EFL Teachers’ (Generation X and Y) and Learners’ (Generation Z) Perceptions On 21st Century Skills

Year 2025, Volume: 12 Issue: 3, 640 - 659

Meriç Akkaya Önal , Özgür Yıldırım

Abstract

This quantitative study intended to reveal the perceptions of Generation X and Generation Y EFL teachers and learners of Generation Z regarding their competency of and the importance they attach to the 21st century skills. The results of the study indicated that Gen Xers deem themselves very competent whereas Gen Ys and Gen Zs view themselves as moderately competent in terms of the 21st century skills. Also, the Generation X esteem 21st century skills the most important among the whole group. The findings suggest that, regardless of their generation, the EFL teachers should be aware of and equipped with 21st century skills to assist learners from different generations. Besides, the needs of Gen Zs and the curriculum should be reviewed meticulously so that the members of this generation might perceive themselves more competent learners. Thus, EFL teachers should be knowledgeable about the importance of 21st century skills and the generational differences throughout their education. Therefore, Gen Z can obtain utmost benefit from the Gen X and Gen Y EFL instructors. Second, the curriculum should be reviewed and 21st century skills and the needs of Gen Z should be added to the curriculum as they perceive themselves less competent than the other two generations.

Keywords

generation Y , generation Z , 21st century skills , generational differences , generation X

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