This study explores how students at Palestine Technical University-Kadoorie
(PTUK) negotiate their bilingual identities through Arabic-English code-switching in everyday and academic communication. Using a Grounded Theory approach
supported by quantitative data, the research examines how language choice reflects broader social, cultural, and institutional influences. The findings show that students use Arabic as a symbol of emotional and cultural belonging while English functions as a tool of academic achievement and professional mobility. Code-switching emerges as a conscious and context-dependent practice shaped by individual experiences, language proficiency, and perceptions of audience and purpose. Students often view bilingualism as empowering, yet they also express concern about appearing inauthentic or pretentious when using English in informal settings. Overall, the study illustrates how PTUK students actively construct and adjust their bilingual identities across different contexts. It argues that code-switching should be recognized as a meaningful and legitimate communicative practice in multilingual higher education, reflecting both linguistic agency and cultural continuity.

Conference Title

Languages and Linguistics Symposium

Conference Country

United States of America

Conference Date

Nov. 19, 2025 - Nov. 22, 2025

Conference Sponsor

Northeastern State University