An investigation into the effects of learner training and awareness building activities on learners' perceptions of responsibility in learning english

The present study was implemented in order to investigate the effects of learner training and awareness building activities on learners? perceptions of responsibility in learning English. In addition, it was aimed to find out whether these activities would cause any possible differences in learners? motivational level and in perceptions of responsibility with respect to gender. The study, which adopted the pre-experimental study design, was carried out with 30 participants studying in Compulsory and Voluntary English Preparatory Programme at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University. The data were collected by means of quantitative and qualitative research techniques. Pre-tests and post-tests (questionnaires) given before and after the treatment which involved learner training and awareness building activities were quantitative in nature; and the follow-up interview was a qualitative technique. The data obtained from the questionnaires were analyzed and interpreted with the help of SPSS computer programme, while the data collected by the interview were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. The results of both quantitative and qualitative findings of the study revealed that there was a significant increase in learners? perceptions of responsibility after the treatment. Secondly, while no statistically significant differences were detected in learners? overall motivation, qualitative findings revealed that a reasonable level of increase in their motivation occurred. Furthermore, no remarkable differences between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and between female and male students? motivation were reported. Finally, males? and females? perceptions of responsibility came out to be equivalent to each other both before and after the treatment. This study concludes that learner training and awareness building activities have resulted in a significant improvement in learners? perceptions of responsibility and a moderate increase in their motivational level. In the light of these findings, this study draws attention to the importance of learner training in foreign language learning and attempts to illustrate the ways for integrating learner training into the course design. Finally, it offers some suggestions for further research