engleski

Croatian EFL teachers and students' familiarity with and tolerance of (non-native) English language varieties

This thesis investigates Croatian grammar school students and teachers' perception of world language, Standard English and correct English, with a particular focus on possible differences between the three ; the extent to which different native and non-native English varieties are taught (about) and the respondents' preferences for future EFL teaching and learning ; the relevance of (near-)nativeness ; and the participants' tolerance of and familiarity with features that do not conform to native speaker norms, but are normatively accepted in EIL. The respondents differentiate world language, Standard and correct English, perceiving world language as less correct than Standard and correct English, which are treated as synonymous. American and British English are most taught (about). In spite of the teachers' relatively high familiarity with other native English varieties, they are taught (about) to a much lesser degree, i.e. the students are rarely or never exposed to them. The teachers believe that they should teach their students more (about) different native varieties, which is not the case with non-native English varieties. Grammatical correctness is perceived as more important than correct pronunciation by both groups. Both the teachers and the students try to sound native-like and do not consider such attempts as snobbish. Even though neither group thinks that only native speakers can teach correct/proper English, the students believe that a native speaker who has the same teaching skills as a non-native one is more competent. The respondents disregard non-native English varieties as equally important models for world/global English and believe that English for international communication should be based on native varieties. The teachers showed greater familiarity with features that do not conform to native speaker norms, but are normatively accepted in EIL, while the students turned out to be more tolerant of them.

English; EIL; global language; Standard English; correct English; native English varieties; non-native English varieties; nativeness

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