The effects of using Arabic (L1)‎ in English classes (L2)‎ on students’ performance in exams at the university of Jordan

الملخص EN

This paper examines the accumulative grades of adult native Arabic-speaking students in their mandatory, university-level, English classes.

Using the quantitative descriptive method, the study aims at exploring the effect of using the students' L1 in their L2 classes on passing the course compared to using English (L2) exclusively.

Also, it examines whether or not the use of L1 can help students achieve a higher grade-average in their exams which were provided by the English language specialists teaching these courses at the university.

The study's findings would empower FL teachers to employ more effective approaches in their university-level L2 classes in order to help their students not only pass their foreign language classes, but also get better grades.

The findings of this study were very revealing as they have indicated that contrary to the common belief that using the students' L1 in L2 classes will diminish the students' learning experience, the use of L1 could actually increase the students' grades especially in advanced levels.

However, the research findings also reveal that students in beginner levels at the university benefited more from the exclusive use of L2 in their classes and has in fact helped them achieve higher grades.