Instructors’ ideas on the use of code-switching in EFL in Turkey: A case study

Abstract

Code switching is a very common phenomenon in EFL language classrooms. The goal of this case study is to find out the possible reasons why EFL instructors employ code switching in ELT classes in Turkey. To achieve this, a brief questionnaire composed of the most common seven reasons mentioned in the relevant literature on code switching in language classrooms was compiled by the researcher and administered to ten EFL teachers working at different state universities in Turkey. The participants were asked to rank order the reasons from the most ideal to the least ideal purpose of employing code switching in classrooms for themselves and were later asked to write the reasons for their choices. It was found that “leaving no confusion about the topic” was the most common reason for the participants and the teachers who prioritized that reason seemed to have similar ideas about employing code switching in EFL. Discussion of the results and implications for future research are presented.

Keywords: Code switching, language teaching, ideas about code switching, foreign language instructors