EFL Undergraduate Students' Perspectives of the Curriculum Employed in the English Language Department at the Hashemite University

Malak M Shehadeh ,Mohammed Said Obeidat

doi:10.7176/jep/10-26-01

Abstract

This current study aimed to investigate EFL undergraduate students' perspectives of the curriculum employed in the English Language Department at the Hashemite University. More specifically, the study attempted to explore their perspectives of the literature, linguistics, translation and the four language skills courses they had during their study at the university. The research instruments used was a questionnaire and questionnaire interview. One hundred and seventy seven students (40 males and 137 females) took part in the study. Eighty two of them were in the third year of study and 95 were in the fourth. Results showed that the students perceived the curriculum positively and regarded the translation and four language skills courses as the most beneficial. Results also indicated the reasons behind which the students regarded each course as more/less beneficial. In addition, they revealed statistical significant differences in the students’ responses due to gender in favor of females and no significant differences according to study-year. In light of these results, recommendations were suggested. Keywords : EFL undergraduates, perspectives, EFL curriculum, EFL courses, The Hashemite University DOI : 10.7176/JEP/10-26-01 Publication date :September 30 th 2019

Highlights

Some students want to study English or another foreign language for advancement in their professional lives or for getting a better job
4.5 Discussion of the Results This current study aimed to explore a sample of English as a foreign language (EFL) undergraduate students' perspectives of the curriculum employed in the English Language Department at the Hashemite University
Regarding the first research question about the students’ perception of each course implemented in the English Language Department and the EFL curriculum as a whole, results showed that the students perceived the translation and four language skills courses as the most beneficial and the linguistics courses as the least

Summary

Introduction

Some students want to study English or another foreign language for advancement in their professional lives or for getting a better job. English has become a medium of instruction at universities in a large number of countries, a basic means of second language learning/teaching, and an accessing source of modern knowledge and scientific research (Abdulhafidh, 2015). Any curriculum including the English as a foreign language (EFL) one comprises the philosophy, purposes, design and implementation of a whole program. It can be conceptualized as a list of subjects for a course to the perception of the ultimate goal of education as a whole. It is argued that curriculum deals with the abstract general goals of education which reflect the overall educational and cultural philosophy of a country, the national and political trends, and the theoretical orientation to language and language learning (Karavas, 2014)

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion