The impact of English classics on increasing learners’ motivation and cultural awareness: A case in Turkish EFL classes

Abstract

The impetus behind the development of this research is to study the potential influence(s) of cartoons (caricatures) on L2 learners in terms of gaining cultural awareness and enhancing their motivation levels. To that end, three English classics in the form of cartoons, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare, and Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson have been determined for the experiment. In this quasi-experimental research design, 47 learners of English were asked to read these cartoons illustrated either with colourful or colourless pictures, whereas randomly selected 20 people in the population were only exposed to plain texts. An assessment form, statistically found valid and reliable, developed by the researchers after a comprehensive literature review and getting approvals of two professors in the field in content validity has been utilized in the study. Accordingly, the findings point out the fact that the first group who has aimed at learning the target language through cartoons has adopted more positive attitude towards the language and its culture. Briefly, the current research emphasizes the importance of cartoons in increasing learners’ cultural awareness, motivation and educational accomplishments in the end.