An application of theme-based model of content-based instruction (CBI) for the preparatory school of Karadeniz Technical University

Abstract

English has become the lingua franca of the modem world. That's why, learning English has become a necessity for many people. Many approaches, techniques and methods concerning teaching English have been developed and applied in language institutions. Recently, Content-based Instruction (CBI) - an approach that integrates the learning of language with the learning of some other content, often academic subject matter- has received a great popularity in both English as a Second Language (ESL) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) settings. This study was conducted to determine whether the Theme-based model of CBI can meet the language needs of the students in the preparatory school of Karadeniz Technical University (KTU). During the data gathering process, questionnaires were distributed to the students in the preparatory program and the students in the departments in order to find out their language needs and expectations. English lecturers in the preparatory program and subject specialists in the Physics, Chemistry and Biology departments were also given questionnaires to find out their ideas about students language needs and their expectations from the students and the preparatory school. Additionally, interviews were conducted with subject specialists and students in the departments. Two thematic-units were presented in the one of the classes in the preparatory school and the students were distributed questionnaires to find out their ideas and attitudes towards those units. The results of the study indicate that the needs and expectations of the parties are, mainly related to academic language skills, and those needs and expectations can be met if a curriculum based on theme-based model is applied in the preparatory program. The data obtained from the students who studied thematic units showed that students' motivation increased since they tried to learn language using materials related to their field of study. IX