The Algerians’ Use of English Outside the School Walls. Case Study : Master Students of the Department of English, MMUTO

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Date

2019-06

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Université Mouloud Mammeri Tizi Ouzou

Abstract

The present study aims at investigating the presence of English in the Algerian linguistic landscape, focusing on the students’ use of English outside the school walls in Tizi-Ouzou. Its objective is threefold. It aims first at identifying what has motivated students to choose English as a foreign language to learn. Second it investigates the students’ use of English outside the school walls. Third it intends to discover the place the English language occupies in the present Algerian linguistic landscape. In order to meet the objectives of the study, Ryan and Deci’s Self- determination theory is applied. For collecting data, statistics of the number of students’ registrations from 2010 to 2019 and the number of students who obtained the Licence and Master degree from 2015 to 2018 in the department of English and French were collected. Moreover, questionnaires were distributed to 170 students and an interview was conducted with 12 teachers in the department of English. As far as data analysis is concerned, a mixed method research combining quantitative and qualitative methods has been adapted. The numerical data are analyzed through the SPSS in order to analyze the open ended questions of the questionnaires and the interviews. The qualitative data are analyzed using the qualitative content analysis. The results reached in this study reveal that the students’ motivation towards learning English is related to the social status English is acquiring in Algeria and the opportunities this language may offer. Furthermore, the results of the study demonstrate that the students use English for other purposes than education, they use it in other sectors such as media and business. Besides, the results reveal that English occupies an important place in the Algerian business sphere, thus its threat to challenge other languages is accentuated. Finally, recommendations for further research are provided

Description

30cm ; 107p.

Keywords

Motivation, Linguistic Landscape, Public Sphere, Business Sphere, Linguistic Situation.

Citation

Language and Communication