Investigating Teachers’ Use of Code-Switching for Low-Proficiency Students in ESL Language Classrooms: From the Lens of the Students

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the low-proficiency students’ perceptions towards the use of code-switching in ESL language classrooms. 65 low-proficiency students from SMK Seksyen 7 in Shah Alam, Selangor participated in this study. This study employs a quantitative research design. The data were collected through the 24-item adapted questionnaire. Then, the frequency analysis via IBM SPSS Statistics Version 26 was performed to examine the students’ responses. The finding revealed that the practice of code-switching is widely used by teachers to explain the meaning of words to their students, while students had positively viewed the use of code-switching in ESL learning where code-switching was believed to be a beneficial tool during the lessons. Therefore, the finding may be useful to enlighten policymakers, teachers, and researchers on the issues that are related to the use of code-switching in ESL classrooms.