Local Culture Inclusion in English Curriculum: The Case in English Preparatory Programs at Turkish Higher Education

Abstract

This study aims to explore how Turkish culture is integrated into the English preparatory programs at universities in Turkey, considering the four fundamental elements of the curriculum and the perspectives of all stakeholders. The research employed an exploratory sequential mixed methods design. Quantitative data were collected from 191 instructors working in English preparatory programs during the 2022-2023 academic year. For the qualitative aspect, data were gathered from the managers of English preparatory programs at 4 prominent state and foundation universities, where the medium of instruction in faculties is entirely or partially English, using a semi-structured interview form developed by the researcher. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to examine the quantitative data, while content analysis was applied to the qualitative data. The study investigated the current case of local culture integration in the English curriculum and provided recommendations for program developers.