Exploring the Cultural Effects of English Language Learning on Kurdish EFL Students

Abstract

Foreign language learning influences learners and helps them develop a multi-cultural identity. This study aspires to discover the target language’s cultural effects on learners’ first language and personality. It also tries to explore the learners’ perception of foreign language identity in relation to culture. Two sets of open-ended and close-ended questions were utilized to obtain the data from the view point of certain students of high level English language proficiency and cultural awareness. This study has hypothesized that Kurdish EFL learners will demonstrate a change in their self-conception, language identification, and language personality under the influence of foreign language learning. According to the results, students have adopted certain language and cultural practices from English which might have affected their first language. They have also created a new self-perception, obtained additional verbal skills, and acquired different personality traits under the target language impact.