JR-ELT (Journal of Research in English Language Teaching)
Vol. 10 No. 1 (2026): Journal of Research in English Language Teaching (Process)

THE ANALYSIS OF EFL TEACHERS' CODE-SWITCHING STRATEGIES IN CLASSROOM INTERACTION

Enika Iskirana Tarigan (Universitas Jambi, Muaro Jambi, Jambi, Indonesia)
Nyimas Triyana Safitri (Universitas Jambi, Muaro Jambi, Jambi, Indonesia)
Melati (Universitas Jambi, Muaro Jambi, Jambi, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
20 Jul 2026

Abstract

Code-switching between English and Indonesian is a common phenomenon in EFL classrooms, yet it is often viewed by novice teachers as a sign of weakness rather than a deliberate pedagogical strategy. Previous studies have generally examined teachers' and students' perceptions of code-switching in isolation, without comparing whether students' understanding actually matches teachers' pedagogical intentions. This research aimed to analyze the types of code-switching used by an EFL teacher in classroom interaction and to investigate the teacher's and students' perceptions toward its use. Using a qualitative descriptive design, data were collected through classroom observations and semi-structured interviews with one English teacher and five students at a senior high school in Jambi, and were analyzed using an established classification of code-switching. The findings showed that the teacher employed two types of code-switching, namely inter-sentential and intra-sentential switching, with inter-sentential switching used most frequently to facilitate comprehension, clarify instructions, and explain vocabulary. The teacher held consistently positive perceptions of code-switching, and most students shared this view, reporting improved comprehension, vocabulary learning, and confidence. However, some students felt that excessive code-switching, particularly the use of regional languages, reduced their opportunities to practice English, revealing a partial divergence between the teacher's intentions and students' experience. These findings suggest that EFL teachers should use code-switching purposefully rather than habitually.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jrelt

Publisher

Subject

Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

JR-ELT (Journal of Research in English Language Teaching), (e-ISSN: 25491806) is a peer-reviewed journal on English Language Teaching. This journal is published by the English Education Department, Faculty of Education and Teacher Training, Universitas Islam Negeri Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi. ...