Code switching in ESL classrooms: a study of adult Arabic learners

Abstract

This small scale study investigated adult Arabic students' use of code switching (CS) in four university second language classrooms in Western Australia. Arabic students' attitudes towards CS were also explored using interviews and questionnaires. An analysis of the data found that the use of CS is indeed present in the second language classroom and that Arabic learners CS for pedagogical, communicative and social purposes. The data also revealed that most students showed strong support for CS because of the positive impact they believe it has on their language learning.