A Language Socialization Approach to Uzbek Language Learning

• Main Author: Baburhan Uzum
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages 2013-08-01
• Series: Journal of the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages
• Subjects: Language; Socialization; Uzbek; Learning; ethnographic; linguistic
• Online Access: http://www.ncolctl.org/files/Language-socialization.pdf

Using an ethnographic case study design, this study investigates language learners' socialization into the cultural values of Uzbek language. Informed by a language socialization theoretical framework, the study focuses on the classroom routines and interactions that socialize students into certain social values through mini-lectures that are beyond the linguistic objectives of the curriculum. The research questions addressed are: What social values are being taught implicitly or explicitly? What cultural values are students being socialized into? What constitutes valuable cultural knowledge as claimed by the teacher? In the audio and video recorded observation data, a selected excerpt of typical classroom interactions is analyzed adopting discourse analysis methods. The findings of the study could be implemented in teacher education programs and in designing textbooks and curriculum for less commonly taught languages.