The importance of mother tongue in teaching a foreign language in primary school

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to consider the main methods and forms of work of using the native language in the process of teaching English at primary school. In the conditions of modern school, it is necessary to pay special attention to the principle of taking into account the native language in teaching a foreign language and, perhaps, look at this problem in a new way. It is described the problem of the influence of the native language on the study of a foreign language. Author shows the difficulties in teaching a foreign language while using the native language as the reliance on the mother tongue. The methodological principles using in teaching a foreign language for solving the problem of language interference are noted. The use of the native language should be conscious and purposeful and be limited to a certain number of situations where it not only does not interfere, but also contributes to the optimization of the educational process. In the article the author proves the expediency of using mother tongue in English lessons, referring to the opinions of authoritative scientists and operating with his practical experience. The native language is an assistant teacher in teaching a new (foreign) language, but as students master a foreign language, the proportion of the native language decreases, and foreign – increases. Using learners ' native language to create a developing language environment should always be strictly limited and justified. Only in this case, the native language can become an effective means of learning, contributing to, and not preventing the acquisition of a foreign language.