Investigating College Instructors’ and Students’ Perceptions of Learning English in Terms of Learning Theories
Citation
İHTİYARYER, Begüm & Sertel ALTUN. "Investigating College Instructors’ and Students’ Perceptions of Learning English in Terms of Learning Theories". Journal of College Reading and Learning, 53.3. (2023): 232-253.Abstract
University students in Turkey are required to complete
a one-year English preparatory education before starting
their education at their faculties. For some time, it has
been clear that students have difficulties in learning
English in these preparatory programs. The reasons behind
this have always been a hot topic in research areas. To
have a deeper look and offer solutions, it is necessary to
understand how these students and their instructors perceive language learning first. Their perceptions reveal the
learning theories that they have adopted, and these learning theories shape the way teachers teach and the students learn that language. In this framework, this study
aims to reveal the underlying learning theories behind
students’ and instructors’ perceptions of learning English
in English preparatory programs. The phenomenology
method was used in this study among the qualitative
research methods. Ten students and ten instructors were
interviewed during the study. Themes and codes were
created with the content analysis of the data. It was seen
that there is not a single learning theory dominating students’ and instructors’ perceptions of learning English.