Understanding Local and International Students’ Perspectives on Local-English Code-Switching in EMI Classrooms
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In the context of higher education (HE) internationalization, English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) plays a crucial role in academic and interactive communication, often intersecting with local languages. This enables greater flexibility in language use and code-switching (CS) between English and the local language. While previous research on English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) has predominantly examined the perspectives of local stakeholders, the views of international students have been largely underexplored. To bridge this gap, this study investigates the perceptions of both local and international students regarding CS practices within EMI courses across specific classroom situations. The findings reveal that both groups support the conditional use of the local language to promote comprehension while ensuring inclusivity. Local students demonstrate a broader acceptance of CS compared to their international counterparts, particularly in relation to academic outcomes such as understanding instruction and assessment. In contrast, international students show greater receptiveness to CS during interactive classroom discussions, which reflects their attitudes toward engaging with local peers. These insights contribute to the development of more nuanced EMI policies and deepen our understanding of language dynamics in HE contexts where English is not the native language.
II. Theoretical Background
1. Code-Switching in English as a Medium of Instruction
2. Local Teachers and Students’ Perspectives toward CS in EMI
3. International Students’ Perspectives toward CS in EMI
III. Research Method
1. Participants
2. Materials
3. Procedure
IV. Results
V. Discussion
VI. Conclusion
References