Impact of Teachers’ Discursive Practices on English for Medical Purposes Learning Comprehension: Case of 2nd Year Pharmacy Students at Sétif 1 University

Abstract

This study investigates the use of code-switching between English and French as a discursive practice in teaching English for Medical Purposes (EMP) in Algeria. Focusing on teachers and pharmacy students from Sétif -1- University, it examines how code-switching facilitates the understanding of medical content, enhances the vocabulary comprehension of learners and supports the classroom interaction. Through a mixed-methods approach, the research reveals that instructors employ code-switching for both pedagogical (e.g., clarifying complex medical terms) and non-pedagogical (e.g., encouraging social interaction) purposes. Meanwhile, students resort to code-switching to overcome the challenges of learning English via a monolingual approach. Overall, the findings indicate positive attitudes toward integrating code switching in EMP teaching and learning. The study also highlights its benefits and offers recommendations for more effective instructional practices.