THE ROLE OF MEDIA LITERACY IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION

Abstract

Introducing and incorporating media literacy (ML) into language education, particularly foreign language teaching is a challenging task in the modern education arena. Nevertheless, it is highly crucial to integrate media literacy instruction into the curriculum to foster students’ analytical thinking skills and help them internalize the various codes of the modern media system. By focusing on the perspectives, roles and instructional practices of teaching media literacy in foreign language education, this study aims to explore how the teaching of ML manifests itself in the classroom of English language. By employing semi-structured interviews, classroom observations and document analyses (analyzing subject curriculum, calendar thematic planning as well as the mid-term and short term lesson plans) with grade 9 as well as their teachers, this qualitative study aimed to examine “English as a Foreign Language” (EFL) teachers’ opinions on media literacy education and the degree to which it is practiced in their classroom environment. Thus, the study revealed that teachers in Kazakhstan believe that media literacy is not considered a mandatory part of school curriculum. Furthermore, this study indicated that the education system in Kazakhstan needs to provide teachers and students with the necessary instruments (both physical and methodological) to introduce a quality media literacy education in Kazakhstani schools in an effective way.