Integrating Target Culture in EFL Classrooms

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the perceptions and classroom applications of the Turkish EFL instructors about integrating target culture in their classroom. A sample of eighty (N=80) EFL instructors working at state and private university language preparatory programs in Turkey participated in this study. The quantitative data were obtained through a questionnaire, and the qualitative data were collected from semi-structured interviews and stimulated recalls administered to the two groups of participants.The findings of the study revealed significant implications with respect to integrating target culture in an EFL classroom

Keywords

• Target culture
• classroom applications
• EFL

Yabancı Dil Olarak İngilizce Sınıfında Hedef Kültürü Entegre Etme

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, dil hazırlık programlarında çalışmakta olan ve İngilizceyi yabancı dil olarak öğreten Türk okutmanların hedef kültürü sınıflarında entegre etme konusunda sınıf içi uygulamalarını ve algılarını araştırmaktır. Çalışmanın örneklemi olarak, araştırmaya Türkiye’deki devlet ve özel üniversitelerinde çalışan seksen (N=80) yabancı dil hazırlık programı okutmanı katılmıştır. Nicel veriler bir anket aracılığıyla elde edilmiş, nitel veriler iki grup katılımcıya uygulanan yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme ve çağrışım tekniğine dayalı görüşmeyle toplanmıştır. Çalışmanın bulguları, yabancı dil olarak İngilizce sınıfında hedef kültürü entegre etmeye ilişkin önemli çıkarımlar ortaya koymaktadır.

Keywords

• Hedef kültür
• sınıf içi uygulamalar
• yabancı dil olarak İngilizce

References

1. designed for the purposes of this study simply rely on the perceptions of the EFL instructors about
2. integrating target culture in an EFL classroom. The intercultural or local culture awareness of instructors
3. was not included which might have affected the results of the study. Furthermore, it is possible that
4. the camera might have affected both the instructors and the students, they might have considered it
5. obtrusive and this might have caused them to change their ordinary behaviours. Any modifications or
6. changes in the ordinary behaviours of the instructors might affect and hinder the reliability of this study
7. which is due to the fact that the usual approach of instructors towards integrating target culture while
8. teaching is of crucial importance for this study. Despite these limitations, the present study is significant

9. for the field of integrating target culture while teaching in an EFL classroom since it provides foundation
10. for the further research.
11. Recommendations for Further Research
12. This study has several recommendations for further research. First of all, the perceptions of EFL
13. instructors may vary. Therefore, it is recommended to replicate the present study at different language
14. preparatory programs in Turkey. Besides, future research should also investigate students’ perceptions
15. on target culture and target culture integrated lessons which would provide insights into whether the
16. objectives of the instructors’ and the universities’ match with what students actually require.
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