CARRERA: LICENCIATURA EN EDUCACION Y ENSEÑANZA DE LENGUAS

EXTRANJERAS
MATERIA: SOCIOLINGÜISTICA
PRODUCTO: THE USE OF CODE-SWITCHING BY THE TEACHER IN A LANGUAGE
CLASSROOM
MAESTRA: DIANA LAURA RAYGOZA GUZMAN
ALUMNA: MAYRA JUDITH MACÍAS VILLANUEVA
ID: E00000349141
Introduction:

Code switching is a particular characteristic of bilinguals and language learners. It has

been approached by many investigators, and in general terms It refers to “situations in
which bilingual people alternate between languages, either between or within utterance”
Greer, 2007, p. 28). Li maintains that code switching is by no means a deficiency in either
of the languages involved; it is simply a mere characteristic feature of bilinguals (as cited
in Boztepe, 2002, p.2.)
In this reflection, we will see the point of view of a teacher who gives daily classes to a
group of 5th grade elementary school students, as well as the other point of view of a
foreign language teaching student.
The use of code-switching by the teacher in a language classroom

Questionnaire for teachers

1. Which percentage (approx.) do you speak English in classes? I think 80%
2. Which percentage (approx.) do you speak Spanish in classes? Maybe, 20%
3. In which language do you explain grammatical items to students? Why? In
english, because I work with 5th grade primary school students, who take English
classes every day for at least 3 hours.
4. In which language do you give the instructions? Why? In English and if there is a
question that they can´t understand, I give examples in English, if they can´t
understand at all, then I will explain it to them in Spanish.
5. How much do you think your students understand when explaining in English?
Very much, it is unlikely that there will be cuestions.
6. In which situations do you decide to use Spanish? Why? Do you think that this is
effective? When there are a lot of questions and I can´t find the way to explain
the item or when I identify some student which can´t understand. It is effective
now because the doubt is clarified.
7. In which situations do you decide to use English? Why? Do you think that this is
effective?
Most of the time, because that makes the students work harder to try to
understand.
8. Do you use English or Spanish when answering doubts? Why? As I mentioned
before, I try to clarify doubts in English, if they can't understand, then I use
Spanish.
9. Do you think that the excessive use of Spanish in classes can be something
prejudicial for your student’s learning? Why? Yes, I do. Because then they don't
have to make an effort to understand English.
10. What do you think would be the benefits of giving the class in English? They can
turn on their English switch and think only in that language. Besides that, they
can get more vocabulary to make and undestand sentences.
11. Taking into account the level, in which language do you think that they learn
more? In this level, in English, because they can practice the language to their
own limits.
Questionnaire for students
1. Do you think that learning a second language is useful? Why? Yes, because
knowing another language allows you to develop your potential and put your
brain to work more, besides, it opens many doors in the professional aspect.
2. What do you think is the best way to learn? Practicing and speaking it as long as
possible.
3. What percentage of the class do you think your teacher speaks in Spanish? 30 %
4. In which language does the teacher explain something? What about the
instructions? In English, both.
5. When does the teacher speak in English during the class? All the time.
6. When does the teacher speak in Spanish during the class? Only for empathizing
something.
7. Do you think you learn more when the teacher conducts the class in Spanish or
English? Why? In English, because I learn more vocabulary.
8. Do you think that excessive use of Spanish by your teacher is detrimental to your
learning? Why? Yes, first because everything in excess es bad, and second,
because I as a student don't make the effort to try to understand.
9. In which cases or for what reasons do you believe the teacher should speak in
Spanish? Why? To emphasize a confusing item or for made instructions.
Reflection
Code switching is a dynamic linguistic behavior that reflects the fluency and adaptability
of the language. It is not a sign of incompetence or confusion, but rather a strategic tool
used by bilinguals to navigate different social and cultural contexts.
Code switching allows people to express nuances and emotions that may not be easily
conveyed in a single language. It also helps us to emphasize an instruction or issue we
want to make clear. This increases the depth and authenticity of communication.
It depends a lot on the level at which the classes are being taught, considering that the
higher the level, the less Spanish should be used, since it is taken for granted that at
higher levels, there is more vocabulary and therefore the information is clearer. I believe
that the excessive use of code-switching causes students to make a minimal effort to
understand things, since it makes everything easier for them, so it is particularly
important to know how and when to use it.
Code switching is an excellent tool, and knowing how to use it, you can be extremely
helpful in the classroom. I particularly believe that it should be used only as a support
tool, in which we can verify if the information is clear or if we need to emphasize a topic
or clarify a doubt. It is important to know that if we know how to use it, we can also
implement it in our daily life and in the professional field. There are diverse ways to use
code switching, it can be just to clarify a word, to make a whole statement or just a word
in a statement or sentence. It's indispensable to try to find a similar word to use it as
little as possible, if there is no other alternative then we can use it without guilt.
Nowadays instead of using obsolete teaching methods such as the grammatical
translation method, we can use a student-centered way of learning in which the
interaction of the teacher with the student is a much more effective means of learning,
knowing their level and their emotions can be a better way to understand how they
learn, what their weaknesses and strengths are, to know what we should emphasize
more as teachers.
Conclusion
Code switching is a natural and adaptive linguistic behavior that allows bilingual
individuals to navigate different social contexts, express their cultural identity, and
enhance communication. It is not a sign of confusion or incompetence, but rather a
powerful tool that reflects the complexity and versatility of language. By embracing code
switching, we can foster inclusivity, preserve cultural heritage, and enrich our
understanding of language and communication.

LLT Journal: A Journal on Language and Language Teaching http://e-journal.usd.ac.id/index.php/LLT

Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Educational Policy Analysis and Strategic Research, V16, N4, 2021

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