Content-Based Instruction in The Preparatory Program of an English-Medium University: Reflections & Practices
Year 2023,
, 345 - 361, 23.10.2023
Elif Kemaloğlu Er
Abstract
In English preparatory programs of English medium instruction (EMI) universities, it is significant to give content-based instruction to students related to their majors. By doing so, students can both improve in English and increase their knowledge and experience in their field of study and become more prepared for their future studies. On the other hand, it is not so common in the tertiary-level English preparatory programs in Türkiye to arrange curricula related to students’ majors. This study aims to integrate translation-related training and practices into the preparatory program of Translation and Interpreting major students studying at an English-medium university through a project-based framework and test the perceived effectiveness of these applications through students’ reflection papers and translation outcomes. The data analyzed by qualitative content analysis show that integrating meaningful and purposeful content related to the students’ majors into English preparatory programs may lead to a productive process serving students’ needs.
Keywords: Content-based instruction, English preparatory programs, English-medium instruction (EMI), Tertiary-level education, Translation in English language teaching
Supporting Institution
Adana Alparslan Türkeş Science and Technology University Scientific Research Coordination Unit
Thanks
This work was supported by Adana Alparslan Türkeş Science and Technology University Scientific Research Coordination Unit [Project Number: 18131002]. I would like to thank them for their support.
References
- Akpur, U. (2017). Evaluation of the curriculum of the English preparatory program at Yıldız Technical University. Cumhuriyet International Journal of Education, 6(4), 441-457. https://doi.org/10.30703/cije.334913
- Altınmakas, D., & Bayyurt, Y. (2019). An exploratory study on factors influencing undergraduate students’ academic writing practices in Turkey. Journal of English for Academic Studies, 37, 88-103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2018.11.006
- Arslan, R. & Saka, C. K. (2010). Teaching English to science students via theme-based model of content-based instruction. Journal of Turkish Science Education, 7(4), 26-36.
- Auerbach, E.R. (1993). Reexamining English only in the ESL classroom. TESOL Quarterly, 27(1), 9-32. https://doi.org/10.2307/3586949
- Balcı, Ö., Durak-Üğüten, S., Çolak, F. (2018). The evaluation of compulsory English preparatory program: The case of Necmettin Erbakan University School of Foreign Languages. Journal of Theoretical Educational Science, 11(4), 860-893. http://dx.doi.org/10.30831/akukeg.410220
- Bengtsson, M. (2016). How to plan and perform a qualitative study using content analysis. Nursing Plus Open, 2, 8-14.
- Berg, B. L. (2001). Qualitative research - Message for the social sciences. Allin and Bacon.
- Brinton, D. (2003). Content-based instruction. In Nunan, D. (Ed.), Practical English language teaching (pp. 199-224). McGraw-Hill.
- Calis, E. & Dikilitas, K. (2012). The use of translation in EFL classes as L2 learning practice. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 46, 5079 – 5084.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.06.389
- Canbay, M. O. (2009). A content-based instruction curriculum by needs analysis. VDM Verlag.
- Canga-Alonso, A. & Rubio-Goitia, A. (2016). Students’ reflections on pedagogical translation in Spanish as a foreign language. Tejuelo, 23, 132-157. https://doi.org/10.17398/1988-8430.23.1.132
- Cook, G. (2010). Translation in language teaching. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/ams005
- Er, İ. (2011). Foreign language teachers’ perceptions and practice of content based instruction in a Turkish university Master’s thesis, Bilkent University.
- Filiz, H. İ. (2019). Students and instructors’ perceptions of elective theme-based courses in an English preparatory school. Master’s thesis, Istanbul University.
- Galloway, N. & Ruegg, R. (2020). The provision of student support on English medium instruction programmes in Japan and China. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 45, 100846. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2020.100846
- Grabe, W. & Stoller, F. L. (1997). Content-based instruction: research foundations. In M.A. Snow, D. M. Brinton (Eds.), The content-based classroom: perspectives on integrating language and content (pp. 5-21). Longman.
- Hatipoğlu, Ç. (2016). The impact of the university entrance exam on EFL education in Turkey: Pre-service English language teachers’ perspective. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 232, 136-144.
- Kemaloglu-Er, E. (2021). Form-focused instruction evaluated by actual stakeholders: Isolated, integrated, or both? Reading Matrix, 21(2), 120-132.
- Kemaloglu-Er, E. (2022a). Project-based EFL learning at the tertiary level: Research, translation, creativity and interaction. Turkish Journal of Education, 11(3), 162-182. https://doi.org/10.19128/turje.1061653
- Kemaloglu Er, E. (2022b). English language learning and improvement with real-life based projects: A process and metaphor analysis. Karadeniz Social Sciences Journal, 14(27), 532-554. https://doi.org/10.38155/ksbd.1170599
- Klaudy, K. (2003). Languages in translation. Scholastica.
- Macaro, E. (2018). English medium instruction: content and language in policy and practice. Oxford University Press.
- Malmkjaer, K. (1998). Translation and language teaching. St Jerome.
- Merriam, S. B. (2009). Qualitative research and case study applications in education.
Jossey-Bass.
- Patton, M. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods. Sage.
- Pym, A. (2018). Where translation studies lost the plot: relations with language teaching.
Translation and Translanguaging in Multilingual Contexts, 4(2), 203-222.
https://doi.org/10.1075/ttmc.00010.pym
- Richards, J. & Rodgers, T. (2001). Approaches and methods in language teaching. Cambridge University Press.
- Sağlam, D. & Akdemir, E. (2018). Students’ views on preparatory school English language curriculum. Journal of Higher Education & Science, 8(2). 401-409. https://doi.org/10.5961/jhes.2018.282
- Schäffner, C. (1998). Qualification for professional translators - Translation in language
teaching versus teaching translation. In K. Malmkjær (Ed.), Translation and language
teaching: language teaching and translation (pp.117–133). St. Jerome Publishing.
- Snow, M. (2001). Content based and immersion models for second and foreign language ¬teaching. In Celce-Murcia, M. (Ed.), Teaching English as a second or foreign language. Heinle & Heinle.
- Stake, R. E. (2005). Qualitative case studies. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.),
The Sage handbook of qualitative research (3rd ed., pp. 443-466). Sage.
- Stoller, F. L. (2002). Promoting the acquisition of knowledge in a content-based course. In J. Crandall & D.
- Kaufman (Eds.), Content-based instruction in higher education settings (pp. 109-123). TESOL.
- Stoller, F. L. (2004). Content-based instruction: Perspectives on curriculum planning. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 24, 261-283.
- Stryker, S. & Leaver, B. (1997). Content-based in¬struction in foreign language education. Georgetown University Press.
- Widdowson, H. G. (2016). The role of translation in language learning and teaching. In J. House (Ed.), Translation: a multidisciplinary approach (pp. 224–240). Palgrave Macmillan.
https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137025487
- Yildirim, O. (2010). Washback effects of a high-stakes university entrance exam: Effects of the English section of the university entrance exam on future English language teachers in Turkey. The Asian EFL Journal Quarterly, 12(2), 92-116.
- Yin, R. (2003). Applications of case study research (2nd edition). Sage.