Challenges & Attitudes of Students toward Learning English as a Foreign Language : A Case Study in University “Luigj Gurakuqi” Shkodër, Albania

Abstract

During these last decades, a more profound interest in the academic programs of the English Learning Language has been evident in numerous Universities worldwide. English is the most useful Language in more than 80% of the countries on our planet and is spoken by more than 1.5 billion people. This Language dominates 80% of Internet information and has today received the academic status of "Latin," which undoubtedly makes English today the Language of international communication. David (1997) defined the priority of this Language just a ‘global Language’. English is the students' Language and has opened the doors of communication for them. EFL learners encounter critical difficulties, such as linguistic differences between English and their native languages, limited exposure to native speakers, and inadequate learning resources. Psychological factors, including language anxiety and lack of confidence, often compound these challenges. Additionally, students' attitudes toward learning English, shaped by cultural, social, and personal motivations, significantly influence their language acquisition process. Positive attitudes can foster motivation and engagement, while negative attitudes may hinder progress. This paper aims to determine challenges college students encounter while studying English at the "Luigj Gurakuqi" University of Shkodër, first bachelor cycle. Through a questionnaire, the 146 students involved in this project tried to explain why they wished to study English Language, their challenges, and their attitudes toward L2. Addressing these challenges and fostering positive attitudes can develop more effective teaching approaches, ultimately improving EFL learners' language proficiency outcomes.

Keywords

• attitude
• challenges
• acquisition
• English Language Acquisiton

Öğrencilerin Yabancı Dil Olarak İngilizce Öğrenmeye Yönelik Zorlukları ve Tutumları: Arnavutluk, İşkodra “Luigj Gurakuqi” Üniversitesi'nde Bir Vaka Çalışması

Öz

Son yıllarda, dünya çapında birçok üniversitede İngilizce Dil Öğrenimi akademik programlarına daha derin bir ilgi olduğu görülmektedir. İngilizce, gezegenimizdeki ülkelerin %80'inden fazlasında en kullanışlı dildir ve 1,5 milyardan fazla insan tarafından konuşulmaktadır. Bu Dil, İnternet bilgilerinin %80'ine hakimdir ve günümüzde İngilizceyi hiç şüphesiz uluslararası iletişim dili haline getiren “Latince” akademik statüsünü almıştır. David (1997) bu dilin önceliğini ‘küresel bir dil’ olarak tanımlamıştır. İngilizce öğrencilerin dilidir ve onlara iletişimin kapılarını açmıştır. EFL öğrencileri, İngilizce ve ana dilleri arasındaki dilsel farklılıklar, ana dili İngilizce olan kişilerle sınırlı maruz kalma ve yetersiz öğrenme kaynakları gibi kritik zorluklarla karşılaşırlar. Dil kaygısı ve özgüven eksikliği gibi psikolojik faktörler de bu zorlukları daha da artırmaktadır. Ayrıca, öğrencilerin kültürel, sosyal ve kişisel motivasyonlarla şekillenen İngilizce öğrenmeye yönelik tutumları, dil edinim süreçlerini önemli ölçüde etkiler. Olumlu tutumlar motivasyonu ve katılımı teşvik edebilirken, olumsuz tutumlar ilerlemeyi engelleyebilir. Bu çalışma, üniversite öğrencilerinin İşkodra “Luigj Gurakuqi” Üniversitesi'nde birinci lisans döneminde İngilizce öğrenirken karşılaştıkları zorlukları belirlemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bir anket aracılığıyla, bu projeye katılan 146 öğrenci neden İngilizce öğrenmek istediklerini, karşılaştıkları zorlukları ve L2'ye yönelik tutumlarını açıklamaya çalışmıştır. Bu zorlukları ele almak ve olumlu tutumları teşvik etmek, daha etkili öğretim yaklaşımları geliştirebilir ve sonuçta EFL öğrencilerinin dil yeterlilik sonuçlarını iyileştirebilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• tutum
• zorluklar
• İngilzice dil edinimi

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