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TopAcademics And The English Language In Asia
One of the problems that can arise in English classes taught in an EFL setting is that students—particularly non-English majors—may or may not understand why they need to be enrolled in an English class. Their view of English class may be achievement-based—or perhaps even fulfillment-based—rather than acquisition-based (Nezhad, 2008; Cheng & Dörnyei, 2007, Sampson, 2012). In many parts of Asia, although the use of English is prevalent—being used in signs, products and advertisements—there is often little or no opportunity to use English outside of the classroom. Consequently, English class is viewed as a requisite hindrance, as Chen, Warden and Chang (2005) so aptly point out (p. 610).
...settings where English is a foreign language (EFL) often present little or no opportunity to use English outside of the classroom. Even when the environment’s broadcast and print media use English, people have very little incentive to access such input.
Additionally, students may have learned from their experiences that stimulating language learning classes may be subservient to academic achievement. Indeed, as Cheng and Dörnyei (2007) have pointed out, language teachers from a variety of settings in Taiwan assigned little importance to creating interesting tasks for students. Savignon and Wang (2003) have suggested that the focus on grammar exercises—apparently still common in Taiwan despite students’ desires for more communicative language classes—is at the heart of the problem.
The way in which teachers are perceived by students may also influence students’ perceptions of English language learning. In Confucian-heritage societies such as Japan and Taiwan classroom behavior by students may be influenced by their instilled beliefs: 1) a view that teachers are supreme authorities, 2) information and knowledge should be passed down to them from the teacher, and 3) the classroom is a somber place, so attentive students are to behave quietly and respectfully. Because of the potential for embarrassment caused by making errors in front of peers and teachers, students may be reticent to speak in the TL (Tsui, 1996; Sampson, 2012). Tsui (1996) adds that students with lower English proficiencies are the most apt to refrain from participating in a noticeable manner in an English class for fear of being laughed at.