The effect of a culture-based instructional program on Palestinian secondary stage students' achievement in English and attitudes towards its culture

Other Title(s)

أثر برنامج تعليمي قائم على أساس ثقافي على تحصيل الطلبة الفلسطينيين في المرحلة الثانوية في اللغة الانجليزية و على وجهات نظرهم تجاه ثقافتها

Dissertant

Jumah, Khidr Yusuf Muhammad

Thesis advisor

Shair, Awatif Ali

Comitee Members

al-Kumi, Abd al-Salam Abd al-Khaliq
al-Sharah, Nail D.
Zaytun, Ayish

University

Amman Arab University

Faculty

Faculty of Educational Sciences and psychological

Department

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

University Country

Jordan

Degree

Ph.D.

Degree Date

2008

English Abstract

This study aimed at exploring the effect of a culture-based instructional program on Palestinian secondary students' achievement in English and attitudes towards its culture.

The sample of the study consisted of 111 male and female students in the governorate of Bethlehem in the West Bank in Palestine.

Male students were then divided into an experimental group and a control group.

The same was followed with the female students.

The experimental groups were enrolled in a culture-based program which lasted for two months.

The current study attempted to answer the following questions: 1.

Is there any difference in the Palestinian students' achievement in English due to the instructional programs used (the culture-based and the traditional)? 2.

Is there any difference in the Palestinian students' achievement in English due to the interaction between the instructional programs used (the culture-based and the traditional) and gender? 3.

Is there any difference in the Palestinian students' cultural attitudes towards English due to the instructional programs used (the culture-based and the traditional)? 4.

Is there any difference in the Palestinian students' cultural attitudes towards English due to interaction between the instructional programs used (the culture-based and the traditional) and gender? The main instruments used in the study were an achievement test and a student questionnaire in addition to a cultural content checklist, an observation checklist and a personal reflection journal.

The data obtained from the analysis of the cultural themes and topics in English for Palestine, Students' Book, Grade 11, were of great importance for the design of the instruments of the study. The findings of the study indicated that there were significant differences in the students' achievement in English in favor of the male group while the program had no effect on the students' cultural attitudes towards English.

There were many factors and obstacles that the study identified which appeared to be behind the results.

In the light of the findings, the study provided a number of recommendations related to the different potential audiences mainly teachers, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and coursebook authors.

The researcher also urged teachers to have more awareness when presenting the cultural information and should use materials that would assist them in their instruction.

Main Subjects

Educational Sciences
Languages & Comparative Literature

Topics

• Education
• Learning
• Secondary education
• Second language learning
• Palestine
• Bethlehem
• English language

No. of Pages

158

Table of Contents

• APA
• MLA
• AMA

Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-435327