The study explores the relationship between Dörnyei’s (2005, 2009) L2 motivational self system (L2MSS) and the English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ instructional willingness to communicate (IWTC). It examines specifically the impact of the three elements of the L2MSS, that is, the ideal self, ought-to self, and learning experience, on the components of the IWTC. The study used a quantitative method of data collection from a two-part questionnaire; both parts were answered by the same participants. The questionnaire was adapted and modified to fit the needs of the Arabic participants, who were 247 Kuwaiti college students. A thorough confirmatory factor analysis was implemented to validate the L2MSS and IWTC questions. The outcomes of the study revealed that each part of the questionnaire was fit to test the data, and thus the tools were authenticated for future research in an Arabic context. In addition to highlighting the significant element of the motivational self, the study looked further into the construct of the IWTC and pinpointed its most important components. The findings show that the ideal self was significantly correlated with the learning responsibility component of the IWTC. The ought-to self was found to be insignificant, and the learning experience had no factor loading and thus was excluded.
This exploratory study investigates the use of literary texts in English as a foreign language (EFL) coursebooks and examines the extent to which literature is used within the coursebooks, the types of texts used as regards authenticity and recency, the criteria for selecting and adapting the texts and the ways of improving the selection and adaptation process. Multiple articles written on this subject show that the evaluation of EFL coursebooks is a relevant and important research area in the study of language and linguistics. This study gives a survey of the extent to which literary texts are used in EFL coursebooks within institutions of higher learning in Kuwait and worldwide. In this study, 44 popular EFL coursebooks (between 2015 and 2019) within higher education institutes, including those in Kuwait, were analysed. The findings demonstrated that literary texts are not included in many of the coursebooks used nowadays and that the literary texts selected were primarily from an early period (more than a century ago). Furthermore, the results revealed that the coursebooks include a large percentage of inauthentic, ill-adapted works. Consequently, this study recommends incorporating authentic literary texts in EFL coursebooks comprising modern literature.
Integrating and utilizing literary texts from coursebooks in foreign language teaching could impact the communicative competence of language learners. The study aims to scrutinize the usage of authentic and inauthentic literary texts found in 44 mainstream English as a foreign language (EFL) coursebooks. The article particularly examines how texts can facilitate communicative language learning and teaching in language classes. To do this, the study proposes a set of principles that can enable using literary texts more appropriately. The analysis of the study indicates that authentic and inauthentic literary texts are used differently, with authentic texts providing great opportunities for communication and offering a unique contribution to the EFL classroom. The study has implications for language teachers and coursebook designers in language programs. Further recommendations are made on how literature can be used communicatively.
In an attempt to conceptualize the role of literature in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) courses, this study analyzed the ways literary texts are approached in popular EFL coursebooks. It set out to find if these texts were used to their full potential according to Littlewood’s five perspectives. The scrutinized literary texts were drawn from 44 mainstream EFL coursebooks. The findings showed that when literary texts were used, they were not necessarily used as literary works. Furthermore, the findings substantiated that inauthentic and poorly adapted literary texts did not lend themselves to higher levels of inquiry.
As stakeholders of educational systems, teachers are urged to participate in social change through the implementation of critical thinking skills into the educational setting. English language teaching has primarily focused on critical thinking, particularly in the recent years. Therefore, teachers are required to examine their teaching materials to ensure that they meet the needs of the 21st century. This study investigates the extent of implemented higher-order thinking skills using revised Bloom’s taxonomy. It examines tasks in course books used at the College of Technological Studies at the Public Authority of Applied Education and Training in Kuwait. The course books examined are Tech Talk at the elementary, pre-intermediate, and intermediate levels. The findings of this study prove that most of the tasks in the sample chosen encourage students’ lower cognitive skills. Therefore, syllabus and material designers and teachers should include tasks that foster higher-order cognitive skills. The results are expected to serve as reference for direct language teachers when planning lessons in their course book adaptation and with curriculum development.
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