Seeking Gender Differences in Code-Switching by Male and Female Medical College Students in a Saudi EFL Class

Abstract

The aim of this research was to determine the types of code-switching when used by male and female students during their interactions in the English classes. This research was conducted at Jazan University in Saudi Arabia. This is a mix of quantitative and qualitative research. For data collection, observation, recordings and transcriptions were used in order. Based on the data analysis, both genders used the three types of code switching as classified by Poplack (1980) during their interactions in the EFL classroom. Based on the analysis, the total frequencies of code-switching types are 408 by male students and 428 times by females. The results will help in language teaching education and will help teachers during their in-service training to code switch in a way that gives the students more motivation and understanding to participate in the class. Moreover, the findings of this study will show the commonly used types of code switching and their frequencies in EFL classes in Saudi Arabia by each gender. Moreover, the gender differences in code-switching will be investigated in different classrooms - according to their gender – not in mixed classes.