Teaching EFL through English or content : implications for foreign language learning

Abstract

This study investigates which type of instruction affects false-beginner Turkish EFL learners' language skills more positively, teaching EFL through English or content. More specifically the study aims at answering the following research questions: 1) Will content-based instruction (CBI) students who are exposed to listening and speaking skills in the L2 through content improve better in these skills more than general EFL students? 2) Will CBI students improve four skills in the L2 as much as general EFL students? One experimental and one control group, each containing 50 false-beginner Turkish EFL students, formed the target population of the study. The students in the experimental group received content-based instruction; whereas the students in the control group received general EFL instruction. After 90 hours ofinstructiQn both groups were given the Key English Test (KET) to see the effects of the two different types of instruction on their English language skills and their cumulative scores. The results indicated that the students in the experimental group were more successful in listening and speaking skills in comparison to the students in the control group. In terms of reading and writing skills, there was not significant difference between the two groups. However, when the cumulative scores of both groups were compared, it was observed that the experimental group obtained significantly higher scores in comparison to the control group. Hence, the results indicated that content-based instruction is an efficient program of instruction in helping students improve their EFL skills.