Learners' attitudes towards the use of L1 in English classes: A sample of Salahaddin University

Two main opposing approaches exist regarding the impact of first-language (L1) use in the teaching and learning of English as a foreign language (EFL): the monolingual and bilingual approaches. Some linguists assume that students' L1 should be banished from their English classes, whereas others assert that it facilitates the process of learning a target language (TL). The purpose of this study was to investigate learners' attitudes towards L1 use in their English classes, both by the students themselves and by their teachers. The current study also determined which factors caused the learners to switch from the TL to their L1. This study was conducted at Salahaddin University, Erbil, at the end of the first semester of the 2016-2017 academic year. It employed a mixed-method approach of data collection and analysis. Two hundred and fifty-eight EFL learners of both genders participated in the quantitative data collection, which consisted of a two-part: Learners' Attitudes towards L1 Use Questionnaire (LATL1UQ) later analyzed via SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). The qualitative data were collected via face-to-face Semi Structured Interviews (SSI) conducted with eight EFL learners, and content analysis was subsequently employed for its analysis. The findings revealed that participants had a slightly positive attitude towards the use of their L1 in the facilitation of their TL learning. By referring to current theories of TL acquisition and reviewing recent literature, it can be inferred that learners' L1 has a necessary and facilitating role in acquiring a foreign language. Keywords: EFL learning, the use of L1, the use of the target language, learners' views and opinions.