EFL Learners’ Cultural Identity: A Case Study on Level Eight Female EFL Students at King Khalid University
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1506.28Keywords:
second term, culture, identity, English languageAbstract
This study aims to investigate the effect of learning English on the cultural identity of EFL learners. It also aims to examine learners’ attitudes toward the influence of the English language on their cultural identity from their perspective. Participants included 103 level eight female learners from the English Department in the College of Education at King Khalid University in Abha, Saudi Arabia. The data was collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The findings indicated that the learners’ cultural identity had changed through learning English, and this change was a result of adopting features from Western culture. Moreover, prolonged exposure to, and understanding of, the English language helped learners to develop a level of awareness of the differences between the Saudi and Western cultures. Furthermore, it was found that the vast majority (90%) of the learners had a positive attitude toward the influence of learning English on their cultural identity. The results further indicated that the learners looked at the English language as a superior language and associated it with success in their lives. Finally, the study concludes with recommendations for curriculum designers, teachers, and parents on how to minimise the effects of learning English on the cultural identity of learners.
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