| English Learners’ Sense of Belonging in a Non-state Language School: Course-based, Out-of-class, and Meta-institutional Dynamics |
| کد مقاله : 1058-ELTCONF7. |
| نویسندگان |
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علی منصوری نژاد *1، Mahmoud Fereydoonfar2 1Department of English Language, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran 2Department of English Language, Kosar University of Bojnord, Bojnord, Iran |
| چکیده مقاله |
| Non-state language schools serve as the primary institutions for globally oriented English education in Iran; however, no prior research has explored the complexities of English learners’ sense of belonging within their pedagogical frameworks. Addressing this gap, this study investigated the sense of school belonging among 30 adolescent and adult learners at novice, intermediate, and advanced proficiency levels in a non-state language school in downtown Tehran. Independent focus group interviews were conducted with learners from each proficiency level. The findings revealed that learners’ sense of belonging manifested across multiple dimensions, including course-based, out-of-class, and meta-institutional contexts. Language proficiency and the duration of school enrollment were identified as key factors influencing various aspects of belonging. Additionally, simultaneous participation in general English and international examination courses, and other language programs provided learners with diverse perspectives and experiences of belonging. The study underscores the dynamic and multifaceted nature of belonging, which extends beyond individual courses to encompass cross-course relationships and broader meta-institutional contexts, shaped by the interplay of pedagogical, social, and global dimensions. These findings highlight the need for more flexible curricular orientations and teacher training programs, on both public and non-state curricula, to implement adaptive pedagogical approaches that address evolving learner needs, foster cross-cultural and global engagement, and cultivate collaborative learner agency to support long-term academic, and professional aspirations. |
| کلیدواژه ها |
| Belonging, Non-state Language schools, course-based dynamics, out-of-class dynamics, meta-institutional dynamics |
| وضعیت: پذیرفته شده مشروط برای ارائه شفاهی |