Percepciones de los estudiantes de la L.E.B.E.I. respecto al uso de la L1 dentro de las clases de inglés como lengua extranjera: Un estudio de caso en la Universidad Distrital

Abstract

This study reports the results of a qualitative case study research that examined the role of the L1 within the English classes at the L.E.B.E.I. program, as well as the students´ perceptions regarding this issue. This study involves three groups of students (in basic, intermediate and advanced levels) from the L.E.B.E.I. program at Distrital University in Bogotá, Colombia. The data gathered included field notes, observation sheets, surveys, and participants’ focus group discussions. The findings show that the L1 plays an unavoidable role to the L.E.B.E.I. students within their English learning process, even at higher levels, nevertheless the negative way in which L1 is perceived by the students and also unconsciously overused have reduced the possibilities of being employed as a strategic tool. Consequently, there is a need to guide the students on strategies that assist them in reducing the overuse of L1 while employing it as a complementary means in their English learning process.