Teaching ELF as a motivation source for learners: An action research study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore if teaching ELF would help students change their beliefs about language and language learning. Firstly, students were interviewed in person, and they were found to have a lack of motivation and negative attitudes towards learning English with standard norms. It was also noticed that the students are not familiar with varieties of English spoken worldwide. Then, according to students’ responses, a two-week ELF-based teaching was planned and applied based on Jenkins’ and Seidlhoffer’s suggestions on ELF core and teaching. The lessons were based on intelligibility of natural spontaneous communication, and students were guaranteed not to be judged by their mistakes. Hence, friendly classroom atmosphere was sustained utmost for two weeks. At the end of two-week period, the students were interviewed once more to get insight into their beliefs about language learning. The results revealed that students’ perception changed to some extent, and they were observed to develop more affirmative attitudes towards English language learning. It was found that ELF teaching can be used as a starting point to engage students to learn a language by abandoning Standard English norms imposed by course books and teachers.