Beriso, Italo (PhD)Olana, Tamiru2018-06-222023-12-052018-06-222023-12-052013-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/2985The use of English as the medium of instruction in the Ethiopian secondary schools seems an ignored study area. The objective of this study was, thus, to explore the extent to which teachers and students use English in relation to Oromo and Amharic at grade nine. Accordingly, it investigates the amount of students’ and teachers’ use of the TL; explores the subjects’ reasons for code-switching; and examines teachers’ help of students to use the TL. For the investigation, a mixed-method research approach is used under the umbrella of pragmatic paradigm of research design. One hundred and twenty students and four Grade 9 History teachers and Geography teachers were purposively selected for the study from two secondary schools in Nekemte town. The data were collected through students’ questionnaire, teachers’ interview and classroom observations. The data from the questionnaire were analysed using simple statistics (percentage and frequency), and the data from the interview and the lesson transcripts were analysed by using content analysis of the transcripts. The results indicated that the students’ use of the TL is 3.6% of the class time while that of their teachers’ is 62.2% of it. The data also showed that students switched code 4.9% of the class time while their teachers did so 29.3% of it, which indicated that teachers played the dominant role in using both languages. The data also indicated that the students switch code because teachers did not encourage them to use the TL. It also revealed that students’ inefficiency and lack of confidence and lack of time enforced them to use the local languages. The data from the lesson transcripts also showed that teachers and students switch coded for different reasons. Lastly, it was discovered that History teachers and Geography teachers hardly showed efforts to promoting students’ use of the TL. From the findings, it could be concluded that teachers need to be aware of the additional responsibilities of promoting students’ language skills and thus work in collaboration with English teachers in this regard. Similarly, students should try to use the TL in oral interactions in order to improve their oral proficiency.enInstruction in Nekemte Town Grade 9 History and GeographyThesis