Uncovering EFL Learners’ Perspectives on a Course Integrating Global Issues and Language Learning

Yıl: 2021 Cilt: 15 Sayı: 1 Sayfa Aralığı: 118 - 133 Metin Dili: İngilizce İndeks Tarihi: 21-05-2021

Uncovering EFL Learners’ Perspectives on a Course Integrating Global Issues and Language Learning

Öz:
The fact that our world increasingly faces serious problems including poverty, wars, environmental destruction, climate change, pandemics, gender inequality, hunger, oppression and so on raises the question of the role of foreign language teaching profession in struggling to find solutions to those global issues. This understanding relates to an educational stance called global education which aims to equip learners with the knowledge, skills, and ability to effectively communicate in a foreign language and enable them to be socially conscious of global problems and provide them with the linguistic tools to take action. In this regard, this study aimed to uncover a group of tertiary level EFL learners’ perspectives on a course integrating global issues and language education. To this end, a study with a qualitative design was conducted, and focus group interviews were held with a group of students at a state university in Turkey. The data analysis revealed that the learners’ conceptions of global issues included ones such as poverty, environment, education, and oppression. Furthermore, they had mainly positive opinions about the effects of dealing with global issues in class, primarily referring to expanding their perspectives and improving learning gains. Finally, they made suggestions for textbook content and classroom activities. The results of this study might contribute to the attempts to make global education one of the vital approaches of foreign language education with the hope that the world could turn into a better place.
Anahtar Kelime:

İngilizceyi Yabancı Dil olarak Öğrenen Öğrencilerin Küresel Sorunlar ve Dil Öğrenimini Entegre Eden bir Dersle ilgili Bakış Açıları

Öz:
Dünyamızın, yoksulluk, savaşlar, çevre tahribatı, iklim değişimi, salgın hastalıklar, cinsiyet eşitsizliği, açlık ve baskı gibi hızla artan küresel sorunlarla karşı karşıya kaldığı gerçeği, yabancı dil eğitiminin bu tip sorunlara çözümler bulmada nasıl bir rol üstlendiği sorusunu ortaya çıkarmaktadır. Bu anlayış, öğrenenleri yabancı bir dilde etkin bir şekilde iletişim kuracak beceri ve bilgiyle donatma ve aynı zamanda sorunların çözümüne katkıda bulanabilmelerini sağlamak amacıyla, onların küresel sorunlar hakkında sosyal bilinç ve sorumluluk sahibi olmalarını hedefleyen bir eğitim akımı olan küresel eğitimle ilintilidir. Bu bağlamda, bu çalışma, İngilizceyi yabancı dil olarak öğrenen bir grup üniversite öğrencisinin küresel sorunlar ve dil öğrenimini entegre eden bir dersle ilgili bakış açılarını ortaya çıkarmayı hedeflemektedir. Bu doğrultuda, nitel bir çalışma tasarımı benimsenmiş ve bir Türk devlet üniversitesi hazırlık programında öğrenim görmekte olan bir grup öğrenciyle odak grup görüşmeleri yürütülmüştür. Veri analizinin sonucunda, öğrenciler küresel sorun olarak yoksulluk, çevre, eğitim ve baskı gibi kavramları dile getirmişlerdir. Ayrıca, sınıfta küresel sorunları işlemenin etkileriyle ilgili olarak, özellikle ufuklarının genişlemesi ve dil öğrenim kazanımlarının artması bakımından genelde olumlu düşüncelere sahip oldukları görülmüştür. Son olarak, ders kitabı içeriği ve sınıf etkinlikleri ile ilgili olarak önerilerde bulunmuşlardır. Bu çalışmanın bulguları, dünyamızı daha iyi bir yere dönüştürme umuduyla, küresel eğitimin, önemli bir yabancı dil eğitimi yaklaşımı olması yönündeki çabalara katkı sağlayabilir.
Anahtar Kelime:

Belge Türü: Makale Makale Türü: Araştırma Makalesi Erişim Türü: Erişime Açık
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APA Bayraktar Balkır N (2021). Uncovering EFL Learners’ Perspectives on a Course Integrating Global Issues and Language Learning. , 118 - 133.
Chicago Bayraktar Balkır Nalan Uncovering EFL Learners’ Perspectives on a Course Integrating Global Issues and Language Learning. (2021): 118 - 133.
MLA Bayraktar Balkır Nalan Uncovering EFL Learners’ Perspectives on a Course Integrating Global Issues and Language Learning. , 2021, ss.118 - 133.
AMA Bayraktar Balkır N Uncovering EFL Learners’ Perspectives on a Course Integrating Global Issues and Language Learning. . 2021; 118 - 133.
Vancouver Bayraktar Balkır N Uncovering EFL Learners’ Perspectives on a Course Integrating Global Issues and Language Learning. . 2021; 118 - 133.
IEEE Bayraktar Balkır N "Uncovering EFL Learners’ Perspectives on a Course Integrating Global Issues and Language Learning." , ss.118 - 133, 2021.
ISNAD Bayraktar Balkır, Nalan. "Uncovering EFL Learners’ Perspectives on a Course Integrating Global Issues and Language Learning". (2021), 118-133.
APA Bayraktar Balkır N (2021). Uncovering EFL Learners’ Perspectives on a Course Integrating Global Issues and Language Learning. Novitas-Royal, 15(1), 118 - 133.
Chicago Bayraktar Balkır Nalan Uncovering EFL Learners’ Perspectives on a Course Integrating Global Issues and Language Learning. Novitas-Royal 15, no.1 (2021): 118 - 133.
MLA Bayraktar Balkır Nalan Uncovering EFL Learners’ Perspectives on a Course Integrating Global Issues and Language Learning. Novitas-Royal, vol.15, no.1, 2021, ss.118 - 133.
AMA Bayraktar Balkır N Uncovering EFL Learners’ Perspectives on a Course Integrating Global Issues and Language Learning. Novitas-Royal. 2021; 15(1): 118 - 133.
Vancouver Bayraktar Balkır N Uncovering EFL Learners’ Perspectives on a Course Integrating Global Issues and Language Learning. Novitas-Royal. 2021; 15(1): 118 - 133.
IEEE Bayraktar Balkır N "Uncovering EFL Learners’ Perspectives on a Course Integrating Global Issues and Language Learning." Novitas-Royal, 15, ss.118 - 133, 2021.
ISNAD Bayraktar Balkır, Nalan. "Uncovering EFL Learners’ Perspectives on a Course Integrating Global Issues and Language Learning". Novitas-Royal 15/1 (2021), 118-133.