How cultural awareness influences senior year students to achieve curricular standards through Ecuadorian literature

Abstract

English proficiency is a global necessity, and Ecuador is no exception, where it has been integrated into the education curriculum to enhance language skills. However, student performance in English has remained below the desired level, falling short of the B1 proficiency standard set by the Ecuadorian Curriculum. This research focuses on assessing the influence of cultural awareness on EFL high school students through the integration of Ecuadorian literature, with the goal of aiding them in achieving the B1 proficiency level by the culmination of their senior year. For this end a survey was administered to thirty (30) high school senior students at an all-girls high school in the city of Cuenca to ascertain their stance on the incorporation of cultural material related to Ecuadorian literature in English classes following the implementation of a demonstration class. Employing a mixed-method approach, quantitative data were gathered through surveys, while qualitative insights were gleaned via open-ended questions. The findings convey a notable interest among students in embracing local literary works within their English classes, with a substantial proportion expressing a distinct preference for this pedagogical approach. These results underscore the potential of culturally relevant pedagogical strategies in language instruction.