Overall Statement:

In this study, Al Zamil 2019 investigates "The Effects of the Use of First Language on Learning English as a Second Language: Attitudes of Arabic EFL Learners". The study was conducted among "149 male Saudi university English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners studying in a Saudi English department" (Al Zamil 2019). He cites previous relevant studies that have been conducted and finally draws our attention to the lack of research about what students think of using Arabic in the English classroom. The results of his study show that students preferred to use English rather than Arabic, speaking English is more beneficial for them to learn English, and Arabic should not be used by teachers except for crucial matters. These answer the three main research questions that the author had. For the differences in results compared to other ‘Saudi-based studies’, the author mentions that because the students in this study majored in English. Therefore, he also points out to the importance of ‘educational background’ which should be taken into consideration.

Overall Strengths:

The title covers all the key information about the focus of the study, therefore, its relevant and informative. The background provides sufficient and clear information. The paper was published in 2019 and there are references from the year 2014, 2016, and 2018, which means that it contains recent information for the paper to successfully fill the research gap. There is logical progression of previous knowledge about the topic that leads to the main research question. The three main research questions are stated and the objective is clear. There is no diversion in the aim of the study throughout the paper. The survey questions are feasible, easy to read and understand, the format is clear, and are intended to find answers for the main research questions. The tables are clearly labelled with descriptive titles and there is no use of abbreviations. The items of questionnaires are listed and participants’ replies are given by the number of students and also in percentages. The results section provides answers to the main research questions and the information is not repetitive. The sample size is clear. Also, there is only data presentation and the author is careful about not interpreting in the results section. There are also statements by the author to show which findings were supported by references, and when compared, why these findings were different in some ways from other studies that were cited. The aim of the study is clearly answered in the conclusion section. Overall, this research study is easy to understand and apply, and it could have important contributions for the vast amount of research studies conducted in this area.

Major Points:

1. The fact that this study is done among male learners only is not mentioned as a limitation anywhere in the article since the presence of female learners in this study could have altered the result and therefore, it is worth mentioning to draw attention to such limitation.

2. In the discussion or conclusion there isn’t clear statement of recommendation for future work.

Minor Points:

1. There is a minor issue to point out such as the comma used and the space between the volume and issue number (ex. 5, (2)) which is not seen as a part of APA citation format.

2. There is no referral to Table 2, Table 3, and Table 4, which I expected to see for the first time they were mentioned in the text. There is only referral to Table 1, which is in the first sentence of the results section.

3. Also, some figures such as graphs could have been added to draw attention to some main research findings instead of listing them all in tables or maybe only key findings could have been given in tables.