Linguistic Strategies, Code Choices, and Teaching Methods Among EFL Learners to Overcome Language Friction

When experiencing language friction, English as Foreign Language (EFL) learners use several linguistic strategies to maintain the continuity of their utterances. This phenomenon has an impact on the code choice taken by those EFL learners. This research aims to reveal: (1) linguistic strategies used among EFL learners when experiencing language friction, (2) EFL learners’ code choices when experiencing language friction, and (3) language teaching methods used to help English learners overcome language friction. Conducted in an English language education study program at a university in Indonesia, this research applied the qualitative descriptive method, and involved 4 students and 2 lecturers as participants. Data was collected using observation and interviews. Data were analyzed using procedures proposed by Creswell (2013), including data management, reading and providing memos, describing, classifying, interpreting data, visualization, and representation. This study found: (1) linguistic strategies that EFL learners used to maintain the continuity of their utterances when experiencing language friction were unlexicalized fillers, lexicalized fillers, excessive repetition of a word, lengthening a word, pauses, and code-switching, (2) code choices among EFL learners were code-alternation dan code-mixing, and (3) language teaching methods used to help EFL learners overcome language friction were implementing holistic learning, practicing relevant communicative contexts, encouraging active involvement in the English language community, using technology and digital media in learning, implementing a multilingual approach, providing social and cultural support, and implementing effective training. Understanding of linguistic strategies and code choice in relation to language friction is substantial in English teaching methods because it facilitates communication, promotes learning and adaptation, supports social interaction, and encourages strategic thinking.