Exploring the Intercultural Awareness of EFL Instructors in Turkish Higher Education

Yıl 2023, Cilt: 20 Sayı: 3, 1111 - 1132, 26.12.2023

Haticetül Kübra Er , Büşra Nur Çiftci Aksoy

https://doi.org/10.33711/yyuefd.1330995

Öz

Korzilius, van Hoft, and Planken (2007) suggest that intercultural awareness involves being empathetic and being able to shift away from one's perspective. In a communication setting, intercultural awareness refers to the capacity to adopt the viewpoint(s) of conversation partners from a different culture and to comprehend and acknowledge their unique cultural backgrounds. In this context, the aim of this study is to explore the intercultural awareness of EFL instructors in the context of Turkish Higher Education. Participants are 50 EFL instructors from the English Language Teaching Department and the School of Foreign Languages in Türkiye. The current study adopted a quantitative design; the data tool is the English Language Instructors’ Questionnaire for Intercultural Awareness’ The data is analyzed via the Mann-Whitney U test. The data from the questionnaire is analyzed in two contexts: Intercultural Awareness of Native and Non-Native and Novice and Expert Instructors. As the findings of the study suggest there are significant differences between the attitudes of Native / Non-Native as well as for the Novice and Expert Instructors for Intercultural Awareness.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Intercultural awareness, novice, and expert instructors, native-non-native instructors, EFL instructors.

İngilizceyi Yabancı Dil Olarak Öğreten Eğitmenlerin Türk Yükseköğretiminde Kültürlerarası Farkındalıklarını Araştırmak

Öz

Korzilius, van Hoft ve Planken (2007), kültürlerarası farkındalığın empatik olmayı ve kişinin bakış açısından uzaklaşabilmeyi içerdiğini ileri sürmektedir. Bir iletişim ortamında, kültürlerarası farkındalık, farklı bir kültürden muhatapların bakış açılarını benimseme ve onların benzersiz kültürel geçmişlerini anlama ve kabul etme kapasitesini ifade eder. Bu bağlamda, bu çalışmanın amacı Türk Yükseköğretimi bağlamında yabancı dil olarak öğretilen İngilizce dersi eğitmenlerinin kültürlerarası farkındalığını araştırmaktır. Katılımcılar, Türkiye'deki İngilizce Öğretmenliği (İngiliz Dili Eğitimi) bölümü ve Yabancı Diller Okulu'ndan görev yapan 50 İngilizce eğitmenidir. Mevcut çalışma nicel bir tasarımı benimsemiştir; veri toplama aracı, İngilizce Eğitmenlerinin Kültürlerarası Farkındalık Anketi'dir. Veriler, Mann-Whitney U testi ile analiz edilmiştir. Anketten elde edilen veriler iki bağlamda analiz edilmiştir; Anadili İngilizce olan ve olmayan, Az Tecrübeli ve Uzman Eğitmenlerin Kültürlerarası Farkındalığı. Araştırmanın bulguları, Kültürlerarası Farkındalık için Anadili İngilizce olan / olmayan ve Az Tecrübeli / Uzman Eğitmenlerin tutumları arasında önemli farklılıklar olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Kültürlerarası farkındalık, anadili İngilizce olan ve olmayan eğitmenler, az tecrübeli ve uzman eğitmenler

Kaynakça

• Al Mawoda, K. R. A. (2011). Exploring Secondary Teachers’ Perception Towards Teaching Intercultural Competence in English Language Classrooms in Bahrain, [Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis] Exeter Research and Institutional Content Archive (ERIC). Open Educational Resources (OER) http://www.temoa.info/node/391850
• Atay, D. (2005). Reflections on the cultural dimension of language teaching. Language and Intercultural Communication, 5(3-4), 222-236. https://doi.org/10.1080/14708470508668897
• Ayber, P. O., & Hojeij, Z. (2021). Promoting intercultural awareness through stories: a UAE case. Journal of Teaching and Teacher Education, 9(2), 59-69. https://doi.org/10.12785/itte/090203
• Baker, W. (2011). Intercultural awareness: Modelling an understanding of cultures in intercultural communication through English as a lingua franca. Language and Intercultural Communication, 11(3), 197-214. https://doi.org/10.1080/14708477.2011.577779
• Barany, L. K. (2016). Language awareness, intercultural awareness and communicative language teaching: Towards language education. International Journal of Humanities and Cultural Studies, 2(4) 257-282.
• Camilleri, R. A. (2016). Global education and intercultural awareness in eTwinning. Cogent Education, 3(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2016.1210489
• Canagarajah, S. (2013). Translingual practice: Global English and cosmopolitan relations. Routledge.
• Chen, G. M., & Starosta, W. J. (1996). Intercultural communication competence: A synthesis. Annals of the International Communication Association, 19(1), 353-383. https://doi.org/10.1080/23808985.1996.11678935
• Coşkun, A. (2011). Future English teachers’ attitudes towards EIL pronunciation. English as an International Journal, 6(2), 46-68. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED527146.pdf
• Coyle, D. (2009). Promoting Cultural Diversity through Intercultural Understanding: A Case Study of CLIL Teacher Professional Development at In-service and Pre-service Levels. In M. L. Carrió-Pastor (Ed.), Content and Language Integrated Learning: Cultural Diversity, (92), 105-124
• Czura, A. (2016). Major field of study and student teachers’ views on intercultural communicative competence. Language and Intercultural Communication, 16(1), 83-98. https://doi.org/10.1080/14708477.2015.1113753
• Deardorff, D. K. (2006). Identification and assessment of intercultural competence as a student outcome of internationalization. Journal of Studies in International Education, 10(3), 241-266. https://doi.org/10.1177/102831530628700
• Deniz, E. B., Ozkan, Y., & Bayyurt, Y. (2016). English as a lingua franca: Reflections on EFL-related issues by preservice English language teachers in Turkey. The Reading Matrix: An International Online Journal, 16(2), 144-161. https://www.readingmatrix.com/files/15-7lew266j.pdf
• Gashi, L. (2021). Intercultural awareness through English language teaching: the case of Kosovo. Interchange, 52(3), 357-375. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10780-021-09441-5
• Gu, X. (2016). Assessment of intercultural communicative competence in FL education: A survey on EFL teachers’ perception and practice in China. Language and Intercultural Communication, 16(2), 254-273. https://doi.org/10.1080/14708477.2015.1083575
• Greasley, P. (2008). Quantitative data analysis using SPSS: an introduction for health and social sciences. Buckingham.
• Gudykunst, W. B., & Nishida, T. (2001). Anxiety, uncertainty, and perceived effectiveness of communication across relationships and cultures. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 25(1), 55-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0147-1767(00)00042-0
• Jandt, F. E. (2017). An introduction to intercultural communication: Identities in a global community. Sage Publications.
• Kasap, S. (2019). Anxiety in the EFL speaking classrooms. The Journal of Language Teaching and Learning, 9(2), 23-36. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/749672
• Kasap, S. (2021) Sosyodilbilim, Akademisyen Kitapevi.
• Kasap, S. (2023). The impact of musical skills on foreign language anxiety. European Journal of English Language Teaching, 8(2),1-16. http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejel.v8i2.4737
• Liu, C. (2016). Cultivation of intercultural awareness in EFL teaching. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 7(1), 226-232 http://dx.doi.org/10.17507/jltr.0701.26
• Meier, C. (2007). Enhancing intercultural understanding using e-learning strategies. South African Journal of Education, 27(4), 655-672. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/saje/article/view/25138
• Moeller, A.J., & Nugent, K. (2014). Building intercultural competence in the language classroom. Faculty Publications:Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education. 161. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/teachlearnfacpub/161
• Olaya, A., & Gómez Rodríguez, L. F. (2013). Exploring EFL pre-service teachers' experience with cultural content and intercultural communicative competence at three Colombian universities. Profile Issues in Teachers Professional Development, 15(2), 49-67. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1053723.pdf
• Özışık, B. Z., Yeşilyurt, S., & Demiröz, H. (2019). Developing intercultural awareness in language teaching: Insights from EFL lecturers in Turkey. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 15(4), 1436-1458. https://doi.org/10.17263/jlls.668546
• Öztürk, H., Çeçen, S. & Altınmakas, D. (2009). How do non-native pre-service English language teachers perceive ELF? A qualitative study [Paper Presentation] English as an International Conference, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey.
• Paige, R. M., Jacobs-Cassuto, M., Yershova, Y. A., & DeJaeghere, J. (2003). Assessing intercultural sensitivity: An empirical analysis of the Hammer and Bennett Intercultural Development Inventory. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 27(4), 467-486. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0147-1767(03)00034-8
• Phongsiriku, M. &Thongrin S. (2019). Developing intercultural awareness in ELT: students’ attitudes toward their intercultural learning experience, Reflections, 26 (1), 77-114. https://doi.org/10.61508/refl.v26i1.203947
• Sercu, L., del Carmen Méndez García, M., & Prieto, P. C. (2005). Culture learning from a constructivist perspective. An investigation of Spanish foreign language teachers’ views. Language and Education, 19(6), 483-495. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500780508668699
• Susilo, A., Yang, P., & Qi, R. (2019). Shaping EFL teachers’ critical intercultural awareness through intercultural education. In D. Mulyadi, H. D. Santoso, S. Aimah, & R. Rahim (Eds.), Proceedings of the 3rd English Language and Literature International Conference. 316-324.
• Wang, Y. (2014). Views and attitudes of staff and students towards the significance of intercultural awareness in foreign language teaching and learning in an Australian university context, [Doctoral Dissertation] University of Tasmania.
• Wang, M. J., Yang, L. Z., & Yang, W. H. (2022). The Perceived Effectiveness of the Blended Team-based Learning (BTBL) Model on Promoting Intercultural Awareness in Hospitality Education. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education, (1) 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1080/10963758.2022.2056472
• Yilmaz, B., & Ozkan, Y. (2015). The perspectives of English language teachers on intercultural awareness at a university prep school in Turkey. Mobile-assisted ESP learning in technical education, 3(3), 258-360. https://scholar.google.com.tr/scholar?q=Yilmaz,+B.,+%26+Ozkan,+Y.+(2015)&hl=tr&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart
• Zhu, H. (2011). From intercultural awareness to intercultural empathy. English Language Teaching, 4(1), 116-119. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1080436.pdf