Bangla in English Classes in Bangladesh: A Study of Learners' Attitudes. (November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Islam, Md. Sadequle; Rahman, Mamunur
• Is Part Of: South Asia research. Volume 39:Number 3(2019)Supplement
• Page Start: 1S
• Page End: 12S
• Publication Date: 2019-11
• Subjects: Bangla -- Bangladesh -- education -- English -- language teaching; South Asia -- Periodicals; 954.0072
• DOI: 10.1177/0262728019872052
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0262-7280

Abstract

In South Asia, the use of students' first language while studying English as a second or further language remains a matter of considerable interest and contention. This topic deserves further attention by teachers and researchers in efforts to make the educational and learning experience in often multilingual contexts as productive as possible. This short article addresses the ongoing debates in Bangladesh around the use of the Bangla language while teaching English classes at higher secondary (HSC) level. Presently, Bangla is generally discouraged on pedagogical grounds in the teaching and learning of English. This ethnographic study investigates the attitudes of Bangladeshi HSC level students towards the use of Bangla in English classes. The results indicate positive attitudes among the students towards using Bangla in the learning of English and suggest the necessity of revising the official negative approach.