| Abstract [eng] |
The main research problem of this doctoral dissertation, designed as an ethnographic case study, based on the philosophical principles of critical pedagogy, lies in answering the following questions: What theoretical framework may be used to investigate adult newcomers’ difficulties in learning Lithuanian in the host country? Are there any foreign/second language education approaches that are conductive to learning in adulthood? Do these approaches facilitate the development of a communicative competence, facilitating learners‘ inclusion in the new society through language? The research is aimed at identifying adult newcomers’ difficulties in learning Lithuanian, at a basic level of studies, in the host country. Having used the grounded theory and qualitative data gathering methods, the perceived difficulties were analyzed in the light of the causal attribution theory. The total of 840 categories of learning difficulties were classified into two groups: 1) the environment (external) factors (522 / 62 %) – lack of appropriate educational resources, Lithuanian as a system, non-participation in society; classroom activities and task complexity; and 2) the learner (internal) factors (318 / 38 %) – lack of ability, confidence or effort. Along with a thick description of the socio-cultural context, a critical analysis of the Lithuanian language materials, activities and tasks was done, based on adult foreign/second language education theories. Based on analytical (theoretical) generalization conclusions were drawn, hypotheses for future research were generated, and recommendations were made, with the aim of helping adult learners overcome the perceived obstacles, facilitate inclusion into the Lithuanian society. |
