The affordance of culturally-based texts and EFL Arab college students’ gain in communication skill: a mixed method study

Abstract

The purpose of this mixed method study was two-fold. The first purpose was to investigate the role of using culturally-based materials on contributing to the advancement of oral communication of five EFL Arab college students through a six-week program, and the second purpose was to explore the college students’ views and experiences of using culturally-based materials. Results of the study revealed that there was a noticeable, incremental gain in communication skills by using culturally-based materials. Additionally, the tactful pedagogical strategies that were used, enhanced this incremental gain in oral communication. Moreover, the college students viewed the use of culturally-based materials as relevant and pertinent to their lived experiences and gave them a sense of enchantment and euphoria. They also viewed their experience as a weaving process by which they connected their prior knowledge with new knowledge or their social and pragmatic knowledge with their academic language, which enabled them to extend and build communication edifices. The study incorporates, some recommendations and implications.