Abstract:
Learning English as a foreign language in Iran has provided a novel learning milieu for language learners, giving them the capability to create the dialogue between their home culture and the culture of the foreign language they are learning. The current study aims to investigate the level of Iranian EFL learners' cultural identity. To do so, the researchers developed a questionnaire through extensive readings of the literature on language, culture and identity at both national and international levels. To determine the reliability of the questionnaire, Cronbach‟s Alpha was utilized. The reliability of all the items in the questionnaire was estimated as 0.78. To measure the validity of the questionnaire, Exploratory Factor Analysis through PCA was performed, demonstrating five underlying factors of Iranian Cultural Identity. Then, the questionnaire was administered to 494 language learners in the context of Iran. The analysis of the data revealed that nearly 68% of the Iranian language learners in the study possess a moderate level of cultural identity
Machine summary:
To do so, the researchers developed a questionnaire through extensive readings of the literature on language, culture and identity at both national and international levels.
The analysis of the data revealed that nearly 68% of the Iranian language learners in the study possess a moderate level of cultural identity.
These studies also neglect the sociocultural aspects of identity as a social/cultural phenomenon and have not informed the contextual and local needs (Kress, 1989; Mahboudi & Javdani, 2012; Mirdehghan, Hoseini Kargar, Navab & Mahmoodi, 2011).
Research Question 2: Is the Iranian Language Learners' Cultural Identity Questionnaire developed in this study a reliable and valid data collection instrument?
Research Procedures Since the purpose of the study was to investigate the cultural identity of Iranian English language learners, the researcher developed a questionnaire including the questions directed toward the main construct under study, i.
Concerning the second research question, the findings from reliability and validity measurement sections revealed that the Iranian Language Learners' Cultural Identity Questionnaire developed in this study is a reliable and valid data collection instrument.
Therefore, the five factor questionnaire was found to be a reliable and valid instrument to measure the level of Iranian EFL learners' cultural identity.
Therefore, the final questionnaire included 18 items on religion, art, Persian language and literature, media, and globalization as the main components of Iranian cultural identity.
The findings indicated a moderate level of cultural identity on the part of Iranian English language learners.