante-docente. El estudio concluye que no existen diferencias estadísticamente significativas en los resultados dependiendo del año que cursa el sujeto ni a la universidad a la que pertenece.

References

Abrahams, M. J., & Farias, M. (2010). Struggling for change in Chilean EFL teacher education. Colombian Applied Linguistics Journal, 12(2), 110-118. https://doi.org/10.14483/22487085.87.

Auerbach, E. R. (1993). Re-examining English only in the ESL classroom. TESOL Quarterly, 27(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.2307/3586949.

Barahona, M. (2016). English language teacher education in Chile: A cultural historical activity theory perspective. New York, US: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315689937.

Bozorgian, H., & Fallahpour, S. (2015). Teachers’ and students’ amount and purpose of L1 use: English as foreign language (EFL) classrooms in Iran. Iranian Journal of Language Teaching Research, 3(2), 67-81.

Brown, H. D. (2014). Principles of language learning and teaching. White Plains, US: Pearson Education.

Cook, V. (2001). Using the first language in the classroom. The Canadian Modern Language Review, 57(3), 402-423. https://doi.org/10.3138/cmlr.57.3.402.

Du, Y. (2016). The use of first and second language in Chinese university EFL classrooms. Singapore: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1911-1.

Harmer, J. (2001). The practice of English language teaching. Essex, UK: Longman. https://doi.org/10.1177/003368820103200109.

Hernández, R., Fernández, C., & Baptista, P. (2006). Metodología de la investigación. Ciudad de México, MX: McGraw-Hill.

Kayaoğlu, M. N. (2012). The use of mother tongue in foreign language teaching from teachers’ practice and perspective. Pamukkale Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 32(2), 25-35. https://doi.org/10.9779/PUJE492.

Khati, A. R. (2011). When and why of mother tongue use in English classrooms. Nepal English Language Teachers’ Association, 16(1-2), 42-51. https://doi.org/10.3126/nelta.v16i1-2.6128.

Kieu, K. A. H. (2010). Use of Vietnamese in English language teaching in Vietnam: Attitudes of Vietnamese university teachers. English Language Teaching, 3(2), 119-128. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v3n2p119.

Kovacic, A., & Kirinic, V. (2011, May). To use or not to use: First language in tertiary instruction of English as a foreign language. Paper presented at the 1st International Conference on Foreign Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Larsen-Freeman, D. (2000). Techniques and principles in language teaching. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Levine, G. S. (2014). Principles for code choice in the foreign language classroom: A focus on grammaring. Language Teaching, 47(5), 332-348. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444811000498.

Liao, P. (2006). EFL learners’ beliefs about and strategy use of translation in English learning. RELC, 37(2), 191-215. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033688206067428.

López, E. I., Rumeau, J. C., & Valenzuela, A. A. (2016). Comparing teacher and student perspectives regarding the use of L1 in EFL Chilean high school classrooms (Undergraduate monograph). Universidad Andrés Bello, Chile.

Ministerio de Educación. (2012). Bases curriculares 2012: idioma extranjero inglés. Santiago, CL: Autor.

Ministerio de Educación. (2013a). Estándares orientadores para carreras de pedagogía en inglés. Santiago, CL: Autor.

Ministerio de Educación. (2013b). Bases curriculares: 7º a 2o Medio. Santiago, CL: Autor.

Mohebbi, H., & Alavi, S. (2014). An investigation into teachers’ first language use in a second language learning classroom context: A questionnaire-based study. Bellaterra Journal of Teaching & Learning Language & Literature, 7(4), 57-73. https://doi.org/10.5565/rev/jtl3.539.

Mora Pablo, I., Lengeling, M. M., Rubio Zenil, B., Crawford, T., & Goodwin, D. (2011). Students’ and teachers’ reasons for using the first language within the foreign language classroom (French and English) in central Mexico. Profile: Issues in Teachers’ Professional Development, 13(2), 113-129.

Nation, P. (2003). The role of the first language in foreign language learning. Asian EFL Journal, 5(2), 113-129.

Ostovar-Namaghi, S., & Norouzi, S. (2015). First language use in teaching a foreign language: Theoretical perspectives and empirical findings. US-China Foreign Language, 13(9), 615-622. https://doi.org/10.17265/1539-8080/2015.09.001.

Reimer, K. (2012). To use or not to use L1: That is the question. English Teaching in China, 1, 7-12.

Richards, J. C., & Rodgers, T. S. (2014). Approaches and methods in language teaching. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Rodríguez, C., & Oxbrow, G. (2008). L1 in the EFL classroom: More a help than a hindrance? Porta Lingarium, 9, 93-109.

Schweers, W. (1999). Using L1 in the L2 classroom. English Teaching Forum, 37(2) 6-13.

Swain, M., & Lapkin, S. (2000). Task-based second language learning: The uses of the first language. Language Teaching Research, 4, 251-274. https://doi.org/10.1177/136216880000400304.

Tang, J. (2002). Using L1 in the English classroom. English Teaching Forum, 40(1), 36-43.

Yildiz, M., & Yeşilyurt, S. (2016). Use or avoid? The perceptions of prospective English teachers in Turkey about L1 use in English classes. English Language Teaching, 10(1), 84-96. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v10n1p84.

How to Cite

APA

Donoso, E. (2020). Using Spanish in English Language Chilean Classrooms? Perspectives from EFL Teacher Trainees. Profile: Issues in Teachers’ Professional Development, 22(1), 93–107. https://doi.org/10.15446/profile.v22n1.77494

ACM

[1]
Donoso, E. 2020. Using Spanish in English Language Chilean Classrooms? Perspectives from EFL Teacher Trainees. Profile: Issues in Teachers’ Professional Development. 22, 1 (Jan. 2020), 93–107. DOI:https://doi.org/10.15446/profile.v22n1.77494.

ACS

(1)
Donoso, E. Using Spanish in English Language Chilean Classrooms? Perspectives from EFL Teacher Trainees. Profile: Issues Teach. Prof. Dev. 2020, 22, 93-107.

ABNT

DONOSO, E. Using Spanish in English Language Chilean Classrooms? Perspectives from EFL Teacher Trainees. Profile: Issues in Teachers’ Professional Development, [S. l.], v. 22, n. 1, p. 93–107, 2020. DOI: 10.15446/profile.v22n1.77494. Disponível em: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/profile/article/view/77494. Acesso em: 18 mar. 2026.

Chicago

Donoso, Eladio. 2020. “Using Spanish in English Language Chilean Classrooms? Perspectives from EFL Teacher Trainees”. Profile: Issues in Teachers’ Professional Development 22 (1):93-107. https://doi.org/10.15446/profile.v22n1.77494.

Harvard

Donoso, E. (2020) “Using Spanish in English Language Chilean Classrooms? Perspectives from EFL Teacher Trainees”, Profile: Issues in Teachers’ Professional Development, 22(1), pp. 93–107. doi: 10.15446/profile.v22n1.77494.

IEEE

[1]
E. Donoso, “Using Spanish in English Language Chilean Classrooms? Perspectives from EFL Teacher Trainees”, Profile: Issues Teach. Prof. Dev., vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 93–107, Jan. 2020.

MLA

Donoso, E. “Using Spanish in English Language Chilean Classrooms? Perspectives from EFL Teacher Trainees”. Profile: Issues in Teachers’ Professional Development, vol. 22, no. 1, Jan. 2020, pp. 93-107, doi:10.15446/profile.v22n1.77494.

Turabian

Donoso, Eladio. “Using Spanish in English Language Chilean Classrooms? Perspectives from EFL Teacher Trainees”. Profile: Issues in Teachers’ Professional Development 22, no. 1 (January 1, 2020): 93–107. Accessed March 18, 2026. https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/profile/article/view/77494.

Vancouver

1.
Donoso E. Using Spanish in English Language Chilean Classrooms? Perspectives from EFL Teacher Trainees. Profile: Issues Teach. Prof. Dev. [Internet]. 2020 Jan. 1 [cited 2026 Mar. 18];22(1):93-107. Available from: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/profile/article/view/77494

Download Citation

CrossRef Cited-by

CrossRef citations4

1. Maura Klenner-Loebel, Juan Carlos Beltrán-Véliz, Trevor Driscoll. (2026). Araucanía Chilean EFL Teachers’ Beliefs Regarding Their Intercultural Mediator Role. Profile: Issues in Teachers' Professional Development, 28(1), p.89. https://doi.org/10.15446/profile.v28n1.117794.

2. Malba Barahona, Catalina Delaporte‐Raurich, Ximena Ibaceta‐Quijanes. (2021). “It is impossible to teach English in English”: Preservice teachers’ struggles to facilitate L2 comprehensibility in English. TESOL Journal, 12(2) https://doi.org/10.1002/tesj.578.

3. Malba Barahona. (2020). The potential of translanguaging as a core teaching practice in an EFL context. System, 95, p.102368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2020.102368.

4. Laura Portolés, Lauren Basgall. (2024). Modern Approaches to Researching Multilingualism. Second Language Learning and Teaching. , p.183. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-52371-7_12.

Dimensions

PlumX

Article abstract page views

2309

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.