USINGFULL ENGLISH (L2) WHEN TEACHING YOUNG LEARNERS, WHY NOT?
by:
Fuat Ginanjar
English
Department of Teacher Training Faculty
UNP
Kediri
There is a big
discussion dealing with teaching English, as the second language at Young Learners
(YL), using the first language or the second language. Both have its own reason
why it should be L1 (native language) or L2 (target language) applied in the
class. I myself do think that it should be L2 and L1. Most of the expert
suggested that we should use L2 to teach young learners. Yet let’s discuss in
some points of view.
There are some reasons
why teachers prefer in using L1 in teaching the second language at YL than L2. The
first, teachers may feel of worrying due to their students couldn’t catch the
meaning of a word in a target language if the teachers communicated in L2. This
may occur due to they have limited vocabulary in mastering L2, especially in
giving simple explanation of some words in target language to their students.
The second, since the
native language is well built, it would be easier for teacher to explain the
meaning in the first language. This may occur whenever the teacher doesn’t want
to take a risk to let their students in a big confused feeling.
In contrary, most of
the experts believe that teachers should use L2 in teaching the second language
to young learners for some reasons. The first reason is dealing with the time.
Time has the great ally in acquiring the language proficiency[1]. Imagine,
how many times would we teach in a week? We may only have 2 times a week. Then,
how many hours do we spend to meet them in each day? It is approximately 30 to
35 minutes a day. If there is only 60 to 70 minutes a week to teach the second
language, then how is our effort to maximum the result? It is certainly we must
communicate using L2.
The next, Lyster in the
Bridge stated that children need to practice the language aspects in
meaningful, communicative activities[2]. Children
spend much time in home. Therefore, they can practice using the second language
with their parents if their parents also speak that language. But the
environment is different because most of Indonesian doesn’t speak another
language except their mother language. It is only with teacher they can
practice to communicate in the second language.
The third reason that teacher should teach using the
target language is because YL doesn’t speak the second language outside of
class. Stefan Thomson in his journal stated that Young Learners have a little
contact with native English speakers outside of the classroom[3].
This thus is strengthened by the statement of Tarone and Swain[4]
that the young learners choose the L1 for social interaction while using the L2
for structured classroom tasks. Therefore class is only the place where they
can practice the language.
The last important reason to teach using target
language is because children have a different variety of input in getting the
second language. Let’s see around us. Most of their home has a Tv, radio and
may be a Pc. But, do they use them to get the second language? Probably yes and
not few say no. So, the only source of the second language is only from
teachers. Zuzana Strakova even emphasized to use variety of input that seems to
be lacking in the classrooms[5]
There is no doubt that teacher now days should teach
their students, Young Learners, using target language (L2). Then what are we
waiting for as candidate of teacher? Get prepare with appropriate strategies
and start using L2.
[2] LaVan,
Cindy. (2001). Help! They’re Using Too Much English. The Bridge: From Research to Practice. Retrived April 2, 2014, from
www.carla.umn.edu
[3] Thomson,
Stefan. (no year). Teaching Young Learners: Adapting the Classroom for YELLs.
University of Birmingham. Retrieved April 2, 2014, from www.birmingham.ac.uk
[5]
www.pulib.sk
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