Investigating How and Why University Students Code Switch in Foreign Language Setting

Abstract

This research explores the different degrees of interference of code switching between the Arabic and the English language used by Ahfad University students. It is assumed that the native language of Ahfad University students is Arabic but is infiltrated by English which the students learn as a second language and use in their communication with one another in class. The method of the research used is the Descriptive Method. An observation check list was designed and also a structured interview. The researcher used the observation check list to observe students while they were communicating with one another inside the classroom, and she also observed the teachers. Structured interviews were used to get the teachers’ observations. Drawing on code switching theories, studies of code switching and sociolinguistics, including psycholinguistics, the researcher took the plight of an observer to highlight the interference between English and Arabic in Ahfad university for the students taking pre- ssessional courses. The researcher found that students code switch excessively to Arabic inside the classroom. The researcher made some recommendations relating to distinguishing clearly between code switching, code mixing and code shifting and suggested some areas for further research on the subject.