Code Switching as a Language Resource among Facebook Users: Case oF EFL Students at University of Ain Temouchent

Abstract

Algeria was a perfect illustration of the existence of several languages and dialects including: Algerian Arabic,Standard Arabic, Berber, French.and English language due to colonization or an educational system that led tocode switching.Code-switching was studied mainly in connection with bilingualism as a communicative strategy where bilingual speakers tend to switch in the same sentence or clause.This study discussed code switching as a language resource among facebook users : case oF EFL students at university of Ain Temouchent.The purpose of the research was to discuss the patterns of CS while chating in facebook and what are the reasons that drive students to code-switch between two languages mainly Arabic and English.Therefore ,in order to investigate this phenomenon,the methodology comprised both qualitative and quantitative methods to describe and analyze data collected through two research tools, a questionnaire and observation.Sixty students were chosen as the sample of the M2 English students to be tested.The examination of these study instruments revealed that most EFL learners shifted between Arabic and English during a discussion for a variety of reasons such as to avoid misunderstanding.