Innovation in Language Learning

Code switching is defined as” going from one language to another in mid speech when both speakers know the same two languages” (Cook 1991, p. 63).
Code switching received interest as a specific phenomenon in foreign language teaching in 1980s, and since then there has been a heated debate on whether switching back and forth between languages, helps or hinders the student learning.  (Jingxia 2010; Cahyani et al. 2016).
The direct method of teaching which has been used since the 19th century emphasises that only the target language should be used (Naik 2013).  Supporters of this method say that the students do not need to understand every thing that is said in the classroom, and that teaching exclusively in the target language exposes the learners to the new language functions, while using the first language deprives the learners of a valuable time, and argue that some students, may stop paying attention when the target language is used ( F. Chambers,1991; Halliwell & Jones, 1991; Macdonald, 1993 cited in Jingxia 2010, p.11).
Researchers who advocate code switching argue that the students use of their native language allows them to express what they really want to say, and is the learners preferred strategy (Cook 1991). Studies showed that code switching can have useful functions in the classroom, such as management, and transmission of lesson content (Canagarajah 1995) and plays a role in reducing students’ anxiety and lack of self confidence (Bilgin and Rahimi 2013). Stern et al reported that many students felt that failure to understand in taught language medium is caused by inadequate explanation, and argued that students relate their understanding of target language to the understanding and experiences they acquired in their native language (Stern et al 1992) which implicates that code switching may help student’s understanding of target language, and in orienting themselves in the new medium.
My aim is to discuss the good use of code switching in foreign language classroom drawing on the literature and my own teaching experience as well as highlighting some problomatic isssues which may associate this use.

Keywords: Code-switching, foreign language, the use of L1, teaching strategies;