Teaching the Greek Language in Multicultural Classrooms Using English as a <i>Lingua Franca</i>: Teachers’ Perceptions, Attitudes, and Practices

The present study examines teachers’ perceptions, attitudes, and practices regarding the use of English as a <i>lingua franca</i> (ELF) to teach Greek as a second language (L2) in multicultural classrooms in Greece, a largely underexplored area in the field of applied linguistics. The re...

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Main Authors: Aretousa Giannakou, Kyriaki Karalia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-08-01
Series:Societies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/13/8/180
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author Aretousa Giannakou
Kyriaki Karalia
author_facet Aretousa Giannakou
Kyriaki Karalia
author_sort Aretousa Giannakou
collection DOAJ
description The present study examines teachers’ perceptions, attitudes, and practices regarding the use of English as a <i>lingua franca</i> (ELF) to teach Greek as a second language (L2) in multicultural classrooms in Greece, a largely underexplored area in the field of applied linguistics. The research was based on self-reports collected through questionnaires, written accounts, metaphor elicitation, and semi-structured interviews provided by 20 teachers of young learners with a migrant background in public schools in Greece. The findings showed that the classroom discourse takes place mainly in the target language, i.e., Greek, and ELF was also reported to be used by both teachers and learners for specific functions, such as vocabulary translation, explanation of grammar rules, and checking for comprehension. As reported by the participants, both teachers and learners welcome the idea of ELF use because a sense of security and comfort is provided through its employment. The study suggests that ELF may allow a smooth transition into the new social reality of the host country and a better approach of L2 Greek for young learners with a migrant background in the context of multilingual and intercultural education.
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spelling doaj.art-466cae290e7d4212b6dbc5d77a5639d62023-11-19T03:00:44ZengMDPI AGSocieties2075-46982023-08-0113818010.3390/soc13080180Teaching the Greek Language in Multicultural Classrooms Using English as a <i>Lingua Franca</i>: Teachers’ Perceptions, Attitudes, and PracticesAretousa Giannakou0Kyriaki Karalia1School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Languages and Literature, University of Nicosia, Nicosia 2417, CyprusSchool of Humanities, Hellenic Open University, 263 35 Patra, GreeceThe present study examines teachers’ perceptions, attitudes, and practices regarding the use of English as a <i>lingua franca</i> (ELF) to teach Greek as a second language (L2) in multicultural classrooms in Greece, a largely underexplored area in the field of applied linguistics. The research was based on self-reports collected through questionnaires, written accounts, metaphor elicitation, and semi-structured interviews provided by 20 teachers of young learners with a migrant background in public schools in Greece. The findings showed that the classroom discourse takes place mainly in the target language, i.e., Greek, and ELF was also reported to be used by both teachers and learners for specific functions, such as vocabulary translation, explanation of grammar rules, and checking for comprehension. As reported by the participants, both teachers and learners welcome the idea of ELF use because a sense of security and comfort is provided through its employment. The study suggests that ELF may allow a smooth transition into the new social reality of the host country and a better approach of L2 Greek for young learners with a migrant background in the context of multilingual and intercultural education.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/13/8/180teachers’ attitudesEnglish as a <i>lingua franca</i>refugees/migrantsmultilingualismL2 Greek
spellingShingle Aretousa Giannakou
Kyriaki Karalia
Teaching the Greek Language in Multicultural Classrooms Using English as a <i>Lingua Franca</i>: Teachers’ Perceptions, Attitudes, and Practices
Societies
teachers’ attitudes
English as a <i>lingua franca</i>
refugees/migrants
multilingualism
L2 Greek
title Teaching the Greek Language in Multicultural Classrooms Using English as a <i>Lingua Franca</i>: Teachers’ Perceptions, Attitudes, and Practices
title_full Teaching the Greek Language in Multicultural Classrooms Using English as a <i>Lingua Franca</i>: Teachers’ Perceptions, Attitudes, and Practices
title_fullStr Teaching the Greek Language in Multicultural Classrooms Using English as a <i>Lingua Franca</i>: Teachers’ Perceptions, Attitudes, and Practices
title_full_unstemmed Teaching the Greek Language in Multicultural Classrooms Using English as a <i>Lingua Franca</i>: Teachers’ Perceptions, Attitudes, and Practices
title_short Teaching the Greek Language in Multicultural Classrooms Using English as a <i>Lingua Franca</i>: Teachers’ Perceptions, Attitudes, and Practices
title_sort teaching the greek language in multicultural classrooms using english as a i lingua franca i teachers perceptions attitudes and practices
topic teachers’ attitudes
English as a <i>lingua franca</i>
refugees/migrants
multilingualism
L2 Greek
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/13/8/180
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AT kyriakikaralia teachingthegreeklanguageinmulticulturalclassroomsusingenglishasailinguafrancaiteachersperceptionsattitudesandpractices