Influence of Bangla competence of indigenous students in EFL classrooms of Chittagong hill tracts

Abstract

This research explores how the lack of competency in Bangla becomes a barrier to acquire English for indigenous students in Chittagong Hill Tracts. The researcher conducted the study on randomly selected 102 indigenous students and 13 teachers of EFL class at the primary level in Chittagong Hill Tracts. The questionnaire consists of multiple choice question and open ended questions have been employed for responds. A mixed method of analysis has been applied by the researcher which shows that the indigenous students who have their own mother tongue are learning English through Bangla which happens to be the second language to the indigenous students. Bangla is playing a vital role for comprehensible input in the process of learning English. The research shows the lack of competency in Bengali hinders their English learning.