A Descriptive Analysis of the Perception of Interdisciplinary Undergrads on Language of Instruction: A Multilingual/Translanguaging View

Abstract

English is primarily claimed as the Language of instruction at undergrad level across disciplines except for the teaching of oriental subjects. The study aims at analyzing the perception of interdisciplinary undergrads of three disciplines, English, Education and Urdu that to what extent they favor single or more language/s for instructions; multilingualism leading to translanguaging. The study was conducted on one hundred and fifty undergrads (different semesters) through an opinionnaire to understand better their socio-linguistic and socio-cultural needs. The findings of the study enable us to know that students do not favor single language as a medium of instruction after considering various perspective academic and professional factors such as understanding of concepts learnt for societal requirements through the use of first language as well as one more language like English. In light of the results the study suggests that there is no harm to adopt two or more languages for classroom instructions for all the students irrespective of their disciplines so that they may socio-linguistically and socio-culturally feel secure in multilingual environment in the globalized world after completing sixteen years of education.