Teachers’ code switching in Indonesian EFL classrooms
List of Authors
  • Universitas Negeri Medan

Keyword
  • code switching, EFL classrooms, Indonesian teacher

Abstract
  • Code switching becomes a natural phenomenon in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms. Since English (L2) is not used as a second language in Indonesia, the students have less proficiency in both receptive and productive skills. Thus, code switching is extensively used by the teachers to drive meaningful learning. To identify code switching types used by the teachers, to analyze the dominant language used by the teachers, and to analyze the functions of code switching in EFL classrooms, a descriptive qualitative research is carried out. Four English teachers in SMA Negeri 1 Tanjungbalai, North Sumatera, Indonesia, are observed and video recorded when teaching L2 and are interviewed after teaching L2. The findings reveal that intra- sentential switching is used 35 times, inter- sentential switching is used 183 times, and emblematic switching is used 19 times. Among all code switching types, inter- sentential switching is widely used by the teachers when teaching L2. Moreover, it is found that the proportion of L1 and L2 uttered by the teachers in EFL classrooms is equal. Two of the teachers use L1 as the dominant language and two of them use L2 as the dominant language. Finally, code switching in EFL classrooms, in this case is in Indonesia, is practiced to explain grammar, manage the class, facilitate comprehension, translate unknown words, clarify the important teaching points, give instructions, and show emotive or affective expressions.

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