Day In, Day Out

The debate on the use of L1 in L2 lessons has been going on since forever. Different scholars come out with different theories and hypotheses yet no one theory or hypothesis has become the most significant. After all, it all depends on the teaching context. The use of L1 has always been a contentious issue. Teachers have choices whether to: ban L1; minimise L1; or maximise L2. Again, it all depends on the context the teachers are in. It is best to also mention that even so, teachers who resort to the L1, despite their best intentions, often feel guilty for straying from L2 path (Cook, 2001). However now, let's not talk about teacher's use of L1.  Let's look at student's use of L1 in L2 lessons.  Should we ban the use of L1 among students in L2 lessons? If not, why are there a lot of suggestions given to cut or limit the use of L1 in L2 lessons? I remember when I once made it a rule that students should only talk to me...

More people should have the courage to speak their mind out so that other people could learn and understand them better. Many love to keep things to themselves because it is pleasurable and because it is safer , and because speaking out may open up chances for people to criticise and to hurt .  Silence has never killed anybody but silence too has never healed anybody.  People need to speak out. Speaking out could be threatening, tiring, emotionally draining, yet most of the time, it is the only way out of the tensed situations we are inflicted on. Speaking out may take a lot of strengths but staying in silence could cause harm.  When at work, learn to say NO. When at home, share what and how we feel. When in public, vocalize our thoughts. When with partners, pour out your heart. When with friends, let them know. When with an enemy, make them listen. Stop assuming things.  "They should have known the pile of work I'm working on." "T...