Code switching in a Bilingual L2 Context: a Panacea for Competence and Performance

Nigeria, ID LLCE2015-110

Acquiring a second language has been discovered to be a very difficult task because L2 learners in most cases never achieve native-like competence in the L2. The task becomes even difficult when learning takes place in a L2 context and the teacher is mono-lingual native speaker. This study examined the teaching and learning of a L2 in a bilingual context where the bilingual teacher employs code-switching as a method of teaching. It was discovered that the method allowed a free flow of information between teacher and learner which ultimately increased the level of competence and performance of such learners. This study further confirms that bilingual L2 teachers have the tendency to teach L2 better in a L2 context.

Key words: second language, bilingual, code-switching, monolingual