An Investigation of English Language Learners' Attitudes Towards Global Englishes: For A Paradigm Shift in English Language Teaching

2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K20233
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: 船田 なつの 東京大学, 大学総合教育研究センター, 特任講師 (20912330)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: Global Englishes / Language attitudes / Questionnaire / English teaching / A paradigm shift

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

The research project has produced useful results. First, I have finished the refinement of a questionnaire about English language learners’ attitudes towards (the existing norms and ideologies regarding) English and English language learning and teaching in global contexts. The pilot studies were also conducted. The results showed that, despite a growing number of new pedagogical proposals, the monolingual, ‘native’ speaker norms and the standard English ideology remained relatively unchanged in English language teaching. Second, two papers were prepared and will be submitted to international conferences on English language teaching and applied linguistics, such as the conference of the American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL) and the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) International Convention and English Language Expo, in the next two months. Third, in order to reach a wider audience, instead of submitting preliminary results to domestic conferences, I have submitted an article for review to an international journal.

Current Status of Research Progress

2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.

Reason

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was necessary to shift from using both quantitative and qualitative research methods to using solely qualitative research methods regarding pilot studies. Nonetheless, the studies obtained useful data. I am currently working on a second article which should be ready to submit to a journal by the end of the summer.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

I will complete a second article. This article focuses on qualitative research findings. I plan to work on my main study and present further findings at multiple international and domestic conferences.

Causes of Carryover

My research so far has focused predominantly on qualitative research. Thus, online survey tools(e.g., Qualtrics) were not required in 2021. I will purchase the Qualtrics license in 2022 to create a large-scale online questionnaire.