EXAMINING THE ROLE OF THE AMERICAN CORNER IN PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS AMONG ADULT EFL LEARNERS

  • Dušan Ivanović Univerzitet u Beogradu, Filološki fakultet
Keywords: American Corner, English language programs, foreign language learning, cooperative learning, TED Talks

Abstract


The American Corner serves as a cultural and information center that supports the growth of non-formal adult learning initiatives. This American-style library is particularly important because of the services it provides to English language learners, who visit the Corner regularly in order to hone their language skills. Thus, the aim of this paper is to investigate the role that the Corner plays in promoting the development of English language skills among adult learners through an analysis of relevant theoretical perspectives and empirical studies on English language teaching. The study begins by defining the mission of the American Corner and explaining its role in promoting the importance of non-formal learning programs. Next, the paper examines the effectiveness of the English language programs offered at the Corner by analyzing whether they rely on methods and techniques that are compatible with contemporary approaches to second language acquisition (SLA). The paper concludes by offering some suggestions for future research, which could focus on assessing adult students’ perceptions of their English learning experience within the educational environment provided by the American Corner.

References

American Corner Kragujevac. (2018). English Language Programs. Unpublished Internal AC Report.

Berg, M. V. (2009). Intervening in Student Learning Abroad: A Research‐Based Inquiry. Intercultural Education, 20(sup1), S15–S27. https://doi.org/10.1080/14675980903370821

Brown, D. (2001). Teaching by Principles: An Interactive Approach to Language Pedagogy. Oxford, UK: Longman.

Carlson, J. S., Burn, B. B., Useem, J. & Yachimowicz, D. (1990). Study Abroad: The Experience of American Undergraduates. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

Crystal, D. (2003). English as a Global Language. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Davidson, N. & Major, C. H. (2014). Boundary Crossings: Cooperative Learning, Collaborative Learning, and Problem-Based Learning. Journal on Excellence in College Teaching, 25(3&4), 7–55.

Despotović, M. (2016). Adult Education in the Western Balkans – An Empirical Perspective. Beograd: Društvo za obrazovanje odraslih & DVV International. [In Serbian]

Durbaba, O. (2014). Aspects of Language Planning at the Local Community Level: A Case Study. In: J. Filipović & O. Durbaba (Eds.), Languages in Education and Language Education Policies (pp. 51–73). Beograd: Filološki fakultet. [In Serbian]

Grandić, R. & Stipić, M. (2011). New Quality of Education: A Chance for a Better Future. Pedagoška stvarnost, 57(5–6), 410–425. [In Serbian]

Halder, S. & Saha, S. (2023). The Routledge Handbook of Education Technology (1st ed.). Routledge India. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003293545

Hedge, T. (2000). Teaching and Learning in the Language Classroom. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Horwitz, E. K. (1986). Some Language Acquisition Principles and Their Implications for Second Language Teaching. Hispania, 69(3), 684–689. https://doi.org/10.2307/342782

Krashen, S. D. (1982). Principles and Practice in Second Language Acquisition. Oxford: Pergamon Press.

Kuka, E. (2012). Concept of Informal Education. Život i škola, 58(27), 197–203. [In Croatian]

Liu, M. (2021). Changes in and Effects of TED Talks on Postgraduate Students’ English Speaking Performance and Speaking Anxiety. Journal of Language and Education, 7(3), 104–118. https://doi.org/10.17323/jle.2021.11632

Mitchell, K. (2012). A Social Tool: Why and How ESOL Students Use Facebook. CALICO Journal, 29(3), 471–493.

Murray, D. E. & Christison, M. (2011). What English Language Teachers Need to Know Volume I: Understanding Learning. New York: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203846339

Ning, H. & Hornby, G. (2010). The Effectiveness of Cooperative Learning in Teaching English to Chinese Tertiary Learners. Effective Education, 2(2), 99–116. https://doi.org/10.1080/19415532.2010.522792

Nunan, D. (2004). Task-Based Language Teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Obari, H. & Lambacher, S. (2014). Impact of a Blended Environment with M-Learning on EFL skills. In: S. Jager, L. Bradley, E. J. Meima & S. Thouësny (Eds.), CALL Design: Principles and Practice; Proceedings of the 2014 EUROCALL Conference, Groningen, The Netherlands (pp. 267–272). Dublin: Research-publishing.net. https://doi.org/10.14705/rpnet.2014.000229

Oxford, R. L. (1997). Cooperative Learning, Collaborative Learning, and Interaction: Three Communicative Strands in the Language Classroom. The Modern Language Journal, 81(4), 443–456. https://doi.org/10.2307/328888

Pavićević, M. & Petrović, D. (2015). Differences Between Formal, Non-Formal and Informal Education. Zbornik radova Učiteljskog fakulteta Prizren – Leposavić, 9, 103–113. https://doi.org/10.5937/zrufpl1509103P [In Serbian]

Pešikan, A. (2010). The Contemporary View of the Nature of School Learning and Teaching: The Socio-Constructivist Perspective and Its Practical Implications. Psihološka istraživanja, 13(2), 157–184. [In Serbian]

Samayoa, P. (2017). The Extent of Influence That Genre Conventions Have on TED Talks. Stylus, 8(2), 46–59.

Shao, Y. (2011). Second Language Learning by Exchanging Cultural Contexts Through the Mobile Group Blog. In: S. Thouësny & L. Bradley (Eds.), Second Language Teaching and Learning With Technology: Views of Emergent Researchers (pp. 143–168). Dublin: Research-publishing.net.

Suherdi, D. (2021). Online Teaching of English as a Foreign Language in Indonesia: Lessons From COVID-19 Pandemic. Ngaglik, Sleman: Deepublish.

Tomlinson, B. (2012). Materials Development for Language Learning and Teaching. Language Teaching, 45(2), 143–179. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444811000528

Torma, A. (2009). Children’s Corner. Pančevačko Čitalište, 7(1), 120. [In Serbian]

Urkom, A. (2016). The Media as a Tool in Foreign Language Acquisition. Godišnjak Fakulteta za kulturu i medije, 8, 263–276. https://doi.org/10.5937/gfkm1608263U [In Serbian]

Van Lier, L. (2006). Internet and Language Education. In M. Berns & K. Brown (Eds.), Concise Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics (pp. 287–292). Elsevier.

Wright, A., Betteridge, D. & Buckby, M. (2006). Games for Language Learning (3rd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Zarrabi, F. (2016). A Study on Cooperative Language Learning: The Impact of CLL Approach on English Language Proficiency of EFL Learners. European Journal of Education Studies, 1(2), 119–132.

Biblioteka grada Beograda. (2021). Izveštaj o radu Biblioteke grada Beograda za 2020. godinu. Preuzeto 26. decembra 2023, sa https://bgb.rs/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BGB-Izvestaj-o-radu-2020.pdf

ETS. (2023). The TOEIC Program. Retrieved January 20, 2023 from https://www.ets.org/toeic/test-takers

Grad Užice. (2020). Izveštaj o radu Narodne biblioteke Užice za 2019. godinu. Preuzeto 26. decembra 2023, sa https://uzice.rs/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Izve%C3%ADtaj-Biblioteka-kona-ìan-pdf.pdf

U.S. Embassy in Serbia. (2019). American Corners in Serbia. Retrieved December 20, 2023, from https://rs.usembassy.gov/education-culture/american-corners/

Published
2024/12/20
Section
Review scientific paper