Prospective English Language Teachers’ Perceptions of the Target Language and Culture in Relation to their Socioeconomic Status

Arda Arikan

doi:10.5539/elt.v4n3p232

Abstract

Prospective foreign language teachers need to have an accurate knowledge and a positive perception of the target language and target culture so that they can help their students gain further insight on culture by and large. Hence, by means of a questionnaire, prospective English language teachers’ (n= 412) perceptions of the target language and culture are sought to be answered in relation to their present knowledge of the target language and culture and their socioeconomic status. The results indicate that the participants see themselves knowledgeable in target language, but insufficient in target culture. Similarly, target culture is much less appreciated than the language. It is also shown that attitudes toward target language, knowledge of target culture, parental use of target language, family income, and father’s job have significant influence on prospective teachers’ perceptions.

Highlights

Atkinson’s (1999) thorough analysis revealed that research on culture received minimal consideration in literature we know by experience that PTs need to have an accurate knowledge and a positive perception of the target language and culture (TLC) so that they work perform with this knowledge in their classrooms comfortably
These results show that PTs see themselves knowledgeable in the TL, but insufficient in the target culture (TC)
These results indicate that almost all PTs are positive toward the TL, but are mostly negative toward the TC

Summary

Introduction

Atkinson’s (1999) thorough analysis revealed that research on culture received minimal consideration in literature we know by experience that PTs need to have an accurate knowledge and a positive perception of the TLC so that they work perform with this knowledge in their classrooms comfortably. This is especially important in foreign language teaching since, as Kramsch (2004) shows, the contemporary foreign language teacher is an expert of linguistics and culture who understands the interplay between language and culture while delivering these two efficiently. Ahlquist (2000) further notes that PT internalize chauvinistic ideologies in their social circles strengthening their resistance toward learning and appreciating other cultures

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion