Instances of Romanian-English Code-Switching in English-Medium Instruction Settings: A Case Study
Instances of Romanian-English Code-Switching in English-Medium Instruction Settings: A Case Study

Summary/Abstract: This article investigates code-switching instances in English-Medium Instruction (EMI) settings, offering a micro-level preliminary analysis of how instructors and students alternate between English and Romanian in Computer Science classroom activities. Drawing on audio recordings of lectures and seminars, the research identifies types of code-switching (intrasentential, intersentential, and tag-switching), contextual triggers, and functional motivations. The findings reveal that code-switching serves as a strategic pedagogical tool, facilitating comprehension, engagement, and the communication of technical content. Overall, the study argues that rather than undermining EMI objectives, code-switching reflects the pragmatic realities of multilingual classrooms and supports learner-centred pedagogy. It also contributes to the underexplored area of EMI classroom discourse in Romanian higher education and highlights the importance of bilingual strategies in content delivery.

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