English as a key element in the empowerment of undergraduate ELT female students
Date
2021-02
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Abstract
"The main purpose of this qualitative research was to explore the perspectives of female university students on how learning English, in the context of an undergraduate ELT program, could empower them. The research was conducted in a public university in Mexico and the participants were a group of female students during their first semester of college studies. Data gathering through written narrative inquiry was used to gather data from the participants at the beginning and at the end of the semester. The data obtained from the participants' narratives were organized into timelines in order to follow their development and empowerment processes. Findings revealed that by majoring in ELT and especially by learning English, most of the participants broadened their worldviews and increased their expectations regarding their level of empowerment to face the future. Finally, the study shows that role models represent important figures who can lead women to get involved in an empowerment process through higher education. The study concludes that English and a support network may be key elements in an empowerment process of female college students in an ELT program".