Evaluating the Efficacy of Code-Switching as a Strategy for Enhancing ESL Instruction

Abstract

In this study I aim to evaluate the effectiveness of code-switching (CS) as a strategy to enhance teaching English as a second language and the usefulness of CS in enhancing students’ language acquisition, comprehension, and communication skills. The study sample included 52 English language teachers at Technical and Vocational Training Corporation in different colleges. I use a mixed-methods approach, which is a content analysis method of collecting data on the use of CS, as well as a questionnaire to collect information from English teachers about their experiences with CS in enhancing language acquisition, comprehension, and communication skills. The results showed that teachers believe that CS is a useful strategy in the ESL classroom. Moreover, there was a difference in the levels of CS in the classroom, which could be attributed to differences in teachers’ educational experiences, the level of the students' language acquisition they were teaching, and their teaching styles. The percentage of CS ranged from 13.5% to 25.7%, which indicates different degrees of reliance on CS as a communication tool.