Resumen de Functions of Teacher and Student Code-Switching in an EFL Classroom and Pedagogical Focus: Observations and Implications
Code-switching (CS), the alternation between two or more languages within a stretchof language, is accepted as a valuable strategy of bilinguals in making linguistic choicesfor communicative purposes. Following different perspectives, CS can be understoodeither as an attempt to communicate meanings at the macro level (such as identity,solidarity etc.), or to convey intended meaning to the listener within the boundaries ofconversational interaction at the micro level. Accepted as a strategy of speakers inbilingual communities, CS in foreign language learning settings is still a contentiousmatter. However, its potential has been emphasized in recent studies. This small-scalestudy examines teacher and student CS occurrences in an EFL lesson at a Turkish stateuniversity. CS occurrences were transcribed and sample extracts were analyzedthrough conversational analysis. The results show that teachers and learners apply CSto generate access to language or as a tool in classroom management. This study alsoreveals that CS can be a learner strategy to avoid L2 when lesson content is of littlerelevance to learners. In such cases CS cannot fulfil its potential as a means indiscourse strategy, and language learning is unlikely to be facilitated.
