Teachers’ Code-Switching to the L1 in EFL Classroom

Abstract

Based on the previous research and practice, the present paper conducts an investigation in three Chinese uni- versities to find out the general situation of the switching to Chinese and attempts to test the positive role of the use of Chinese in the EFL classroom of Chinese universities. This case study focuses on revealing the attitudes of teachers and students towards the patterns, functions, factors and influence of the switching to Chinese in the EFL classroom of Chi- nese universities.The study integrates the qualitative and quantitative research methods to analyze teachers’ code- switching to Chinese through the teachers and students’ questionnaires and classroom recordings. Based on the analysis of the data, this study concludes that the switching to L1 is prevalent in the EFL classrooms of some Chinese universities and that it plays a positive role in the process of teaching and learning of English language.