An Analysis of Teacher's Code-switching in a Chinese Vocational High School EFL Classroom

In an EFL context with limited amount of exposure to target language, English classroom is often characterised by teacher’s switch from L1 to target language and vice verse, especially for low-proficiency learners. The functions of English teachers’ classroom code-switching and their consciousness level are worth exploration. With audio-recorded classroom discourse at a vocational high school, teacher’s code-switching was analysed from the perspectives of transmitting knowledge, classroom management and interpersonal relations. The immediate structured interview indicated that the teacher failed to be aware of language choices.Proper use of code-switching helps learners’ understanding, while overuse of L1 impedes English acquisition otherwise.