Araştırma Makalesi

Communicative Orientation of EFL Instruction in Primary Schools: A Comparison of Public and Private Contexts

Cilt: 34 Sayı: 4 29 Ekim 2026
PDF İndir
EN TR

Communicative Orientation of EFL Instruction in Primary Schools: A Comparison of Public and Private Contexts

Öz

Purpose: This study examines the communicative orientation of primary-level EFL instruction in two contrasting institutional contexts (a public and a private school) using classroom observations and teacher interviews. Design/Methodology/Approach: Adopting a qualitative multiple-case design, data were collected through the Communicative Orientation of Language Teaching (COLT) Observation Scheme Part A (Spada & Fröhlich, 1995), field notes, and semi-structured interviews with two in-service teachers. Observation data were analyzed quantitatively using category-based percentages, while interview data were subjected to content analysis to explore belief–practice relationships. Findings: The findings indicate that both classrooms were predominantly teacher-fronted and form-focused, reflecting a weak version of CLT. Nevertheless, the private school provided comparatively more opportunities for communicative and interpretation-oriented activities, whereas the public school displayed a more eclectic pedagogy shaped by curricular and institutional constraints. Highlights: The study contributes classroom-based comparative evidence on CLT implementation in young learner EFL contexts in Türkiye. Although Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) has been central to English language policy in Türkiye since 1997, the study confirms an ongoing gap between curricular intentions and actual classroom practices.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Communicative Language Teaching, English as a foreign language, Primary education, Classroom observation, Young learners

Destekleyen Kurum

The authors received no financial support for the research, author-ship, and/or publication of this article.

Etik Beyan

We hereby declare that the study has not unethical issues and that research and publication ethics have been observed carefully.

Kaynakça

  1. Ak-Küçükçayır, G. (2025). A critical analysis of privatization policies in education within the context of social (in)justice. In I. Bogotch, C.M. Shields (Eds.) Second ınternational handbook of educational leadership and social (ın)justice (pp. 1-30). Springer International Handbooks of Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-56275-4_65-1
  2. Alageyik, Ş. N. (2025). Manifestations of native speakerism in Turkish private language schools: A mixed methods study [Master’s thesis]. Middle East Technical University.
  3. Al-Nouh, N. A. (2008). Are Kuwaiti primary EFL teachers implementing a CLT-based learner-centred method in their classrooms? [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Newcastle University.
  4. An, S. (2020). Teaching English in South Korean primary schools [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University College London.
  5. Ansarey, D. (2012). Communicative language teaching in EFL contexts: Teachers attitude and perception in Bangladesh. ASA University Review, 6(1), 61-78.
  6. Aydın, U., Tunç Pekkan, Z., Taylan, R. D., Birgili, B., & Özcan, M. (2017). Equity in middle school students’ fractional knowledge: Does school type matter in Turkey? European Journal of Education Studies, 3(9), 104–121. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1040127
  7. Baldauf, R. B., R. B. Kaplan, K. Kamwangamaly & P. Bryant (2011). Success or failure of primary second/foreign language programs in Asia: What do the data tell us? Current Issues in Language Planning, (12)2, 309–323.
  8. Baştürkmen, H. (2012). Review of research into the correspondence between language teachers' stated beliefs and practices. System, 40(2), 282-295.
  9. Bax, S. (2003). The end of CLT: A context approach to language teaching. ELT Journal, 57(3), 278-287. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/57.3.278
  10. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101.

Kaynak Göster

APA
Sayici, S., & Denkci Akkaş, F. (2026). Communicative Orientation of EFL Instruction in Primary Schools: A Comparison of Public and Private Contexts. Kastamonu Education Journal, 34(4), 761-781. https://doi.org/10.24106/kefdergi.1918938
AMA
1.Sayici S, Denkci Akkaş F. Communicative Orientation of EFL Instruction in Primary Schools: A Comparison of Public and Private Contexts. Kastamonu Eğitim Dergisi. 2026;34(4):761-781. doi:10.24106/kefdergi.1918938
Chicago
Sayici, Sena, ve Ferdane Denkci Akkaş. 2026. “Communicative Orientation of EFL Instruction in Primary Schools: A Comparison of Public and Private Contexts”. Kastamonu Education Journal 34 (4): 761-81. https://doi.org/10.24106/kefdergi.1918938.
EndNote
Sayici S, Denkci Akkaş F (01 Ekim 2026) Communicative Orientation of EFL Instruction in Primary Schools: A Comparison of Public and Private Contexts. Kastamonu Education Journal 34 4 761–781.
IEEE
[1]S. Sayici ve F. Denkci Akkaş, “Communicative Orientation of EFL Instruction in Primary Schools: A Comparison of Public and Private Contexts”, Kastamonu Eğitim Dergisi, c. 34, sy 4, ss. 761–781, Eki. 2026, doi: 10.24106/kefdergi.1918938.
ISNAD
Sayici, Sena - Denkci Akkaş, Ferdane. “Communicative Orientation of EFL Instruction in Primary Schools: A Comparison of Public and Private Contexts”. Kastamonu Education Journal 34/4 (01 Ekim 2026): 761-781. https://doi.org/10.24106/kefdergi.1918938.
JAMA
1.Sayici S, Denkci Akkaş F. Communicative Orientation of EFL Instruction in Primary Schools: A Comparison of Public and Private Contexts. Kastamonu Eğitim Dergisi. 2026;34:761–781.
MLA
Sayici, Sena, ve Ferdane Denkci Akkaş. “Communicative Orientation of EFL Instruction in Primary Schools: A Comparison of Public and Private Contexts”. Kastamonu Education Journal, c. 34, sy 4, Ekim 2026, ss. 761-8, doi:10.24106/kefdergi.1918938.
Vancouver
1.Sena Sayici, Ferdane Denkci Akkaş. Communicative Orientation of EFL Instruction in Primary Schools: A Comparison of Public and Private Contexts. Kastamonu Eğitim Dergisi. 01 Ekim 2026;34(4):761-8. doi:10.24106/kefdergi.1918938