The Effects of Foreign Language Learning on Intercultural Awareness of Non-Native EFL Teacher Trainees

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Published: Oct 1, 2014

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İskender Hakkı Sarıgöz
Gazi University

Abstract

This research focuses on the impact of teacher trainees’ professional education in English Language Teaching (ELT) program on their perceptions of the intercultural diversity and awareness. It attempts to understand the relationship between foreign language learning as a part of foreign language teacher training and the development of personal intercultural perspectives. The paper argues that intercultural awareness would contribute to the EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teacher trainees’ personal development and future teaching performance in terms of development of global dialogue. The main assumption in this research is that foreign language instruction affects ELT teacher trainees’ intercultural awareness in a positive way by the exposure it offers, and such an awareness may increase their contribution to global social behavior and interaction. In this vein, foreign language teachers play an important role in the construction of intercultural and international dialogue. The subject group’s being ELT department teacher trainees in a non-English speaking country makes the results of the study more significant since the great majority of English teachers are not native speakers.

 

Keywords: intercultural awareness, learning and teaching English as a foreign language, teacher training, teacher trainees

Article Details

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Vol. 1 No. 5 (2014)
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Articles

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Author Biography

İskender Hakkı Sarıgöz, Gazi University

İskender Hakkı Sarıgöz is an associate professor in Gazi University ELT Department. He holds MA and Ph. D degrees from Gazi University. His professional interests are teacher training, methodology, interdisciplinary dimensions of ELT, and translation. He has lectured in Gazi University ELT Department for 30 years. He has also lectured in some universities in Turkey and Europe (Erasmus) including Anadolu University DELTTP. Gazi Eğitim Fakültesi, Yabancı Diller Bölümü, İngiliz Dili Eğitimi Ana Bilim Dalı, Teknikokullar, C-Blok No 111, Ankara 312 2028486 Fax: 312 2227037 iskender@gazi.edu.tr

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