Investigating the Perceptions of EFL Teachers towards ELF: The Role of Teaching Experience

Abstract

The paradigm of English as a lingua franca (ELF) suggests that the contemporary status of English as a global medium of communication requires some changes not only in the perception of this language but also in English language pedagogy. Since EFL teachers are the ones who are responsible for incorporating what is new into ELT classroom, how they feel about all these developments becomes a critical issue. For that reason, this particular study concentrated on less experienced and experienced EFL teachers’ perceptions of ELF and its pedagogical implications. The data were collected using a questionnaire from 32 less experienced and 20 experienced EFL teachers teaching at university English preparatory program. Findings revealed that the less experienced EFL teachers had a greater awareness of the concept of ELF than the experienced EFL teachers did. However, both the less experienced and the experienced EFL teachers were neutral when it comes to the implications this concept suggests for ELT classroom.

Keywords

• English as a Lingua Franca
• EFL Teachers
• Teachers’ Perceptions

İngilizceyi Yabancı Dil Olarak Öğreten Öğretmenlerin İngilizcenin Lingua Franca Olması Hakkındaki Algıları: Tecrübenin Önemi

Abstract

İngilizcenin uluslararası bir iletişim dili olmasına dair (ELF) paradigma bu dilin statüsünün algılanışına ve pedagojisine ilişkin bazı değişikliklere gidilmesi gereğini ortaya koymaktadır. Bu değişiklikleri sınıfa aktaracak olan başlıca aktörler de İngilizce öğretmenleridir. Dolayısıyla onların tüm bu gelişmeler hakkındaki algıları kritik bir önem arz etmektedir. Bu çerçevede bu araştırma deneyimli ve az deneyimli İngilizce öğretmenlerinin ELF ve onun pedagojik sonuçlarına dair algılarını karşılaştırmalı olarak incelemiştir. Veriler, bir üniversitenin İngilizce hazırlık okulunda çalışan 32 az deneyimli ve 20 deneyimli İngilizce öğretmeninden nicel araştırma yöntemi kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Bulgular, az deneyimli İngilizce öğretmenlerinin İngilizcenin uluslararası bir iletişim dili olması statüsüne dair daha fazla farkındalığa sahip olduklarını ortaya koymuştur. Diğer yandan, bu kavramın pedagojik sonuçlarının sınıf içinde uygulanmasına gelindiğinde, hem deneyimli hem de az deneyimli İngilizce öğretmenleri karasız bir tutum sergilemişlerdir.

Keywords

• Ortak İletişim Dili Olarak İngilizce
• İngilizce Öğretmenleri
• Öğretmen Algıları

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