The Effect of Code-Switching between English and Urdu on Teaching and Learning at University Level: A Case of GCUH

Abstract

The term code-switching means shifting from one code (language/dialect) to another at the same time. The prime goal of the current research study is to investigate the role of code-switching from English to Urdu in undergraduate classrooms according to teachers’ and students’ perspectives. The main objective of the current study is to analyse code-switching and its types used by teachers at Government College University Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan. The study also investigates the reasons of code-switching and the effect of code-switching on teaching and learning at GCUH. The study focuses only on code-switching within two languages (English and Urdu). The qualitative method is followed to conduct this research. The data have been collected from both teachers and students teaching and learning at Government College University Hyderabad. The participants include from ten departments of the university. The unstructured interviews have been conducted to know the views of participants. The theory of ‘Markedness’ by Myers Scotten (2002) is considered as theoretical framework to analyze the collected data from participants. The findings of this research show that code-switching from English to Urdu in undergraduate classrooms has a positive effect on both teaching and learning. The teachers use this strategy for the sake of their students’ understanding in different concepts related to subject. It creates interactive environment of class. The overall results show that code-switching by teachers in classrooms promote good communicative atmosphere of class and also help teachers in their teaching strategy.