International Journal of Language and Linguistics

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“I’m a Learner, I’m Dominantly a Learner”: A Case Study of Code-Switching of an EFL University Teacher Outside Classrooms

Received: 10 December 2015    Accepted: 21 December 2015    Published: 08 January 2016
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Abstract

Reported here is part of a bigger study to investigate the code-switching behavior among the foreign language teaching professionals. This study is informed by the Markedness Model and identity-in- Interaction approach with its focus on the social and discourse motivations of code-switching. An ethnographic design is used to collect instances of code-switching of a university EFL teacher outside his classrooms. The findings suggest the code-switching behavior is an important site of their professional identity construction. Large chunks of switching to English in daily communications with peers are used as a strategy for sustained professional development. The positive attitude to code switching shows the high status of the English language and the profession of EFL in China. In the global context, the frequent code-switching to English in an academic setting in Beijing can be seen as an indication of the hegemonic position of the English language in the world academic discourse.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijll.20150306.31
Published in International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 3, Issue 6, November 2015)
Page(s) 466-473
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Code-Switching, EFL, Language Identity, Language Teacher Education, Acculturation

References
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Author Information
  • School of Foreign Languages and Literature, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China

  • International Relations and Recruitment, University of Alberta International, Alberta, Canada

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  • APA Style

    Xiaofang Qian, Wei Liu. (2016). “I’m a Learner, I’m Dominantly a Learner”: A Case Study of Code-Switching of an EFL University Teacher Outside Classrooms. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 3(6), 466-473. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20150306.31

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    Xiaofang Qian; Wei Liu. “I’m a Learner, I’m Dominantly a Learner”: A Case Study of Code-Switching of an EFL University Teacher Outside Classrooms. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2016, 3(6), 466-473. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20150306.31

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    Xiaofang Qian, Wei Liu. “I’m a Learner, I’m Dominantly a Learner”: A Case Study of Code-Switching of an EFL University Teacher Outside Classrooms. Int J Lang Linguist. 2016;3(6):466-473. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20150306.31

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijll.20150306.31,
      author = {Xiaofang Qian and Wei Liu},
      title = {“I’m a Learner, I’m Dominantly a Learner”: A Case Study of Code-Switching of an EFL University Teacher Outside Classrooms},
      journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
      volume = {3},
      number = {6},
      pages = {466-473},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20150306.31},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20150306.31},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20150306.31},
      abstract = {Reported here is part of a bigger study to investigate the code-switching behavior among the foreign language teaching professionals. This study is informed by the Markedness Model and identity-in- Interaction approach with its focus on the social and discourse motivations of code-switching. An ethnographic design is used to collect instances of code-switching of a university EFL teacher outside his classrooms. The findings suggest the code-switching behavior is an important site of their professional identity construction. Large chunks of switching to English in daily communications with peers are used as a strategy for sustained professional development. The positive attitude to code switching shows the high status of the English language and the profession of EFL in China. In the global context, the frequent code-switching to English in an academic setting in Beijing can be seen as an indication of the hegemonic position of the English language in the world academic discourse.},
     year = {2016}
    }
    

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    AB  - Reported here is part of a bigger study to investigate the code-switching behavior among the foreign language teaching professionals. This study is informed by the Markedness Model and identity-in- Interaction approach with its focus on the social and discourse motivations of code-switching. An ethnographic design is used to collect instances of code-switching of a university EFL teacher outside his classrooms. The findings suggest the code-switching behavior is an important site of their professional identity construction. Large chunks of switching to English in daily communications with peers are used as a strategy for sustained professional development. The positive attitude to code switching shows the high status of the English language and the profession of EFL in China. In the global context, the frequent code-switching to English in an academic setting in Beijing can be seen as an indication of the hegemonic position of the English language in the world academic discourse.
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