Abstract:
The aim of this study is to explore the perceptions of ELT instructors working at a higher education institution in Turkey
regarding integrating global citizenship education into ELT courses. The study was carried out by using phenomenological
design, which is one of the qualitative studies. The data were collected using interview method and a semi-structured interview
form was developed by the researcher as the data collection tool. The participants, selected on the basis of easily accessible
sampling method, which is one of the purposeful sampling methods. The participants comprises of 13 English instructors who
work at a higher education institution in the Central Anatolia Region in the academic year 2015-2016.Instructors’ opinions were
taken regarding how they described global citizenship, what were their roles and responsibilities in educating students as
global citizens, how they practiced global citizenship education in their classes, and the challenges they were facing in
practicing global citizenship education in ELT courses. Data were analysed with content analysis technique. Findings revealed
that participants mostly focused on the “value” dimension of global citizenship such as respect, sensitivity, sense of belonging,
responsibility, openness, etc. The instructors deemed their roles and responsibilities in preparing students as global citizens as
an informer and role model. While most of the participants stated that they did not involve any specific teaching practices in
their classes to educate students as global citizens, as they thought ELT lessons and global citizenship education were irrelevant,
addressing global issues in the courses and role modelling were conducted by few instructors to promote global citizenship.
Predominantly grammar-based teaching and student unwillingness were found as challenges of integrating global citizenship
into ELT. As a result, it was concluded that ELT instructors have insufficient levels of knowledge, skills, attitude and action
related with global citizenship education
