The DOI matches its Crossref record; 250 of the 256 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Own-language use in language teaching and learning
Abstract
Until recently, the assumption of the language-teaching literature has been that new languages are best taught and learned monolingually, without the use of the students’ own language(s). In recent years, however, this monolingual assumption has been increasingly questioned, and a re-evaluation of teaching that relates the language being taught to the students’ own language has begun. This article surveys the developing English language literature on the role of students’ own language(s) in the language classroom. After clarifying key terms, the paper charts the continuing widespread use of students’ own languages in classrooms around the world and the contemporary academic and societal trends which have led to a revival of support for this. It then explores key arguments which underpin this revival, and reviews a range of empirical studies which examine the extent and functions of own-language use within language classrooms. Next, the article examines the support for own-language use that a range of theoretical frameworks provide, including psycholinguistic and cognitive approaches, general learning theory and sociocultural approaches. Having explored the notion of ‘optimal’ in-class own-language use, the article then reviews research into teachers’ and students’ attitudes towards own-language use. It concludes by examining how a bilingual approach to language teaching and learning might be implemented in practice.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“In the past 100 years or so the central doctrine of the late 19th century Reform Movement in additional language education with its advocacy for monolingual teaching, i.e. teaching the focal language through that language exclusively, has held sway in the foreign/second language education thinking (see Cook, 2010: Chapter 1; Cummins, 2007; Hall and Cook, 2012).”
From Translanguaging and the Transdisciplinary Framework for Language Teaching and Learning in a Multilingual World (2019) · cites this paper as Hall and Cook, 2012
Citations
Cites
(1978) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 53,488
(1999) · Cited by 28,356
Communities of Practice: Learning, Meaning, and Identity
Wenger, E. (1998) · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511803932 · Cited by 23,500
DEWEY, J. M. (1986) · The Educational Forum · doi:10.1080/00131728609335764 · Cited by 13,872
(1999) · Cited by 12,812
The Role of Consciousness in Second Language Learning1
SCHMIDT, R. W. (1990) · Applied Linguistics · doi:10.1093/applin/11.2.129 · Cited by 5,435 · cited 2×
“Although, as noted (section 1), ‘mainstream’ SLA has shown remarkably little interest in the ways learners’ own languages might positively influence new language learning, there are clear links between Cummins’ discussion (2007) of the way teachers might draw learners’ attention to the similarities and differences bet…”
BackgroundPrinciples and Practice in Second Language Acquisition
Higgs, T. V., & Krashen, S. D. (1983) · Modern Language Journal · doi:10.2307/328293 · Cited by 5,375
Sociocultural Theory and Second Language Learning
Lantolf, J. P. (2013) · Cited by 3,852
Fishman, J. A., & Phillipson, R. (1993) · Modern Language Journal · doi:10.2307/329140 · Cited by 3,735
3. English as a Global Language
Pinner, R. S. (2016) · Multilingual Matters eBooks · doi:10.21832/9781783095681-004 · Cited by 3,344
Research works printed but not linked: 24
- House, 2009, Translation
- Deller, 2002, Using the mother tongue
- Cohen, Language learning psychology: Research, theory, and pedagogy
- Burden, 2000, The use of the students’ mother tongue in monolingual English ‘conversation’ classes at Japanese universities, The Language Teacher, 24, 1
- Fabrício, 2006, (Re)locating TESOL in an age of empire, 65
- Davies, 1995, Principle and practice in applied linguistics, 145
- Duff, 1989, Translation: A resource book for teachers
- Cook, 2008, Second language learning and language teaching
- Behan, 1997, The proficiency gap in late immersion (extended French): Language use in collaborative tasks, Le journal de l'immersion, 20, 41
- Adendorff, 1996, Voices from the classroom: Qualitative research in second language learning, 388
- Nasrin, 2005, A justification for using a grammar-translation method in ELT classrooms in Bangladesh: 39th Annual IATEFL Conference
- Turnbull M. & Dailey-O'Cain J. (2009). Concluding reflections: Moving forward. In Turnbull M. & Dailey-O'Cain J. (eds.), 182–207.
- Soars, 1986, Headway intermediate.
- 10.1093/eltj/44.2.97 · DOI
- Malmkjær, 1998, Translation and language teaching: Language teaching and translation
- Mattioli, 2004, On native language intrusions and making do with words: Linguistically homogeneous classrooms and native language use, English Teaching Forum, 42, 20
- 10.3138/cmlr.62.1.161 · DOI
- Nagy K. & Robertson D. (2009). Target language use in English classes in Hungarian language schools. In Turnbull M. & Dailey-O'Cain J. (eds.), 66–86.
- Graddol, 2006, English next
- Stiefel L. (2009). Translation as a means to intercultural communicative competence. In Witte A. , Harden T. & Ramos de Oliveira Harden A. (eds.), 99–118.
- MacDonald, 1993, Using the target language
- ICRJ. International CLIL Research Journal (2008) onwards). University of Jyväskylä, Finland. www.icrj.eu/
- van Lier, 2000, Socio-cultural theory and second language learning, 245
- Lado, 1957, Linguistics across cultures: Applied linguistics for teachers
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 401–465 of 465
Pham, A. T. V. (2023) · International Conference on Frontiers of Educational Technologies (ICFET) · doi:10.1145/3606150.3606154
Purnama, M. W., & Sartini, N. W. (2023) · Journal of Pragmatics Research · doi:10.18326/jopr.v5i2.220-244
Izzah, N., & Wulandari, S. R. (2023) · Tell Teaching of English Language and Literature Journal · doi:10.30651/tell.v11i2.18763
Cuenat, M. E. (2014) · BzL - Beiträge zur Lehrerinnen- und Lehrerbildung · doi:10.36950/bzl.32.3.2014.9601
Song, H., & Wang, Y. (2023) · Journal of Language Identity & Education · doi:10.1080/15348458.2023.2274862
Scheffler, P., Wach, A., Horverak, M. O., Chen, Y.-M., & Eik, M. (2023) · Acta Didactica Norden · doi:10.5617/adno.9957
Mendoza, A., Ou, J., Rajendram, S., & Coombs, A. (2023) · Educational Linguistics · doi:10.1515/eduling-2023-0019
Al-Daoud, D. M., & Bataineh, R. F. (2023) · Lublin Studies in Modern Languages and Literature · doi:10.17951/lsmll.2023.47.3.81-91
Medpredmetno povezovanje in pouk jezikov
Oštir, A. L., & Jazbec, S. (2024) · doi:10.18690/um.ff.1.2024
TRA_ Visual and embodied learning in young children’s art education
Kangas, J., Sundstedt, M., Kaihovirta, H., & Harju‐Luukkainen, H. (2024) · Nordisk barnehageforskning · doi:10.23865/nbf.v21.368
Mester 52 - Digital Version (PDF)
Vázquez, C. G. (2024) · Mester · doi:10.5070/m352163199
L1's Role in ISLA: A Case Study on Principled L1 Use in Belgium's Beginner Classrooms
Leclercq, M., Dubois, F. E. E., & Moreau, S. (2023) · Research Studies in English Language Teaching and Learning · doi:10.62583/rseltl.v1i5.27
Shaping ideologies at the micro level: Stylization in EMI
Mendoza, A. (2024) · International Journal of Bilingualism · doi:10.1177/13670069241236691
Translation and Own-Language Use in Language Teaching: Key Arguments and Challenges
Skopečková, E. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-54541-2_3
Translation and Own-Language Use in Language Teaching: The Origins of the Monolingual Conquest
Skopečková, E. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-54541-2_2
Introduction: Translation and Own-Language Use in Language Teaching: The Quest for Optimal Practice
Skopečková, E. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-54541-2_1
Hà, P. L., & Bao, D. (2024) · Global Vietnam · doi:10.1007/978-981-99-9093-1_14
Equitable Material Development for Multilingual Education
Guzmán, A., Yalikun, F., & Wong, K. M. (2024) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781405198431.wbeal0748.pub2
Hall, G. S. (2024) · The TESOL Encyclopedia of English Language Teaching · doi:10.1002/9781118784235.eelt0933.pub2
Self-citationPractical Guidelines for Implementing Translation into the EFL Classroom
Belhadia, A. (2024) · Journal of languages & translation. · doi:10.70204/jlt.v4i2.364
English Diphthongs Pronunciation Errors Found in North Bali Bilingual School’s 5th Grade Students
Sari, P. K., Indrawati, N. L. K. M., & Aryawibawa, I. N. (2024) · Sintaksis Publikasi Para ahli Bahasa dan Sastra Inggris · doi:10.61132/sintaksis.v2i5.1004
Almansour, N. (2024) · Journal of Language Teaching and Research · doi:10.17507/jltr.1505.26
Pre-service EFL Teachers’ Experiences of Translation Studies before and after a Translation Course
Canlı, B., & SARIGÜL, S. (2024) · EKEV Akademi Dergisi · doi:10.17753/sosekev.1476079
Language Awareness and Language Use: An Investigation of Chinese Secondary EFL Teachers
Shi, M., & Hou, Y. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-97-4038-3_4
(2018) · Pragmatics & beyond. New series · doi:10.1075/pbns.295.prelim
(2018) · Pragmatics & beyond. New series · doi:10.1075/pbns.295.ack
Notations used in the transcripts
(2018) · Pragmatics & beyond. New series · doi:10.1075/pbns.295.glossary
(2018) · Pragmatics & beyond. New series · doi:10.1075/pbns.295.toc
(2018) · Pragmatics & beyond. New series · doi:10.1075/pbns.295.ai
(2018) · Pragmatics & beyond. New series · doi:10.1075/pbns.295.refs
(2018) · Pragmatics & beyond. New series · doi:10.1075/pbns.295.si
Bertone, C., Franceschini, M., & Giuliano, B. (2024) · doi:10.30687/978-88-6969-827-9/007
Own-Language Use in Language Teaching
Hall, G. S. (2024) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-95504-1.00289-1
Self-citation(2018) · Mediterranean Language Review · doi:10.13173/mlr.25.1.053
Language Teacher Nativeness/Nonnativeness
Llurda, E., & Calvet-Terré, J. (2024) · Springer international handbooks of education · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-43208-8_5-1 · Cited by 1
Facciani, C., & Carbonara, V. (2025) · English language education · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-82139-4_4
Shishmolina, E. P. (2023) · Moscow Pedagogical Journal · doi:10.18384/2949-4974-2023-3-70-83
Becoming an English Teacher With a Multilingual Repertoire
Song, S. (2025) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/979-8-3693-8094-9.ch011
Cheng, A. (2025) · Chinese Journal of Applied Linguistics · doi:10.1515/cjal-2025-0205
Translanguaging in Higher Education: An Overview of Current Status in Nepal
Ranjit, R. (2024) · United Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies · doi:10.3126/ujis.v1i1.80297
Approaches to Bilingual Programmes in EFL Contexts
Dikilitaş, K., Yüzlü, M. Y., Öztüfekçi, A., & Mumford, S. D. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-94858-9_3
Alsalami, A. I. (2025) · Saudi Journal of Language Studies · doi:10.1108/sjls-02-2025-0015
Valuing multilingualism: teachers’ beliefs and practices in England, France and Norway
Fohr-Prigent, E., Vold, E. T., & Haukås, Å. (2025) · Language Learning Journal · doi:10.1080/09571736.2025.2549117
Neokleous, G., & Natlandsmyr, K. V. (2025) · Frontiers in Education · doi:10.3389/feduc.2025.1632543
Learning new collocations: The effects of grouping and language of instruction
Breslaw, R., & Laufer, B. (2025) · System · doi:10.1016/j.system.2025.103873 · Cited by 3
An, S., & Zhang, W. (2026) · Education Sciences · doi:10.3390/educsci16040516
Makinda, S. M., & Turner, M. (2026) · Critical African Studies · doi:10.1080/21681392.2026.2648531 · Cited by 1
Bader, M., Halverson, S. L., & Möller-Omrani, C. (2026) · TESOL Quarterly · doi:10.1002/tesq.70146
Debreli, E. (2026) · Linguistics and Education · doi:10.1016/j.linged.2026.101545
Chaturvedi, V. (2026) · Dibon Journal of Languages · doi:10.64169/djl.243
The use of L1 in learning the Ser-Estar distinction in Spanish as a third language
AYDIN, F. S., & Yalçın, Ş. (2026) · International Journal of Multilingualism · doi:10.1080/14790718.2026.2699187
Zhang, M., & Brown, A. (2026) · Language Teaching Research · doi:10.1177/13621688261455050
THE ROLE OF TRANSLATION IN TEACHING THE GERMAN LANGUAGE (SITUATION IN ALBANIA)
Spaho, E., & Sejdini, M. (2026) · PALIMPSEST/ ПАЛИМПСЕСТ · doi:10.46763/palim261121245sh
Leveraging English as an Intermediary for Teaching German in a Multilingual Classroom
BİLGİNER, H., & Rathert, S. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-33278-3_3
Toward a theory of (trans)bordering in language education
Xiao, G. (2026) · Critical Inquiry in Language Studies · doi:10.1080/15427587.2026.2721296
Sun, H. (2026) · The Reading Teacher · doi:10.1002/trtr.70101
Chen, S. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.7472779
From Global Competence to Plurilingual Assessment: A Pilot Study
Caimons, J. M. C. (2026) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/978-1-80686-855-120261008
Fernández, M. C., & Contreras-Falcones, A. (2026) · Frontiers in Education · doi:10.3389/feduc.2026.1957577
Using First Language by University Students of English for Specific Purposes: Practices and Views
Dahmash, N. F. B. (2026) · SAGE Open · doi:10.1177/21582440261498660
Strategic First Language Use in EFL Across Proficiency Levels: Teacher and Student Perspectives
Geçkinli, F. (2026) · Kuramsal Eğitimbilim · doi:10.30831/akukeg.1880687
Olszak, I. (2026) · International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism · doi:10.1080/13670050.2026.2754745
Metadata
- Authors
- Hall, G., & Cook, G.
- Affiliations
- Northumbria University (GB)
- King's College London (GB)
- Venue
- Language Teaching
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2012-06-15
- Volume
- 45
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 271-308
- ISSN
- 0261-4448 (ISSN-L)
- 1475-3049
- OpenAlex
- W2164873736
- Cited by
- 466
- References
- 256
- Citations by year
- 2026: 20 · 2025: 31 · 2024: 42 · 2023: 49 · 2022: 38 · 2021: 38 · 2020: 47 · 2019: 49 · 2018: 51 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 31 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 100.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Language Teaching (publishedVersion)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning
- Social Sciences › Linguistics and Language › Multilingual Education and Policy
- Social Sciences › Linguistics and Language › Second Language Learning and Teaching
- Keywords
- second language acquisition, language classroom, psycholinguistic approach, cognitive approach, sociocultural approach, teacher attitudes, student attitudes, English language teaching
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review