This document summarizes a research study about code-switching usage on social media in Oman. The study explored students' and educators' attitudes towards using code-switching between Arabic and English on social networking websites for educational purposes. Questionnaires were administered to 336 students and 20 educators at a university in Oman. The results showed that most students and educators have positive attitudes towards code-switching on social media, with WhatsApp being the most used platform. The study concluded that code-switching is an accepted practice in bilingual educational contexts and can help facilitate communication and understanding on social networks.

2. Code-switching Usage in Social Media: A Case Study
from Oman
University Utara Malaysia
Collage of education and sciences
Department of English
2017/2018
Presentation prepared for Dr.hariharn
Presentation prepared by samer Yaqoob
Article published in international journal information technology and language studies by Noor ALQaysi and Al-Emran
2017

3. List of content
1.Definition of code-switching
2.Introduction
3.Literature review
3.Summary of content
4.Methodology
5.Results
6.Analyzing question of the study
7.Conclusion

4. Abstract:
-Multilingual have observed as a trend of switching between two utterances in foreign
language setting entitled code-switching . The main reason behind conducting this study is
the usage of CS in social network websites is not explored in the higher education
institute of gulf region .
-This study explores learner`s attitude toward using cs in education context in Oman .Two
questionnaire and survey were administrated with 336 students and 20 educators .
-WhatsApp found to be the most social net used for code-switching by students and
educators .results indicate that both have positive attitude toward code-switching in
media.

5. Introduction
-The term code-switching refers to the nation that a speaker shift from one variety in to
another in the course of text or conversation. The targets of study is investigating the
educators and learner`s attitude toward CS at the Buraimi university in Oman .
-The term have been defined from several perceptive but all of them give the same idea but
different words(shifting from language to language or variety of language for example :
-Code definition:
Jingxi (2010) pointed in his study that the term `code` refers to any system of signals including
numbers and words with real meaning .
-Fuller defines `code` as strategy in which more than one bilingual speaker uses for
communication purposes.

6. Code-switching have been defined by a lot of research papers in different context . Each
research explain this concept from the point of view of its author in sociolinguistics :
Code-switching definitions:
Taweel and Btoosh(2012) referred to code-switching as as occurrence of switching between
two language in bilingual utterance which take place in a form of single word or phrase ,
phrase and sentence .
Ting defines this concept as occurrence within the same conversation i.e shifting from verity
to another or from language to another in the same conversation.
Jingxia introduce code-switching as the notion of moving between two languages in the
middle of the conversation when speakers speak the same language .

7. .
Code-switching referred as diglossic circumstance . Leyew denote to code-switching as
diglossic in which the bilingual use various circumstance .
Diglossia refers to the country or speaker with to dialect one is high and another is low .
High diglossia; standard variety of language which is used in formal text and spoken
language
Low diglossia: variety of language which used in our daily life communication
code – switching diglossia occur in a situation in which two speakers of one language are
speaking formally but all of sudden one speaker switch to use non-standard Varity of
same language .

8. -this study shows the important of social media to the learners and who the code switching take place .
-There many ideas in the mind of student ,some of these ideas can be expressed in the native language or
standard Varity of language while others can not be expressed .
-Through social media websites student can express his idea easily because if it can not be explained in
the standard language he can shift to nonstandard one and explain it in easy way .
-Social media websites made the communication easy .
-It give them opportunity to get learning inside and out side classroom .

9. LITERTURE REVIEW
-There are many studies conducted to stud the important of CS in
language learning and learners` attitudes toward cs in language
learning .
-One study conducted by Al-enezi (2012) to explore the linguistics
attitudes toward the language of teaching and how their language
attitude affected on their performance during a science class. The
study showed positive language attitude toward CS between Arabic
and English . In some teaching case ,teachers and student may
switch from English to Arabic or the opposite to explain idea that is
difficult.
-Johnsoon study (2014) which aim to study when and why teachers
switch language while teaching foreign language in class room.
Questionnaire were conducted with 96 teachers and the result
showed that teachers were not in favor of CS also it showed that
learners want switching to get better understanding .

10. -
A third study conducted by kargl(2015) in which he studied
the influence of facebook groups education. Student
informed to make literature assignment and do it within
seven weeks on facebook. The research noted their decision
and their collaboration about the subject . He noted that
students shift from standard to non standard in explaining
issues that are difficult .
All these studies shows the important of social media
websites in education and code-switching .

11. CASE OF STUDY
It studies the trend of switching between two utterances in foreign language . It
has been noted that cs usage in social networking has not been explored in the
higher education institute of the gulf region . The reason that attract to study it.
This study explores the educators and learners attitude toward using cs in social
network in connection to educational context in oman .
Two questionnaire surveys were administrated with 366 students and 21
educators in the study , in addition to two interview with students and educators .
Result indicates that 84% of students code switching on social network ,whereas
81%of educators do so.
the study indicate that students have positive attitudes towards the use of code
switching in social media.

12. Methodology
-It studied learners` and educator`s attitude toward using code-switching in social media within
higher education institution in Oman.
-Understanding these attitudes will help education makers to identify the strength and
weaknesses to build their strategies of using CS in social media websites .
-Variables collected from `gender, major` of learners and gender and academic rank of
educators

13. -Data collected through survey and questionnaire methods. Administrated at al burimi university in
Oman.
-Population of educators from different nationalities , qualifications , academic rank , and teaching
experiences .
-English language used in survey because it is easily communicated to both educators and learners .

14. results
-Based on the analysis of learners` demographic data , the result indicate that:
--65% were female learners
---34% were male learners
---34% study IT
---28% study English language department
---74% B.A degree
-- participants aged between (18-20)
While educators were:
- 66% male educators
---66% female M.A degree
-28%BHD degree
---4%B.A
--38% aged between (36-45)
-52%more than 10 years experiences
The results showed that learners agree with the issue that code-switching help them to convey words easily while
they switching from Arabic to English (4.31) score.
- Depending on the score below , we can say that learners have positive attitudes toward the use of code-switching.
-

21. ANALYSIS QUESTIONS` RESEARCH
1. To what extent is code switching used in social networking websites by students?
• In order to answer this question we must look to the questions used in the survey which are
:
• Do you use code switching in your chatting on social media websites (facebook , tewitter ,
whatsApp) ?
• According to the percentage given above students are highly motivated to use code-
switching on social media because the percentage was 86.4%. This can be attributed to the
reason that they tend to obtain, deliver and share information , news and education issues
while using social networking websites.
• What is the most frequent social net working APP that you usually code-switching in your
daily chatting ?
• According to the answers of student and the percentage 43% student are using whats App
more that other net work websites like twitter, facebook, BBM, and google +

22. Q2/ How is code switching perceived by students in term of gender , manger , degree , and level of
study in the social networks apps?
It is clearly revealed that 58% of female students tend to code switch while using social media
networking app ,while 28% of male do.
Sales
female 56%
male 28%

23. Most of student who use cs while chatting in social media websites from IT and business
department with 32% and 31 % . It is clearly shown that students studying English
department code switch in social media with23%.
-Students holding B.A degree make up the highest category of using code switching while
chatting in social medial with 62%

24. Q3/To what extent is code switching used in social networking websites by educators?
a()In order to answer this question we must look to the questions used in the survey which are :
b)Do you use code switching in your chatting on social media websites (facebook The result shows that
81% of educators code switch in media websites , while 19% do not .
, tewitter , whatsApp)
c)/ What is the most frequent social net working APP that you usually code-switching in your daily chatting
?
*This could be attributed to the reason that educators are well –educated and knowledgeable their field
which lead them to code switch due to the lack of equivalents.
*The results reveal that 71% of educators tend to code switch on whatsApp for chatting while the other
websites make up the second highest category with 28%.
* None of the faculty members stated that they code switch on BBM , facebook , twitter and google+ in
their daily chatting.

25. Conclusion
*Researchers have demonstrated that switching between two codes is an accepted linguistic action in
the context of bilingual educational systems. The present study highlights the attitudes of both
students
and educators towards code-switching in social networking websites within the higher educational
context. It has been noticed in the literature that code-switching in social networks has not yet been
studied intensively within the Gulf region universities; consequently, we draw attention to our study
on
Oman (one of the Gulf region countries) which partly addresses the gaps that have not been covered
yet
within the existing literature.
*The researchers conducted two questionnaire surveys, one for students and
the other for educators in order to obtain a full picture of students’ and educators’ attitudes towards
switching between Arabic and English in social networks. Four research questions underpin the
present
study.

26. *Results indicated that 86.40 % of the students code-switch on social networks, while only13.60 % do
not. In addition, 43.5 % of the students are using WhatsApp for chatting. Moreover, 58.28% of female
students tend to code-switch while using social networking app, but only 28.11% of males do. It is also
revealed that the majority of students who use CS while chatting in social networks are from IT and
business departments with 32.25% and 31.06 % respectively.
*This indicates that students are highly positive in their attitudes toward the use of code-switching in social
media.
*Regarding educators, it is evident that they are commonly interested in code-switching on social
networks; 81% of the educators code-switch on social networks, while only 19% do not.
*the researchers are interested in examining the students’ and educators’ attitudes at other
universities in Oman by investigating other factors. Samples from other different universities will
definitely add more value to the observed results.

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