Access Type

Open Access Dissertation

Date of Award

January 2013

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Department

Curriculum and Instruction

First Advisor

Sharon L. Elliot

Second Advisor

Gail F. Fahoome

Abstract

The majority of recent cross-cultural research with regard to the media's impact on acculturation has been aimed at Chinese immigrants' acculturation by the media in the United States with relatively little attention to Taiwanese college students' state of change in acculturation by various media sources while acquiring English as a second language. There are significant numbers of studies on assimilation to the host culture by both the ethnic and host media; however, there is a paucity of literature based on the one-dimensional media impact on a particular demographic group which can be easily traced to various types of media affecting acculturation. This study investigates the possibility of the existence of the relationship between oral language proficiency, television media, and the Internet with respect to degree of acculturation on Taiwanese college-aged students from four colleges in Taipei, Taiwan. The study starts with an initial literature review on the causes of media's impact on English language acquisition and acculturation. Television and the Internet are used as independent variables to predict the degree of acculturation. A total of two hundred and ten participants were college-aged students whose native language is Mandarin. The study incorporates both qualitative and quantitative research methods to elicit data and quantify on the survey's feedback. A pre-designed questionnaire survey consisting of twenty-nine questions were handed out to 210 students randomly to elicit required responses. Hierarchical linear multiple regression analysis will be deployed to confirm the variables that have the most impact on acculturation. All participants demonstrated significant changes on acculturation as a result of their great interest and substantial time spent on the English media. Different results between the groups using demographic variables (religion, areas of residence, and gender) were entered to triangulate data. An arousing result was revealed when variables were added in multiple regression equations to anticipate types of media significantly affecting degree of acculturation.

Furthermore, both TV and Internet represents effective variables in predicting degree of acculturation. Nevertheless, replication studies with different moderation variables such as religious beliefs and genders might be needed to validate this outcome. The paper concludes with possible implications for needed changes in current mal-practices and recommendations for future research that is required addressing the pertaining issues. Suggestions for further studies that would better accommodate these problems in a way that would assist foreign language educators in better understandings and appreciation for English language learners in Taiwan will be revealed.

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