Code-switching and Language-mixing among the AFL students of Chennai: Influence of Mother Tongue on the Use of Arabic as the Second Language
Article Sidebar
-
Mixing, AFL, Arabic Language, Tamil Language, Second Language
Abstract
Issues surrounding the use of foreign languages and mother tongues (code-switching) in language classrooms have garnered significant research interest. This study explores the factors driving code-switching among students and teachers during various phases of interaction in an Arabic as a Foreign Language (AFL) classroom. The investigation focuses on mother tongue interference and its impact on learning Arabic as a second language at The New College, Chennai, India. Identifying these challenges is essential to address the needs of students striving to master Arabic effectively. Using a quantitative survey method, the study analyses written examination scripts from high-performing, average, and low-performing students. The tests assess grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and punctuation. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, with tools like Microsoft Excel and SPSS used to calculate the percentage and frequency of language errors. The findings revealed four major error types: grammar (49%), spelling (24.4%), sentence structure (22.2%), and punctuation (4.4%). These results underline how interference from the Tamil mother tongue influences students' Arabic learning.
The study highlights the need for tailored instructional strategies to address language errors stemming from native-language interference. By understanding the specific areas where students struggle, educators can better facilitate their language acquisition. The research underscores the importance of considering the linguistic background of learners in second language instruction and offers recommendations to enhance teaching methodologies, ultimately improving students’ proficiency in Arabic.
Full text article
References
Albelihi, H. H. M., & Al-Ahdal, A. (2024). Overcoming error fossilization in academic writing: Strategies for Saudi EFL learners to move beyond the plateau. Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education, 9(1), 75. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40862-024-00303-y
Almelhes, S. (2024). Enhancing Arabic Language Acquisition: Effective Strategies for Addressing Non-Native Learners’ Challenges. Education Sciences, 14(10), 1116. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14101116
Beatty-Martínez, A. L., Navarro-Torres, C. A., & Dussias, P. E. (2020). Codeswitching: A Bilingual Toolkit for Opportunistic Speech Planning. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1699. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01699
Derakhshan, A., & Karimi, E. (2015). The Interference of First Language and Second Language Acquisition. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 5(10), 2112. https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.0510.19
Dwivedi, Y. K., Hughes, L., Baabdullah, A. M., Ribeiro-Navarrete, S., Giannakis, M., Al-Debei, M. M., Dennehy, D., Metri, B., Buhalis, D., Cheung, C. M. K., Conboy, K., Doyle, R., Dubey, R., Dutot, V., Felix, R., Goyal, D. P., Gustafsson, A., Hinsch, C., Jebabli, I., … Wamba, S. F. (2022). Metaverse beyond the hype: Multidisciplinary perspectives on emerging challenges, opportunities, and agenda for research, practice and policy. International Journal of Information Management, 66, 102542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2022.102542
Graham, C., & Post, B. (2018). Second language acquisition of intonation: Peak alignment in American English. Journal of Phonetics, 66, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wocn.2017.08.002
Hamidah, N., Haris, A., & Mauludiyah, L. (2023). The Impact of Using Digital Books as A Media in Online Arabic Learning. Izdihar : Journal of Arabic Language Teaching, Linguistics, and Literature, 5(3). https://doi.org/10.22219/jiz.v5i3.23620
Haq, S. (2023). Pembelajaran Bahasa Arab di Era Digital: Problematika dan Solusi dalam Pengembangan Media. MUKADIMAH: Jurnal Pendidikan, Sejarah, Dan Ilmu-Ilmu Sosial, 7(1), 211–222. https://doi.org/10.30743/mkd.v7i1.6937
Hemberg, J., & Sved, E. (2021). The significance of communication and care in one’s mother tongue: Patients’ views. Nordic Journal of Nursing Research, 41(1), 42–53. https://doi.org/10.1177/2057158519877794
Igarashi, T., Maulana, S., & Suryadarma, D. (2024). Mother tongue-based education in a diverse society and the acquisition of foundational skills: Evidence from the Philippines. Labour Economics, 91, 102641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2024.102641
Jeffrey Kihob, A., & Hj. Mahali, S. N. (2020). Kerancuan Bahasa Dalam Karangan Murid Sekolah Menengah Di Daerah Tuaran, Sabah: Mixed Language in Essay of Secondary Students in Tuaran District, Sabah. MANU Jurnal Pusat Penataran Ilmu Dan Bahasa (PPIB), 97. https://doi.org/10.51200/manu.vi.2633
Lodge, J. M., Kennedy, G., Lockyer, L., Arguel, A., & Pachman, M. (2018). Understanding Difficulties and Resulting Confusion in Learning: An Integrative Review. Frontiers in Education, 3, 49. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2018.00049
Lorenz, E., Krulatz, A., & Torgersen, E. N. (2021). Embracing linguistic and cultural diversity in multilingual EAL classrooms: The impact of professional development on teacher beliefs and practice. Teaching and Teacher Education, 105, 103428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2021.103428
Özçelik, Ö. (2018). Universal Grammar and second language phonology: Full Transfer / Prevalent Access in the L2 Acquisition of Turkish “Stress” by English and French Speakers. Language Acquisition, 25(3), 231–267. https://doi.org/10.1080/10489223.2017.1293672
Pratama, P. A. (2022). Code Switching and Code Mixing in English Language Learning during Online Learning in Covid-19 Outbreak. Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris Undiksha, 10(1), 53–59. https://doi.org/10.23887/jpbi.v10i2.44772
Qasserras, L. (2023). Systematic Review of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) in Language Education: A Balanced Perspective. European Journal of Education and Pedagogy, 4(6), 17–23. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejedu.2023.4.6.763
Ritonga, M., Mudinillah, A., Ardinal, E., Tauhid, T., & Nurdianto, T. (2024). Enhancing Arabic Language Learning in Higher Education: Leveraging E-Campus as an Online Learning and Evaluation Platform. Jurnal Ilmiah Peuradeun, 12(2), 491. https://doi.org/10.26811/peuradeun.v12i2.1103
Šifrar Kalan, M., Muñoz-Basols, J., Robles-García, P., Strawbridge, T., & Sánchez-Gutiérrez, C. (2024). The impact of multilingualism and proficiency on L2 vocabulary knowledge: Contrasting high and low multilinguals. International Journal of Multilingualism, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/14790718.2024.2314626
Sitorus, G. S., & Sipayung, K. (2018). An Error Analysis of Using Phrases in Writing Recount Text at Tenth Grade in SMA Parulian 2 Medan. Celt: A Journal of Culture, English Language Teaching & Literature, 18(1), 74. https://doi.org/10.24167/celt.v18i1.562
Zhao, P., Hassan, A., & Burhanuddin, N. A. N. (2024). A systematic review of factors influencing English language competency for ethnic minority students: An ecological systems theory perspective. Cogent Education, 11(1), 2415730. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2024.2415730
Authors
Copyright (c) 2025 JOURNAL OF DIGITAL LEARNING AND DISTANCE EDUCATION
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
<a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"><img alt="Creative Commons License" style="border-width:0" src="https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by/4.0/88x31.png" /></a><br />This work is licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License</a>.