Document Type

Thesis

Degree Comments

Submitted to the College of the Graduate Studies Bridgewater State University Bridgewater, Massachusetts In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Teaching [TESOL]

Degree Program

Teaching

Degree Type

Master of Arts in Teaching [TESOL]

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the factors that impact English as a foreign language acquisition in Cape Verde. While in Cape Verde students are taught English as a foreign language (EFL from now on) for many years, upon graduation many of them are unable to have basic conversations in English. As a result, many students in Cape Verde lose the opportunity to get a better job inside and outside Cape Verde or potential scholarships to study in an English-speaking country. This study intended to explore the students’ and teachers’ attitudes towards EFL in Cape Verde. The main topics examined in this study include the education system, the teachers’ level of preparedness and commitment, as well as the social and emotional factors that affect EFL acquisition in Cape Verde.  The instruments used in this mixed method research are interviews and questionnaires.  The findings of this study will benefit the education system in Cape Verde through a better understanding of EFL acquisition. The findings of this study may also be significant to teachers and TESOL educators in the US since a significant number of Cape Verdeans study in the US.  It has been found that there is a need to improve the pedagogical practices of EFL teachers in Cape Verde as well as restructure the education system to best fit the needs of the students. The findings also indicated that the education system, the students themselves and their colleagues, as well as the teachers can affect motivation level in both positive and negative ways.  It has also been found that language anxiety negatively impacts students’ EFL acquisition.

Committee/Advisor(s)

Dr. Joao Rosa, Chair of Thesis Committee

Dr. Emily Spitzman, Committee Member

Dr. Julia Stakhnevich, Committee Member

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