Communicative Reasons of code-switching in ESL classroom: Perception of Visayan speaker in focus

Abstract

This qualitative research aimed to investigate the various reasons of code-switching experienced by Gen-Z learners in English as a Second Language (ESL) Classroom. The primarily focused on Grade 10 students of one secondary school in Davao del Norte being native speakers of Cebuanong-Binasaya. Various reasons of code-switching were explored through data triangulation such as observations, in-depth interviews and focused-group discussions. Data revealed that Gen-Z learners, as native Visayan speakers, code switch from target language to their native language due to lack of language facility, lack of register competence, mood being the speaker, habitual expressions, to amplify or emphasize a point, fear of criticism, to show identity with a group, to address different audience and to direct reported quote or speech. Participants tend to code-switch or insert Cebuano or Tagalog language within a word, phrase, clause or sentence specially in emphasizing a point or inability to find an English equivalence to the term or expression they wanted to express emphatically. ESL teachers should take the occurrence of code-switching as avenue to improve the communicative competence of non-native speakers of English.