An Anthropocentric Evaluation of the New English Language Teaching Program for Lower Secondary School in Turkey

Abstract Introduction: The earth has entered a new geological epoch: the Anthropocene. The Anthropocene demonstrates how human activities have changed the world negatively by causing several environmental issues such as global warming. Therefore, it has become an important problem for people. Education should be reconsidered according to the new epoch to deal with it. There is a trans-disciplinary call for this issue. In relation to this call, the present study has aimed to evaluate the new English language teaching program (ELTP) for lower secondary school (5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades) in terms of the Anthropocene in Turkey. Methods: The present study was designed as a qualitative study. The data collection tools were the new ELTP for lower secondary school and the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade English language course books prepared according to the new program. The data were analyzed through documentation analysis. Triangulation and thick descriptions were used to make the study trustworthy. Results: The documentation analysis of the data has showed that there are six themes related to the nature in the new ELTP for lower secondary school: theme 9 (the animal shelter) in the 5th grade; themes 4 (weather and emotions) and 9 (saving the planet) in the 6th grade; themes 4 (wild animals) and 9 (environment) in the 7th grade; theme 10 (natural forces) in the 8th grade. The learning outcomes and language skills of each theme were prepared according to the contents of the themes. Theme 9 in the 5th grade shows how human activities can affect the environment positively. Theme 4 in the 6th grade indicates how the environment can affect people. The rest demonstrate how human activities have affected the nature negatively and how people can save the nature. Discussion: Theme 9 (saving the planet) in the 6th grade, themes 4 (wild animals) and 9 (environment) in the 7th grade, and theme 10 (natural forces) in the 8th grade explain how several environmental issues have occurred owing to human activities, how these issues have affected the nature and human lives negatively, and how people can deal with these issues. Theme 9 (the animal shelter) in the 5th grade informs students about how human activities can affect the nature positively, and theme 4 (weather and emotions) in the 6th grade about how the environment can affect people. Through these themes, the new ELTP for lower secondary school can enable English language students to understand that people are a part of the nature, have the power to change the environment, and can live with the environment in balance. Limitations: The curriculum evaluation is only related to the new ELTP for lower secondary school (5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades) in Turkey. Conclusion: The Anthropocentric evaluation of the new ELTP for lower secondary school has shown that it can raise English language students’ awareness of the relationship between people and the nature and their effects on each other.