Code Switching and the Classroom Teacher. Language in Education [electronic resource] : Theory and Practice, No. 4 / Guadalupe Valdes-Fallis.
The purpose of this paper is to provide classroom teachers with background information about code switching and its role and function within a bilingual community. The many facets of code switching and its varying characteristics are described in some detail, as well as code switching in the classro...
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| Format: | Electronic eBook |
| Language: | English |
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| Summary: | The purpose of this paper is to provide classroom teachers with background information about code switching and its role and function within a bilingual community. The many facets of code switching and its varying characteristics are described in some detail, as well as code switching in the classroom and the importance of the teacher's attitude toward this linguistic process. Code switching has been found to be neither random nor meaningless, nor does it necessarily reflect language weakness. Rather, code switching is a device that conveys social information (concerning, for example, role relationships) or that is used as a stylistic process (e.g., to add color or emphasis to an utterance). Code switching also seems to be rule-governed, with mastery of the structure of both languages a prerequisite. Code switching will not usually take place in the monolingual English classroom. In the bilingual Spanish/English classroom, it has been found that (1) code switching takes place primarily during Spanish instruction; (2) students seem to follow a teacher's switching pattern; and (3) Spanish is used essentially to teach the lesson, while English is used for classroom control. The implications for bilingual education are varied and complex. Policies concerning language use in bilingual schools must reflect the goals of the bilingual program. Until such goals are established, teachers should accept code switching as universal and creative verbal behavior among bilinguals. (AM) |
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| Item Description: | ERIC Document Number: ED153506. Availability: Center for Applied Linguistics, 1611 N. Kent Street, Arlington, Virginia 22209 ($2.95). Sponsoring Agency: National Inst. of Education (DHEW), Washington, DC. |
| Physical Description: | 31 p. |