Functions of Foreign Language Classroom Code Switching in Teachers’ Speech

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to identify under what circumstances FL teachers use code switching in speech and what communicative intentions are expressed in this phenomenon. The findings of the analysis showed that the functions of code switching in the FL teachers’ speech are caused by the need to both regulate the educational process and manage pedagogical activities, and maintain interpersonal skills. An analysis of the communicative functions of the FL classroom code switching can lead to awareness and revision of their own didactic techniques and contribute to the further discussion of the need for greater use of the foreign language in the classroom in various situations. For the successful practice of FL teaching, lecturers should take into consideration what and what age category they are teaching at the moment, as well as the students’ foreign language proficiency level.