A Sociolinguistics Perspective of Code-Switching Between Arabic and English: Causes and Attitudes Among EFL Learners

Abstract

It has been noted that code-switching remains an underexplored area within higher education institutions in the Libyan context, prompting the researcher to undertake this study. The purpose of this current research is to investigate the students’ attitudes towards the acceptance of code-switching. A questionnaire survey was distributed in order to examine students’ attitudes as well as the causes for code-switching. An interview was also administered for students to enrich the results of the study. Data was collected from participants who studied in the English department at the University of Derna. 40 students participated in the study, with respect to their gender, there are 15 males and 25 females. Findings of the study Code-switching can be affirmed as one of the encouraging and effective approaches in education, fostering better understanding and engagement in the learning process. Therefore, code switching was found to be an effective approach used by the students in an academic context.