PRIVATE ENGLISH TUTORING CENTERS IN KAZAKHSTAN: ANALYZING THE PROMISE OF ENGLISH THROUGH THE LENS OF LINGUISTIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND LANGUAGE
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Date
2022-05-27
Authors
Nurmukhametova, Anel
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education
Abstract
In the era of global capitalism, the English language is presented as an asset that can provide material and social success, rationalizing the worldwide dominance of the English language. Therefore, this research attempts to present how the promise of the English language reinforces the need to invest more intensely in its learning. This has given exponential rise to the functioning of private tutoring centers in the world as well as in Kazakhstan. Scholars in applied linguistics have begun to view the intersection between English and market forces from the conceptual lens of what they describe as neoliberal ideology and language commodification. Neoliberal ideology of the commodification of the English language as the dominant language forces the prioritization of English as a language of education. Therefore, this qualitative study on the perceptions of various stakeholders sought to answer the following research questions 1. How do the owners of private tutoring centers view the potential benefits of English language learning for their clients? 2. How do the students attending private tutoring centers view the potential benefits of English language learning for their future? 3. How do the parents of those students who attend private tutoring centers view the potential benefits of English learning for the future of their children? 4. How does neoliberalism govern the whole English language enterprise and affect students and their parents’ language perceptions, preferences, and practices of students? To fill the gap in the Kazakhstani literature on this form of private education, this thesis explored the beliefs of owners of private tutoring centers, parents, and students to study the English language learning enterprise from the theoretical prism of linguistic entrepreneurship and language commodification. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted online. The data analysis was done adopting Clarke and Braun’s six steps for conducting thematic analyses. The findings demonstrated that the power of neoliberalism has led to the ‘mushrooming’ of private tutoring centers all over. This has mainly happened due to the increasing demand of English from the potential clients, who understand that to ensure their employability potential in the current labor market and to enhance their socio-economic status, English can be a potent resource for them to stay competitive in the current labor market.
Description
Keywords
Private Tutoring, Commodification, English language, Linguistic Entrepreneurship, Type of access: Embargo
Citation
Nurmukhametova, A. (2022). PRIVATE ENGLISH TUTORING CENTERS IN KAZAKHSTAN: ANALYZING THE PROMISE OF ENGLISH THROUGH THE LENS OF LINGUISTIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND LANGUAGE (Unpublished master's thesis). Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan