Proceedings of The 8th International Conference on Research in Education
Year: 2024
DOI:
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The Health Care Specialized Library as a Source of Inspiration for Education and Knowledge Acquisition: Achievements and Challenges
Siret Piirsalu
ABSTRACT:
Critical literacy (CL) serves as a vital tool in teaching and learning, fostering students’ abilities to read, write, and critically engage with texts, societal constructs, and reality. In our information-rich age, it is increasingly important for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) instructors to reinforce such critical awareness in students. This study investigates the impact of CL training on EFL teachers in Saudi Arabia using a structured experimental design. Aimed at enhancing teachers’ understanding and attitudes towards critical literacy, the study involved pre- and post-intervention assessments of both an intervention group (93 participants) and a wait-list control group (85 participants). Participants were randomly assigned, and the intervention group received a comprehensive three-hour CL workshop designed to integrate CL principles into EFL reading instruction. The study’s primary research question examined how the CL training intervention affects EFL teachers’ perceptions of critical literacy. Statistical analyses, including paired and independent t-tests, revealed significant improvements in the intervention group’s responses across all eleven measured questions, with no significant changes observed in the control group. Effect sizes indicated large positive effects for most questions, highlighting substantial shifts in the intervention group’s beliefs about critical literacy. This research contributes to the field of language education by highlighting the importance of professional development in critical literacy for EFL teachers, suggesting that such training can significantly enhance teaching practices and foster more critical, engaged learning environments. The findings support the broader integration of CL into EFL curricula in higher education, promoting diverse, inclusive, and analytical reading practices among teachers.
keywords: : design research; diverse activities; educational initiatives; health awareness; qualitative content analysis