Browsing by Author "Garner, Lee"

This MA thesis investigates teacher language policies in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms in Finland. As one of the variables of historical approaches to teaching, language of instruction has had significant impact on theories of language learning. These approaches and theories have in turn affected current classroom language policies. The use of L1 (the community language; Finnish) in teaching contrasts with a trend towards English-only EFL classrooms. Such language policies are relevant because they are thought to influence language learning in the classroom. To investigate these issues, this thesis sets out to answer the following research questions: (1) What language policies do teachers report using in Finnish EFL classrooms? (2) How do teachers justify their language policies? (3) In what ways, if any, do teachers report breaking these policies? To explore their subtle and multifaceted perspectives, 5 teachers from a Finnish secondary school were interviewed. Semi-structured interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed through grounded theory in order to draw conclusions about their language choices, justifications and the perceived learning effects. Findings illustrate that personal values, background influences and language learning intuitions justify an English- only approach, although teachers may still resort to L1 to ensure student understanding. Wide-ranging teaching objectives and classroom realities, however, lead to codeswitching as well as planned L1 use – for both teacher and student. Although the teachers described a transition towards reduced L1 use as students advance in age and language level, the requirements of curricula (including general and ethical objectives), the traditions of language teaching, student motivation and differentiation, as well as the role of L1 in textbooks and testing, all require the continued role of L1 in Finnish EFL classrooms. This thesis concludes that a strictly English-only lower or upper secondary school EFL classroom is unattainable.