Code Switching As A Key For Students To Participate More in Classroom Discussions

CODE SWITCHING AS A KEY FOR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE MORE IN
CLASSROOM DISCUSSIONS
In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Course Language, Culture, and Society
Submitted by:
JHESSA MAY M. CANUEL

BSED English (SEDEE)
Submitted to:
SALVACION SANTANDER
Language, Culture, and Society Professor
October 22, 2018

Code Switching as a Key for Students to Participate More in Classroom
Discussions
There are two main things that are involved for code switching to take place in a
conversation. One thing is the code. Code is defined as the particular dialect or
language one chooses to use on any given occasion and the communication system
used between two or more parties (Wardhaugh, p. 98). Another is a person’s
multilingualism. Multilingualism is the use of two or more languages by an individual
speaker or a group or community of speakers.
In addition to this, code switching is defined as the use of more than one
language, style, and variety by a speaker within a conversation or discourse depending
on a social context or setting (www.owlcation.com). Multilinguals, individuals who are
knowledgeable and speak more than one language often code switch when in a
discourse.
In a classroom setting with a lot of students coming from different places and
origins speaking more than one language, code switching is very rampant. Students
may code switch every now and then. They may code switch for a lot of reasons and
motivations depending on a conversational setting or discourse happening within the
classroom during lectures or discussions. However, as a future educator and mentor,
should code switching be allowed inside the classroom especially in deepening and
discussing of the lessons with the participation of the students?
In my perspective, as a future educator and mentor, I will allow my students to
shift from one language to another but I will set limit to it. I will only allow my students to
use both Tagalog and English in class discussions for the reason that Tagalog is our
national language and English is considered as the universal language because of the
number of speakers using English language.
There are a lot of reasons why bilingual and multilingual persons do code
switching. Also, in a classroom setting, students that are bilingual and multilingual often
may do code switching for a lot of reasons. These potential reasons will be discussed
below.
People often do code switching to feel more comfortable and be more expressive
when discussing about a topic. This same goes for students who speak two or more
languages. Students may code switch to feel at ease discussing a topic in their own
respective classrooms. When talking about a topic, they may code switch for the reason
that some topics may require vocabulary that are not present in just one language. For
example, the topic discussed in the classroom is about superstitious beliefs and a
certain student thought about reciting about usog, a superstitious belief that is often
shared to him by his grandparents and the old folks. Since the Filipino word usog do not
have a direct English translation, if that student will not code switch, he will not be able
to express his ideas while the discussion is on-going. Nevertheless, if code switching is
permitted during class discussions, students will be less burdened when reciting.
People want to fit in. Very often, students code switch to talk and act like those
around them, to be like them, to feel that they belong to the group or to feel that they are
immersed in the topic being discussed by the teacher. When it’s time for the students to
share their ideas, it will be effective if they convey it through a language that they are
more comfortable and this results to code switching.
There are times that people code switch to make themselves better understood
or to ask someone to clarify things for them. Students often have queries or concerns to
their teacher about their lesson or the activities in the lesson and so students have a big
tendency to use the language that they are more comfortable or the language that he or
she can effectively communicate with the one he or she is asking.
Students may also use code switching to avoid expressing the wrong idea in one
language so they tend to transfer their intended meaning in their message to another
language. This controls the conflict on the meanings of the messages they express.
Code switching in this aspect may vary according to a student’s need, intentions or their
purposes.
Code switching can be used to express certain emotions and attitudes. For
students, they may code switch if they feel strongly about a certain topic. For example,
when students are being asked about their opinions and stand on sensitive topics like
extra judicial killings and politics, some students may express disapproval, anger and
even sadness on the topics. Expressing such emotions, students may use the language
they are more attached like their first language or their mother tongue than using the
language that is commonly used inside the classroom.
There will be instances that students will need to persuade the audience they are
talking to with their message or speech. Code switching on purpose will attract
attention. Once the students have captured the attention of the audience, he or she then
can proceed in persuading the audience. When a student at the same time as the
speaker, using code switching in persuasion will reflect their social identity and will give
the speaker more credibility. In addition to this, code switching in persuasion will give
them more capability in reaching their goal in persuading their audience through their
speech.
Code switching is not simply shifting from one language to another or using 2
languages when conversing. Code switching is an integral part for people especially for
students in expressing their ideas, emotions, attitudes, and in speaking up during class
discussions thus increasing the student’s participation in the classroom. It is necessary
for when students participate more in the class, the more they will internalize the
lessons and that will give them more chances for the retention of the lessons in them.
Code switching is not a disadvantage but it will pave the way for speakers and students
in gaining advantages in expressing and delivering messages.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Book
Wardhaugh, R. (2010). An Introduction to Sociolinguistics (6th Ed.). United
Kingdom: Wiley – Blackwell
Website
Code Switching. n.d. Retrieved October 20, 2018 from
http://owlcation.com/humanities/Code-Switching-Definition-Types-and-Examples-
of-Code-Switching

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CODE SWITCHING AS A KEY FOR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE MORE IN

JHESSA MAY M. CANUEL

October 22, 2018

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