Influence of the Mother Tongue on English Language Teaching in First-Year Students of the Technical Degree in Tourism Management and Development with Learning Deficiencies

Abstract

During the study, it was identified that students showed deficiencies in learning English during their first classes. This was determined through a series of activities in which skills such as reading comprehension, grammar, and pronunciation were evaluated. It is important to note that all activities were conducted in English.

After analyzing the results, it was found that students had limited comprehension. Therefore, methods, strategies, and English language techniques applicable to the mother tongue were identified to help improve students' performance in each of the exercises. A large percentage of students improved their comprehension and performance when the teacher explained each detail using the mother tongue; however, this was not entirely effective, since only a small percentage of students achieved satisfactory grades according to the expected standards.

For this reason, it is important to assess the level of English proficiency that students have acquired before entering higher education. It is concerning to identify weaknesses in their comprehension, analysis, and pronunciation even when the exercises are explained in their mother tongue, which demonstrates a very low level of English proficiency.