Title: Perceptions of plurilingualism among English language learners

Names of presenters: Vaida Misevičiūtė, Aurelija Čėglytė, Asta Balčiūnaitienė, Lina Abraitienė

Affiliation: Institute of Foreign Languages, Vytautas Magnus University

Email address: lina.abraitiene@vdu.lt

 

Keywords: classroom, English, language, multilingualism, plurilingualism, perception

 

Abstract:

Since the early 21st century, the Council of Europe has emphasized pluriculturalism and plurilingualism, prioritizing language learning to enhance Europe’s competitiveness. Their language policy advocates for proficiency in two additional languages beyond one’s native language (L1). The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) further supports innovative teaching methods and approaches to accommodate the increasing demand for a plurilingual and pluricultural outlook. Despite these initiatives, English maintains its dominant status as a global lingua franca, necessitating further measures to elevate the standing of minority languages. Higher education institutions play a crucial role in fostering such awareness. Consequently, the authors of this presentation aim to explore students’ attitudes toward plurilingualism and pluriculturalism within an English classroom setting. They specifically examine students’ perspectives on the English curriculum, textbooks, and teaching strategies through a plurilingual lens. The analysis is based on students’ responses to a questionnaire about multicultural curriculum features. Findings indicate that students are highly receptive to different cultures and languages and appreciate the integration of pluriculturalism in the English classroom. However, their motivation to learn English significantly surpasses their motivation to learn other languages.