Araştırma Makalesi

Beyond Linguistic Fluency: Exploring L2 Learners’ Conceptualizations of Culture and Cultural Competence

Cilt: 34 Sayı: 4 29 Ekim 2026
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Beyond Linguistic Fluency: Exploring L2 Learners’ Conceptualizations of Culture and Cultural Competence

Öz

The term “fluent fool” refers to individuals who have advanced linguistic proficiency in a foreign language but are unable to understand social, cultural, and philosophical contexts that give meaning to that language (Bennett, 2004). Grounding on this view, present study aimed to answer to the following three research questions: a) How do L2 learners define culture? b) What knowledge do learners have regarding British culture? c) Do learners perceive cultural knowledge as a necessary component of foreign language learning? Adopting a qualitative research design, the study involved face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 20 C-level students studying at a state university in Türkiye. The findings revealed that participants were able to make a general definition of culture encompassing both visible and invisible dimensions, yet they struggled to identify and give examples specific to English culture. Moreover, while students expressed varying perspectives on the role of English culture in L2 learning, the majority emphasized the importance of becoming “global citizens” by engaging with not only English culture but also diverse world cultures.

Anahtar Kelimeler

cultural competence, cultural awareness, intercultural communication

Kaynakça

  1. Alptekin, C. (2002). Towards intercultural communicative competence in ELT. ELT Journal, 56(1), 57–64. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/56.1.57
  2. Atasever Belli, S. (2018). A study on ELT students’ cultural awareness and attitudes towards incorporation of target culture into language instruction. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 14(1), 102–124.
  3. Baker, W. (2015). Culture and identity through English as a lingua franca: Rethinking concepts and goals in intercultural communication. De Gruyter Mouton. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501502149
  4. Baltacı, H. Ş., & Tanış, S. (2018). The place of culture in EFL classes: Perceptions and challenges of pre-service and in-service English teachers. International Journal of Languages’ Education and Teaching, 6(2), 260–272. https://doi.org/10.18298/ijlet.2975
  5. Bennett, M. J. (2004). Becoming interculturally competent. In J. S. Wurzel (Ed.), Toward multiculturalism: A reader in multicultural education (2nd ed., pp. 62–77). Intercultural Resource Corporation.
  6. Berg, B. L., & Lune, H. (2015). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri [Qualitative research methods in the social sciences] (H. Aydın, Trans.). Eğitim Yayınevi. (Original work published 2012)
  7. Byram, M. (2021). Teaching and assessing intercultural communicative competence: Revisited (2nd ed.). Multilingual Matters. https://doi.org/10.21832/byram0244
  8. Chen, D., & Yang, X. (2016). Culture as the core: Challenges and possible solutions in integrating culture into foreign language teaching. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 7(1), 168–176. https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.0701.19
  9. Christensen, L. B., Johnson, R. B., & Turner, L. A. (2015). Research methods, design, and analysis (12th ed.). Pearson.
  10. Cooper, R. L. (1970). What do we learn when we learn a language? TESOL Quarterly, 4(4), 303–320. https://doi.org/10.2307/3585760

Kaynak Göster

APA
Durna, Ş., & Ilerı, S. A. (2026). Beyond Linguistic Fluency: Exploring L2 Learners’ Conceptualizations of Culture and Cultural Competence. Kastamonu Education Journal, 34(4), 859-875. https://doi.org/10.24106/kefdergi.1953694
AMA
1.Durna Ş, Ilerı SA. Beyond Linguistic Fluency: Exploring L2 Learners’ Conceptualizations of Culture and Cultural Competence. Kastamonu Eğitim Dergisi. 2026;34(4):859-875. doi:10.24106/kefdergi.1953694
Chicago
Durna, Şerife, ve S. Aslıhan Ilerı. 2026. “Beyond Linguistic Fluency: Exploring L2 Learners’ Conceptualizations of Culture and Cultural Competence”. Kastamonu Education Journal 34 (4): 859-75. https://doi.org/10.24106/kefdergi.1953694.
EndNote
Durna Ş, Ilerı SA (01 Ekim 2026) Beyond Linguistic Fluency: Exploring L2 Learners’ Conceptualizations of Culture and Cultural Competence. Kastamonu Education Journal 34 4 859–875.
IEEE
[1]Ş. Durna ve S. A. Ilerı, “Beyond Linguistic Fluency: Exploring L2 Learners’ Conceptualizations of Culture and Cultural Competence”, Kastamonu Eğitim Dergisi, c. 34, sy 4, ss. 859–875, Eki. 2026, doi: 10.24106/kefdergi.1953694.
ISNAD
Durna, Şerife - Ilerı, S. Aslıhan. “Beyond Linguistic Fluency: Exploring L2 Learners’ Conceptualizations of Culture and Cultural Competence”. Kastamonu Education Journal 34/4 (01 Ekim 2026): 859-875. https://doi.org/10.24106/kefdergi.1953694.
JAMA
1.Durna Ş, Ilerı SA. Beyond Linguistic Fluency: Exploring L2 Learners’ Conceptualizations of Culture and Cultural Competence. Kastamonu Eğitim Dergisi. 2026;34:859–875.
MLA
Durna, Şerife, ve S. Aslıhan Ilerı. “Beyond Linguistic Fluency: Exploring L2 Learners’ Conceptualizations of Culture and Cultural Competence”. Kastamonu Education Journal, c. 34, sy 4, Ekim 2026, ss. 859-75, doi:10.24106/kefdergi.1953694.
Vancouver
1.Şerife Durna, S. Aslıhan Ilerı. Beyond Linguistic Fluency: Exploring L2 Learners’ Conceptualizations of Culture and Cultural Competence. Kastamonu Eğitim Dergisi. 01 Ekim 2026;34(4):859-75. doi:10.24106/kefdergi.1953694