Academic Culture in Distance Between Taiwanese Students and Native English Speaking Teachers: A Case Study

Presenter: Cara Chen

Instructor: Dr. Teresa Hsu

Date: 2015/06/221

Contents

2

Introduction

Background and MotivationStatement of ProblemThe Purposes of the StudyResearch QuestionsDefinition of Terms

3

Definition of Terms

EFL: English as a foreign language ESL: English as a second language NEST(s): Native English speaking teacher(s)

4

Introduction

• Native English teachers have moved to non native English speaking countries.

• Students have gone abroad to study.

• Students and teachers from different countries bring their own culture into the language classroom.

Background of the Study

Introduction

5

Few studies have focused on EFL Taiwanese students’ cultural barriers to language learning in the classroom.

Statement of Problem

Introduction

6

Purpose of the Study

• To explore if the teaching approaches Taiwanese students preferred match their learning experiences in their NESTs’ speaking classes

• To investigate Taiwanese students’ self adjustment and suggestions for the NESTs in the speaking classes

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1.What are Taiwanese college students’ perceived differences between the preferences and experiences of their native English teacher’s teaching approaches in the English speaking classes?

2. How do Taiwanese college students adapt for their learning in speaking classes?

3. What suggestions do Taiwanese students have for their NEST in speaking classes?

Research QuestionsIntroduction

8

Review of literature

Culture Academic culture in education Western teaching methodsTaiwanese students’ role in classTaiwanese students’ learning style

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Review of literature Culture

Culture is “the way of thinking, feeling, believing, and behaving that is imparted to members of a group in the socialization process, which also implies that people from the same cultural group might share the same thought, behavior, or beliefs”.

(Hinkel, 2000)

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Review of literature Academic culture in education

Teachers should address the culture components of language learning, and help students understand the values and norms of the academic culture.

(Zohreh ,2004)

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Review of literature Western teaching methods

Western education culture emphasize on individual learning.

Teachers use a lot of activities in teaching. They are willing to tolerate students’ different point of views and encourage students to express ideas and thinking critically.

(Chen, 2006)12

Review of literature Taiwanese students’ role in class

Students are always listening to teacher’s directions in class. They are in lack of interacting activities with peers in English courses. Students always seemed to be shy, quiet, and negative in language learning. Moreover, they do not like to express opinions and emotions in front of classmates.

(Lee, 2001)13

Review of literature Taiwanese students’ learning style

Hsu (2010) claimed that students pay more attention to exams and scores than to the learning process.

Students still rely on the textbooks when learning. If textbooks are not used, students would not know what to learn in class and after class.

(Li, 2004)14

Population and Sample

Research Instruments

Data Collection

Research Procedure and Data Analysis

Methodology

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Population and Sample

.

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Method

Research instruments

.

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Method

Research instruments

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Method

Developer Hu’s (2010) research and several cross-culture studies by Lin (2006, 2007, 2008)

Reliability, validity

0.8; above 0.6

Item 23

Scale Five-point Likert scale

Content Language skills, cultural concepts, learning attitudes

Pilot Questionnaire

Research instruments

19

Method

Developer Brown’s Teaching by Principle (2007) and several cross-culture studies by Lin (2006, 2007, 2008)

Reliability 0.8

Item 43

Scale Five-point Likert scale

Content Learning experiences , teaching approaches, teaching contents of NESTs

Questionnaire

Research instruments

Students group interview

- Learning/teaching situation

- Teaching style of teacher- Suggestions for the

NEST(s)

In-depth with NEST(s)

- Students’ learning attitudes

- Expectations about students’ learning

- Students’ learning situation

- Students’ strengths and weaknesses

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Method

Interview questions

Data collection

.

21

Method

Data Analysis

• Analyze the quantitative data by using SPSS 18.0

• Code the qualitative data, search for alternative explanations and write the reports

22

Method

Research procedure

Data collectionData

analysis, results 23

Pilot study

Formal study

24

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