ERIC Number: EJ1087282
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Jan
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0951-0893
EISSN: N/A
Switching Codes in the Plurilingual Classroom
Corcoll López, Cristina; González-Davies, Maria
ELT Journal, v70 n1 p67-77 Jan 2016
The English as a foreign language classroom is a plurilingual setting par excellence since it involves at least two languages. However, plurilingual practices such as code-switching and translation have been consistently discouraged in formal learning contexts, based on the belief that keeping languages compartmentalized helps learning, and allowing the simultaneous presence of two (or more) languages favours interference (negative transfer), a lack of learner interest in using the foreign language(s), or a reduction in foreign language exposure. Two specific plurilingual learning strategies will be described here. Pedagogically Based Code-switching and Translation for Other Learning Contexts are means to advance communicative development through language in action (noticing, understanding, using, and monitoring), based chiefly on the notions of "translanguaging" and "multi-competence". We present a rationale for an informed use of code-switching and translation along with tasks that can be easily included in the foreign language syllabus, and reference is made to ongoing research to identify further connections between the two classroom strategies.
Descriptors: Code Switching (Language), Multilingualism, Classroom Environment, Classroom Techniques, English, English (Second Language), Learning Strategies, Translation, Task Analysis, Educational Practices, Teaching Methods
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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