EFL Students’ Metaphorical Perception of their Learning Experience
Keywords:
Attitude, Conceptual metaphor, Learning experience, Students’ perceptionAbstract
The present study explored EFL students' perceptions and attitudes towards their learning experience through metaphors. Conceptual metaphor analysis (CMA), as a method of discourse analysis that was promoted by Lakoff and Johnson (1980), was employed. The selected students were provided with a survey to share their learning experience metaphorically with the prompt “Learning English is like.........” CMA was utilized to uncover the metaphorical aspect of the learning experience hidden in the simile provided by the students. The data collected was analyzed qualitatively by categorizing thematically the metaphors used. The analysis revealed the aspects of the students’ learning experience. Their experience is lengthy, challenging, difficult, painful, uncertain, fearful, and negative. Such negative images may indicate some problems and challenges that these students have never dealt with. Negative attitudes towards their learning experience do not allow students to improve their English learning. For this reason, it is recommended to investigate and address students' issues and learning problems from the perspective of enhancing their perceptions of their educational and learning experiences. It was also concluded that students do not distinguish between their educational experience and learning experience.
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