A Comparative Study on Attitudes Toward English: The Effect of Online Cross-cultural Exchanges

Jui-Min Tsai

《應用英語期刊》 8期 (2015/12) Pp. 25-60

並列摘要

As English keeps expanding its scope and influence as a global language and its teaching and learning is increasingly valued in the Expanding Circle including Taiwan, the issue of English as a International Language (EIL) has emerged as a new angle of research in the realm of English education. The present study, adopting a sequential mixed-method research design, investigated learners' attitudes toward English language and toward native and non-native English speakers held by 161 sophomore English major students of conversation classes in a private university in Taiwan. The participants were categorized into an ＂online group,＂ who were involved in a cross-cultural distance learning course with interactions with Japanese students, and ＂regular group,＂ trained in a more conventional style of conversation class with unified textbooks while practicing oral language skills with their Taiwanese peers in the same classroom. The results showed that both groups considered English a key to personal and national success while seeing native speakers and cultures as an important help for their language improvement. However, the online group, with more exposure to cross-cultural exchanges, were significantly more inclined to use English as a language of global communication and respect non-native speakers for their perceived value as English learning partners. The study also suggested that universities seek more opportunities and provide more support for authentic, cross-cultural communication in English, and that teachers design more diverse materials incorporating world Englishes to improve students' communicative competencies in language use and to empower them to be legitimate users of English.

並列關鍵字

English as an international language ； attitudes ； cross-cultural communication ； online discussions