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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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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Series: | Societies |
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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. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:34:31Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-466cae290e7d4212b6dbc5d77a5639d6 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2075-4698 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:34:31Z |
publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Societies |
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 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT aretousagiannakou teachingthegreeklanguageinmulticulturalclassroomsusingenglishasailinguafrancaiteachersperceptionsattitudesandpractices AT kyriakikaralia teachingthegreeklanguageinmulticulturalclassroomsusingenglishasailinguafrancaiteachersperceptionsattitudesandpractices |