ENGLISH STUDIES AT NBU, cilt.8, sa.2, ss.271-288, 2022 (ESCI)
This study aimed to explore the views of pre-service teachers (freshman students) at English Language
Teaching program at a state university in Turkey towards the use of L1 (mother tongue) in English as a
Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms while also investigating their actual use of L1 during an extracurricular
teaching event. It also aims to find out if there is a relationship between participants’ educational
background in language learning, their views towards use of L1 and their actual use of L1. This study
employed a qualitative approach by collecting data through semi-structured interviews and these
interviews were supported with field notes taken by the researcher. The findings showed that ELT students
mostly favored the use of L2 (target language) in the classroom and stated that it must be used as much as
possible; however, some participants also stated that L1 could be used depending on the proficiency of
students. The analysis of the interviews showed that there was no relationship between the participants’
actual use of L1 and their educational background for the participants. Finally, the study suggests some
implications towards the ELT curriculum in line with the findings.