Investigating Factors Determining Code-Switching Amongst University Tutors of Preparatory Year English Language Programme

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the factors determining code- switching (changing from a language to another in the same utterance) to Arabic in EFL classroom at the university level. Basically, the researcher focused on English language tutors at the preparatory year programme in six colleges in Sudan University of Science and Technology (SUST) and Omdurman Islamic University (OIU).To investigate this phenomenon, the researcher used the descriptive analytical method. Two main tools were used to collect data: a questionnaire for tutors and an observation check- list. 40 tutors and 194 students at preparatory year English programme in six different colleges were involved in this study. Data were calculated and analysed quantitatively and qualitatively to identify thefactors and reasons behind code switching. The findings of this study revealed that using Arabic by tutors might be for some pedagogical reasons such as: for expanding the interaction in the classroom, encouraging students to communicate English in a better way, managing classroom, giving instructions and other educational reasons. On the other hand, the study recommended that EFL teachers should be cautious when using Arabic and shouldn’t make it the dominant language in EFL classes. These results are expected to contribute in formulating a strategy of organized and reasonable use of Arabic in EFL classrooms after being aware of the factors and reasons behind the phenomenon of code-switching.