Major l1 interference issues with the productive and receptive skills for Saudi EFL learners

Abstract

There are tremendous efforts presently to make the English language as the lingua franca in many Arabic speaking countries especially in the Gulf (Zughoul, 2003). However, the acquisition of the TL (Target Language) is not easy for Arab students, due to the huge differences between the L1 and L2 (Noor, 1996; Al-Bouq, 1988). The role of the mother tongue has an integral part in the SLA (Second Language Acquisition) (Stern, 1992). This study focuses on both; the productive and the receptive skills (Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening) to show how L1 interference enters the Saudi L2 learners’ classroom and the effects it has on L2 acquisition. As L1 interference or language transfer (Gass & Selinker, 1983) is a significant topic in applied linguistics and TESOL and has played a major role in SLA (Stern, 1992 and Ellis, 1985). From the result of the interview, all the participants had agreed that L1 interference is affecting the acquisition of the TL.