Exploring the Impact of Sociocultural Background on Learners of English as a Second Language: A Case Study of Malaysian Secondary School Students.pdf

Abstract

The accomplishment of learning a language is mostly related to sociocultural backgrounds of a learner. These two aspects significantly contribute to the access of resources, having certain attitudes, achieving language proficiency and self-development. In Malaysia, different learners achieve different results in learning English as a second language. It shows there are different views of the learning which are likely caused by learners’ sociocultural background. The background is related to belief, culture, tradition and other people play who a role in individual learners. Thus, to what extent the aspects of views and sociocultural background are connected should be discovered.  This study explored the English learning experience of form four students who are either sixteen- or seventeen-years old studying at a secondary school in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. By exploring the students’ experience, the study aimed to discover the views of English learning through semi-structured interviews. The study also aimed to explore how the views could be connected with their sociocultural background.  The data from the interviews were thematically analysed. There were two themes discussed which are related to (1) learners’ views of English and (2) role of family, friends and teachers. The findings show how significant learners’ views of English learning and how relevant Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory to the role of other people related to the learning. The connection of these two aspects should add a new dimension to the existing findings. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to compare the findings from other learners of other schools to lead to a more comprehensive conclusion.