The widespread belief until the last two or three decades was students’ maximum exposure to
the foreign language but recently there has been growing interest in the use of L1 in ESL
classes. Although some theories (Krashen, 1985) claim that foreign language learning can be
achieved in a learning environment where the target language is spoken, a considerable
amount of attention has been given to the use of L1 in L2 learning and teaching. If the use of L1
will promote language learning and will lead to efficiency, it should not be neglected, as Cook
(2001, p. 402) puts forward, “open a door that has been firmly shut in language teaching for
over 100 years”