Early English language learning experiences of Croatian secondary school students

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Rana iskustva učenja engleskog jezika hrvatskih srednjoškolaca
• Author: Narda Štulić
• Mentor: Stela Letica Krevelj (mentor)
• Mentor: Jasenka Čengić (komentor)
• Committee member: Anđel Starčević (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Jasenka Čengić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Stela Letica Krevelj (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of English language and literature); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2022-11-16, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; Anglistics

Abstract

This paper explores learners’ perceptions and reflections about their own early English language learning experiences (ELLEs) reported in a research study conducted via an online questionnaire on a sample of 197 Croatian secondary school students of three different grammar schools. English as a foreign language (EFL) teaching and learning has a long tradition in Croatia. Children are exposed to English in the English classroom from the first or fourth grade of primary school, and outside of the classroom through a variety of affordances, such as digital and printed media. The findings indicate that the participants overall associated numerous sources of input of the English language with their early formal and informal learning, with the highest number of responses related to TV shows, songs and Internet videos in English. The majority of the students expressed very positive attitudes towards their earliest ELLEs and considered them important for their education and/or for personal reasons. The participants were also asked to share accounts of their particularly memorable early ELLEs. These salient experiences provided valuable data about learners’ motivation, emotions and self-esteem on an individual level. The rich diversity of the participants’ experiences serves as a reminder that every language learner has their own complex language learning past. Data gathered in this study about the current generations’ early ELLEs is hoped to be both interesting and useful to EFL teachers and learners of upcoming generations, as well as to encourage them to reflect upon and find inspiration and comfort in their own past experiences.

Abstract (croatian)

Ovaj rad istražuje percepcije i razmišljanja učenika o svojim ranim iskustvima učenja engleskog jezika (ELLE-ovima) dobivene u istraživanju provedenu putem online upitnika na uzorku od 197 hrvatskih srednjoškolskih učenika iz tri različite gimnazije. Hrvatska dugi niz godina njeguje tradiciju učenja i poučavanja engleskog kao stranog jezika (EFL). Djeca se susreću s engleskim jezikom u učionici od prvog ili četvrtog razreda osnovne škole, a izvan učionice lako su dostupni sadržaji, primjerice digitalni ili tiskani, na engleskom jeziku. Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da sudionici povezuju brojne izvore engleskog jezika uz svoje rano formalno i neformalno učenje, a najpopularniji među njima su izvori iz kategorija TV serija, pjesama i videa s interneta. Većina učenika je izrazilo vrlo pozitivne stavove prema svojim najranijim ELLE-ovima, smatrajući ih bitnima za svoje obrazovanje i/ili od osobne važnosti. Sudionike se također zatražilo da podijele rane ELLE-ove koji su ih se posebno dojmili. Ova izdvojena iskustva važna su zbog uvida u motivaciju, emocije i samopouzdanje učenika na individualnoj razini. Bogata raznolikost iskustava sudionika podsjetnik su na činjenicu da svaki učenik stranog jezika ima svoju kompleksnu prošlost učenja jezika. Nadamo se da će podaci proizašli iz ovog istraživanja o ranim ELLE-ovima sadašnjih generacija biti zanimljivi i korisni nastavnicima i učenicima engleskog kao stranog jezika budućih generacija, te da će im služiti kao poticaj da promišljaju i nalaze inspiraciju i utjehu u svojim vlastitim prošlim iskustvima.

• Keywords: English language learning experiences (ELLEs); English as a foreign language (EFL); formal and informal contexts of language learning; affective aspect of language learning; reflection
• Keywords (croatian): iskustva učenja engleskog jezika (ELLE-ovi); engleski kao strani jezik (EFL); formalni i neformalni konteksti učenja jezika; afektivni aspekt učenja jezika; refleksija
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:810448
• Study programme: Title: English Language and Literature (double major); specializations in: Linguistics, Literature and Culture, Translation, TEFL; Course: TEFL; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra edukacije engleskog jezika i književnosti (magistar/magistra edukacije engleskog jezika i književnosti)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Repository: ODRAZ
• Created on: 2022-11-19 21:39:08