Topic: English for Specific Purposes | Code-Switching in Multilingual ESP
Presenter: Uliana Tykha
Presentation details
Code-switching has traditionally been viewed in ELT as interference. However, in multilingual professional environments, particularly within English for Specific Purposes (ESP) contexts, it is increasingly seen as a communicative asset. This presentation challenges the idea of code-switching as a deficiency and instead frames it as a communicative and intercultural intelligence in Business English.
Drawing on real-life examples from professionals working in international teams, the talk shows how code-switching could enhance clarity, build rapport, and support emotional resilience in high-stakes communication. Multilingual speakers shift between languages not just for efficiency, but also to negotiate meaning, identity, and solidarity.
Finally, aligned with current perspectives on translanguaging, Global Englishes, and multilingualism, the talk explores ways to embrace code-switching within ESP pedagogy. Integrating multilingual practices into Business English teaching could encourage learners to rely on their full linguistic repertoire and code-switch purposely and with impact. This will raise learners' language awareness and develop their ability to communicate strategically across global professional contexts.
About the presenter
Uliana Tykha is an applied linguist, PhD holder, educator, and corporate Business English trainer. She spent 10 years at Carpathian National University in Ukraine, where she taught Intercultural Communication, Business English, and Media Literacy. From 2022 to 2024, she was a visiting researcher at Cardiff University as a British Academy Fellow.
She has presented her research at numerous international conferences, including BAAL and IATEFL. She currently combines her work as a corporate Business English trainer with a role in Learning and Development (L&D).