Research Article

An investigation of Moroccan EFL Learners’ Explicit Attitudes towards World Englishes: Pedagogical Implications

Authors

  • Mustapha Mourchid Ph.D. Candidate, Literature, Arts and Pedagogical Engineering Research Laboratory, Faculty of Languages, Letters and Arts/ Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco
  • Hind Brigui Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics and TEFL, Department of English Studies, Faculty of Languages, Letters and Arts/ Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco

Abstract

The present study seeks to investigate the attitudes of Moroccan EFL learners (MEFLLs) towards different varieties of English speech (World Englishes (WE)). The study utilises a direct method of attitude measurement as the study’s participants are directly asked about their own explicit attitudes towards six English varieties of English speech[1] (namely, American English, British English, Indian English, Filipino English, Japanese English and Thai English). A sample of 544 MEFLLs was recruited in the study. The findings of the study show that MEFLLs’ attitudes towards varieties of English are aligned, to some extent, with those of previous studies conducted elsewhere (Jindapitak & Teo, 2012; Chien, 2018; Almegren, 2017). For example, it was found that MEFLLs, on the one hand, prefer Inner Circle Englishes (ICE) over Outer Circle Englishes (OCE) and Outer Circle Englishes over Expanding Circle Englishes (ECE) on the other hand. Another interesting finding is that the participants surveyed are already aware of English language variation, and they are willing to learn more about the different varieties of English spoken worldwide. Generally speaking, the Moroccan context seems to be a fertile setting for the discussion of World Englishes-related issues as the participants do, in fact, recognise and appreciate the sociolinguistic variation exhibited in the English language. The study concludes with a number of pedagogical implications for the choice of linguistic model(s) to be employed in EFL classrooms both inside and outside Morocco.

 

[1] American English, AmE; British English, BrE; Indian English, InE; Filipino English, FiE; Japanese English, JpE; Thai English, ThE

Article information

Journal

Journal of World Englishes and Educational Practices

Volume (Issue)

5 (3)

Pages

01-24

Published

2023-08-28

How to Cite

Mourchid, M., & Brigui, H. (2023). An investigation of Moroccan EFL Learners’ Explicit Attitudes towards World Englishes: Pedagogical Implications. Journal of World Englishes and Educational Practices, 5(3), 01–24. https://doi.org/10.32996/jweep.2023.5.3.1

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Keywords:

Inner Circle, Expanding Circle, Language Attitudes, Native-Speakerism, Monocentrism, Outer Circle, Pluricentrism, World Englishes