Journal of Educational Sciences > Volume 2, No. 1, 1990

The Use of the Mother Tongue and Translation in Foreign Language Instruction / Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Abdan

The writer has observed that some EFL Saudi Teachers abuse or overuse the mother tongue and translation in the course of their work. whilst others still maintain that the mother tongue and translation have no place in foreign language instruction. In the light of this problem, the writer endeavours to review and discuss the arguments for and against the use of the mother tongue and translation in the foreign language classroom. in an attempt to indicate that there is nothing wrong with this as long as the teacher knows when and how to use them. The writer then provides some general guidelines for the proper use of the mother tongue and translation in foreign language instruction.