The Phenomenon of Consumption and Integration of Consumption as a Subject Matter into English Language Classes

Abstract

In content and language integrated English language teaching, raising learners’ awareness of sociological and environmental issues is significant since such pedagogical actions provide learners with meaningful and purposeful content and cause them to both critically reflect on and communicate about their lives and actions and produce individual and/or collective outputs. Consumption is one of those issues learners should be exposed to as it assumes multivariate meanings in today’s world which exceed mere satisfaction of needs and make us feel responsible for our actions. This article analyzes the phenomenon of consumption with regard to i) signs and symbols, ii) desires, iii) sense of self, and iv) the environment, and presents suggestions to integrate this multifarious notion into English language teaching. It is recommended that in English language classes, learners be made aware of the signs and symbols intertwined with the marketing of goods and services. It is also suggested that psychological and ecological impacts of excessive consumption be critically questioned and discussed in English language lessons.

Keywords

• Consumption
• English language teaching
• Content and language integrated learning
• Critical reflection
• Project-based learning
• Ecological teaching and learning in ELT

Tüketim Olgusu ve Tüketimin bir Konu Olarak İngilizce Dili Sınıflarına Dahil Edilmesi

Abstract

İçerik ve dilin entegre edildiği İngilizce dili öğretiminde öğrenicilerin sosyolojik ve çevresel konularda farkındalığının yükseltilmesi önem arz etmektedir zira bu türden pedagojik eylemler öğrenicilere anlamlı ve amaçlı içerikler sunmakta ve onların hayatları ve eylemleri hakkında eleştirel düşünmelerini, iletişim kurmalarını ve bireysel ve/veya kolektif ürünler üretmelerini sağlamaktadır. Tüketim de öğrenicilerin tabi olması gereken konulardan biridir çünkü tüketim günümüz dünyasında salt gereksinim giderilmesini aşan çoklu anlamlar üstlenmektedir ve bizi eylemlerimizle ilgili olarak sorumlu hissettirmektedir. Bu makale tüketim olgusunu i) işaretler ve semboller, ii) arzular, iii) benlik duygusu, iv) çevre açılarından analiz etmekte ve bu çok boyutlu kavramın İngilizce dil öğretimine entegre edilmesi ile ilgili tavsiyeler ortaya koymaktadır. Makalede İngilizce dil sınıflarında öğrencilerin mal ve hizmet pazarlamasıyla iç içe geçmiş işaret ve sembollerle ilgili farkındalığının arttırılması önerilmiştir. Ayrıca aşırı tüketimin psikolojik ve ekolojik etkilerinin İngilizce derslerinde eleştirel biçimde sorgulanması ve tartışılması da tavsiye edilmiştir.

Keywords

• Tüketim
• İngilizce dil öğretimi
• İçerik ve dilin entegre edildiği öğrenim
• Eleştirel düşünme
• Proje tabanlı öğrenme
• İngilizce dil öğretiminde ekolojik öğretim ve öğrenim
• Consumption
• English language teaching
• Content and language integrated learning
• Critical reflection
• Project-based learning
• Ecological teaching and learning in ELT

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