Promoting the Use of the English Language in Teaching and Research. The Case of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Belhadj Bouchaib University of Ain Temouchent

Abstract

Over the last few years, the demand for learning English in Algeria has been increasingly rising due to the globalization of the English language. The Algerian ministry of higher education and scientific research has been announcing several calls to enhance and encourage the use of English in academic studies. Therefore, the present research work aims to measure teachers' attitudes toward promoting the use of the English language in teaching and research. More precisely, it aims to know if the teachers of the faculty of science and technology are ready for the shift from the French to the English language as a medium of instruction. Hence the data were collected using two research instruments, a questionnaire and an interview addressed to the teachers of the faculty of science and technologyat Belhadj Bouchaib University of Ain Temouchent. A mixed- methods approach based on qualitative and quantitative approaches was used to analyze the data. The results revealed that the teachers displayed a positive attitude towards replacing French with the English language. However, some factors hinder them from teaching using the English language among those factors is the teachers' educational background. Therefore, further research on this current debated topic is highly recommended to raise the stakeholders'awareness about this issue