English Language Education in a Vocational School: A Qualitative Case Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive understanding of Vocational School students’ experiences of learning English at a state university in Türkiye. After the application of a pre-survey which aimed to reveal the background of the students, four students took part in an interview about their English learning experiences in Vocational School. Interviews were also conducted with two instructors to obtain information about their perspectives of the Vocational School students’ English language learning motivation and process. Observations were also carried out in the real language classrooms. In data analysis categorical aggregation is used in order to have patterns in the qualitative data. The study unearthed the challenges that the students experienced in language learning process which were insufficient English background of students, their lack of motivation to general education, disregard to English education, and feeling of inferiority accompanied with low self-esteem. Furthermore, physical problems (students who are full or part-time workers), discontinuity in curriculum and limited lesson hours were also among the problems. The study implicated that information transmission which is still prevalent in lessons should be supported with other methods of teaching, the students need consciousness raising in terms of the place of English in their work life and some improvements are needed in the English curriculum.