Foreign language learning in higher education: The example of English Language Teaching in the Department of Mediterranean Studies

Abstract

This paper deals with issues related to the teaching of English as a foreign lan­guage in higher education by focusing on the teaching of English in the Depart­ment of Mediterranean Studies at the University of the Aegean. More specifi­cally, this paper outlines how the English language is taught in the department and examines the results of a study which compared student time investment with teaching/learning effectiveness. Finally, based on these findings, it propo­ses suggestions for English language learning in higher education. These sugge­stions include the following: (a) English should not be viewed as a foreign lan­guage, (b) academic aspects of language proficiency should be stressed, (c) lan­guage learning in higher education should be based on transformative and con­structive/progressive pedagogical orientations, and (d) ICT should be utilized to the maximum.