Abstract:
The main purpose of this study was to assess the students’ reason and uses of mother tongue in English speaking lesson. To achieve this purpose, 40 grade nine students were selected by using random sampling technique and 3 English language teachers of Chara Gudina secondary school were selected as participant of the study by using purposive sampling technique. Besides, questionnaire, interview and classroom observation were used to collect data from the selected participants of the study. The selected data was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The quantitative data analysed with in descriptive, and percentage.descriptive research design is used in this study. From the analysis of the data, different findings were obtained. These are: students use MT to express difficult concept, to ask and answer in English speaking lesson, and they believe that fear of making mistakes enforce them to use MT in English speaking lesson. Additionally lack of English vocabulary enforces them to use MT. And students almost use MT in English speaking lesson. Based on the findings of data analysis, the following conclusion are made: the majority of the students reported that they believe that they actually use their mother tongue in English speaking lesson and they said they understand much better if mother tongue is used in English class. Additionally, they reported that, they can express difficult concepts or ides when they use Afan oromo in English speaking lesson and they can express their feeling or ides that they cannot express in English. Besides, students were reported that personality factor such as fear of making mistakes in force them to use their mother tongue in English class. And students reported that they use almost MT in English speaking lesson. The researcher would like to recommend the following: It was pointed that teachers should have their own strategy to minimize student’s use of mother tongue in English speaking lesson, Students should use English instead of mother tongue to make a given task for them effectively. And the school administration office and other concerned bodies should contribute their effort to minimize the use of mother tongue in English class.
