How would you like to be thrown into a pool without knowing how to swim?

Well, that’s what beginner English students feel when thrown into the classroom and are expected to know exactly what the teacher is saying. The teacher often speaks in English without giving instruction in the students first language. Eventually, the teacher hopes to teach the students by providing the language in its natural form.

But they are downright confused and feel like they now must climb Mount Everest, metaphorically speaking.

While it is necessary to constantly hear the language in use, there is something to be said about explaining concepts in the student’s native language.

Teachers should apply the technique called codeswitching, or the use of switching between two languages. It is a proven method in enhancing the process of learning English as a second language. By knowing a few concepts about a student’s home language, the teacher can improve their learning process in four different ways:

1. Increases Language Acquisition

By explaining instructions or concepts in a native language, students are able to be certain in what the teacher is asking them to do. Instead of a student turning to their partner, hoping that he or she understood what was said, students build confidence in their actions in the classroom by retaining a deeper understanding of a second language. Additionally, code switching also serves to establish patterns between languages, giving students the tools necessary to identify differences. For example, if teaching Spanish students, you could write on the board: “The blue house” and “La casa azul”. By doing so, they can infer that adjectives go before nouns in English, versus going after in Spanish.  

2. Builds Upon Existing Knowledge to Create New Knowledge

A teacher is building upon existing knowledge when introducing new material by comparing the languages. When a student incorrectly uses the English language in a homework assignment or test, it is not considered an error, but simply the student incorrectly identifying and implementing the patterns taught. For example, if a student writes, “The house blue”, they are not following the pattern. Building upon students’ existing knowledge of their grammatical patterns, to add new knowledge of standardized English, empowers them to make better grammatical choices.

3. Shows Respect for Your Students’ Native Language

There is often shame associated with languages that are not as seen as “elite” as English. For example, in India universities and government jobs require fluency in English. Wealthy individuals send their children to English private schools, whereas the vast majority send theirs to schools that speak the native language. In addition, medicine bottles and marriage certificates are written in English, furthering the notion that English is superior and that one’s fluency in English is a direct correlation to their wealth[1]. By applying this other language’s concepts in the classroom, it decreases the probability of the students feeling shameful from using their native language to ask a clarifying question, or draw conclusions in the English language.

4. Prevents Confusion & Discouragement

The goal of beginner learners is to build a foundation of the English language. But how is that possible without understanding a single word of English? Instead of feeling confused or overwhelmed, teachers can explain new concepts in their native language, so that the students are able to comprehend the concepts communicated. The goal is to inspire students and continue their language acquisition, not make them feel overwhelmed with the process.

So, how does one build an environment with code-switching implemented in the classroom? One way is to make a chart of common mistakes seen in student’s writing and speaking, then explain how English is different from their native-tongue in these instances. Expressly stated, write the different languages in different colors on the board, or on a printed chart. See what happens.

https://www.englishwithjen.com/single-post/This-Technique-Will-Unlock-a-Students-Learning-Potential