The Impact of Out-of-Class Language Activities on English as a Foreign Language Proficiency of Private University Students - (A Case of Erbil)

Emine Bala

doi:10.31578/jebs.v6i1.217

Abstract

Abstract The present study aims at revealing the impact of engagement in out-of-class learning on foreign language students’ language proficiency. Accordingly, the relationship of private university EFL students’ involvement in English language activities outside the classroom with their language proficiency is investigated. The researcher designed a study based on descriptive quantitative research method utilizing a questionnaire comprising 25 items and administered it to the freshmen from English language teaching, biology education, physics education, and mathematics education departments at the education faculty of a private university in Erbil. 87 participants responded to the questionnaire. The statistical analysis of data was performed through SPSS 25 data editor. The results show that the most frequent activities in which English is practiced are entertaining activities like watching movies, videos, and surfing on the Internet, and that the level of the students’ involvement in English language activities outside the classroom is positively associated with their language proficiency. This research could be beneficial for language teachers to show how to encourage their students to start practice outside the classroom, for students to offer some ways to augment their language proficiency with the application of English in authentic environments, and for educational administrators to give some ideas for curriculum design including out-of-class learning. Keywords: English as a foreign language (EFL), English language activities outside the classroom, language proficiency, out-of-class learning, second language acquisition (SLA)

Highlights

As either the student-centered education or technology-oriented system has taken power in foreign language teaching, the necessity of the students’ ability to take responsibility for their learning has increased correspondingly
The present study aims at: 1. revealing the amount of students’ English practice out of classroom, 2. diagnosing the relationship between out-of-class English study and language proficiency level, besides, it aims at identifying the learners who need to be encouraged to employ the target language in authentic environments
As the participants were only first year English as a foreign language (EFL) students, the questionnaire was translated into their native language by a language expert checking by three first language experts to ensure the relevance of translation and comprehensibility

Summary

Introduction

As either the student-centered education or technology-oriented system has taken power in foreign language teaching, the necessity of the students’ ability to take responsibility for their learning has increased correspondingly. Language learners can obtain the required for language acquisition skills as an essential benefit of the student-centered method along with constructing continuing education as the main purpose (ibid). In this respect, in-class English engagement is not considered enough for acquiring the language properly, and most of researchers have emphasized the significance of involvement in practicing English outside the classroom independently (Benson, 2013; Benson & Reinders, 2011; Grau, 2009; Nunan, 2012; Ranta, 2010; Sundqvist, 2009; Sundqvist & Sylvén, 2016; Olsson, 2016). He creates out-of-class activities for his students to engage them in their learning at least three

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion