Code-switching in English Language Education: Voices from Vietnam

Nhan Trong Nguyen; Peter R Grainger; Michael D Carey

doi:10.17507/tpls.0607.01

Back

Code-switching in English Language Education: Voices from Vietnam

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Code-switching in English Language Education: Voices from Vietnam

Nhan Trong Nguyen, Peter R Grainger and Michael D Carey

Theory and Practice in Language Studies, Vol.6(7), pp.1333-1340

2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.0607.01

Files and links (2)

pdf

PDF - Published Version685.36 kBDownload View

Published VersionPDF - Published Version Open Access

url

https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.0607.01View

Published Version

Abstract

Language Studies

Curriculum and Pedagogy

Specialist Studies in Education

Vietnamese

language education

classroom code-switching

English

pedagogic functions

bilingual

Why do bilingual language teachers and students switch between the two languages in their language classrooms? On the evidence of current research findings in relation to English-Vietnamese code-switching in the educational contexts of Vietnam, this article identifies that classroom code-switching between the second language and the first language has its own pedagogic functions and it can be a valuable language classroom resource to both teachers and learners. In Vietnam, the implementation of the monolingual approach of teaching English-through-English-only faces many challenges such as inadequate classroom resources, students' low levels of English competence, motivation and autonomy, teachers' limited English abilities, and inappropriate teaching methods. Many Vietnamese teachers of English support code-switching in the classroom and they teach English through the bilingual approach. English-Vietnamese code-switching is reported not to be a restriction on the acquisition of English; rather, it can facilitate the teaching and learning of general English in Vietnam. This practice of code-switching is not just due to a lack of sufficient proficiency to maintain a conversation in English; rather, it serves a number of pedagogic functions such as explaining new words and grammatical rules, giving feedback, checking comprehension, making comparison between English and Vietnamese, establishing good rapport between teachers and students, creating a friendly classroom atmosphere and supporting group dynamics.

Details

Title: Code-switching in English Language Education: Voices from Vietnam
Authors: Nhan Trong Nguyen (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Peter R Grainger (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Michael D Carey (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Publication details: Theory and Practice in Language Studies, Vol.6(7), pp.1333-1340
Publisher: Academy Publication Co., Ltd
Date published: 2016
DOI: 10.17507/tpls.0607.01
ISSN: 1799-2591
Organisation Unit: School of Education - Legacy; Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre; School of Education and Tertiary Access; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Engage Research Lab
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449451602621
Output Type: Journal article

Metrics

822 File views/ downloads

2279 Record Views