CODE-SWITCHING IN LANGUAGE TEACHING: FUNCTIONS AND PERCEPTIONS

Back to Page Authors: Daniela Alexandra Moreno Calderon, Diana Milena Sabogal Contreras, Lidsay Daniela Ortiz Briceño

---

Keywords: code-switching, functions, attitudes, EFL classrooms

---

Abstract: Code-switching (CS) is a natural phenomenon that takes place in bilingual contexts and involves the switching between two languages. One of the contexts where CS happens most commonly is in EFL classrooms. In this sense, the purpose of this research is to identify the functions of students’ CS as well as to determine professors’ attitudes towards it in an ELT program of a public university in Colombia. Students of the program although having a high level of spoken English proficiency still decide to use CS in the classroom. A qualitative research design was used in this study. To this end, 4 classes with 40 students in total and 5 professors were selected. The instruments used were 12 class observations and 5 interviews. The findings of this study revealed that students of the ELT program used CS for seven different functions and the professors’ attitudes and opinions were distinct from each other displaying both positive and negative perspectives.

---