Thesis Type: Doctorate
Institution Of The Thesis: Ataturk University, Eğitim Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Yabancı Diller Eğitimi Anabilim Dalı, Turkey
Thesis Supervisor: Savaş Yeşilyurt
Approval Date: 2020
Thesis Language: English
Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
Abstract:
Purpose: The
purpose of this study was to conduct action research in collaboration with
learners, faculty members and instructors of English at a faculty of pharmacy to
design a syllabus for teaching academic pharmaceutical English in a flipped
learning environment.
Method: The
study was based on first-person action research. The syllabus design process in
the action research was composed of three fundamental phases: needs analysis, implementation
and evaluation. First of all, the researcher handled a needs analysis via
semi-structured interviews with 5 faculty members and reviewed ESP syllabuses
and coursebooks for teaching pharmaceutical English in Turkey. Secondly, relying
on the learning outcomes, a syllabus was designed and implemented in a flipped
learning environment through 12 weeks. Eventually, the design of the syllabus
was evaluated, firstly, during implementation via video recording the 12 weekly
three-class-hour courses, collecting the 38 learners’ reflective journals and
keeping field notes; and secondly, after finishing the implementation by
holding separate focus group interviews with the 38 students, 3 English
lecturers, and 2 faculty members. The data were analysed by content analysis
via using NVivo 11 Pro software.
Findings: The findings
of the study indicate that the flipped learning strategy ensured many
advantages, including the efficient use of class time, differentiation and peer
interaction. On the other hand, flipped learning model also brought some adoption
problems derived from teacher dependence and established passive learning
habits. Regarding the findings on the linguistic dimension, more listening,
pronunciation and vocabulary activities were considered to be added in the
revised version. Finally, the modules in the pharmaceutical content were considered
to be revised by either extending or narrowing their scope.
Result: As a
result, a revised version of the flipped academic pharmaceutical English
syllabus was proposed. Considering the findings of the study, practical
implications for professional practise as well as suggestions for further
research were presented.
Keywords: Flipped
learning, English for specific purposes, English for academic pharmaceutical
purposes, action research.