Green Social Work and Climate Change Adaptation: A Community-Based Approach in the Mekong Delta
This study investigates the need for integrating current world affairs into the Foundation-level English Language Teaching (ELT) curriculum at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Nizwa, Oman. The research was motivated by students’ difficulties in completing News Review tasks that require engagement with authentic English-language news texts. A mixed methods approach was employed, combining pre-test and post-test assessments with a post intervention questionnaire to evaluate students’ knowledge, attitudes, and challenges related to current affairs and newspaper reading. Twenty-nine Level 3 Foundation students participated in a four-week guided newspaper-reading intervention that included exposure to local and international news, vocabulary support, classroom discussions, and summarizing activities. Quantitative analysis revealed a significant improvement in student performance, with mean scores increasing from 6.45 in the pre-test to 10.55 in the post-test. A paired-samples t-test confirmed that the improvement was statistically significant (t = 7.92, p < 0.001). Questionnaire findings indicated positive student perceptions of newspaper-based learning, with most participants recognizing its value for enhancing awareness of current events, vocabulary development, reading comprehension, and independent learning habits. Despite challenges related to unfamiliar vocabulary and text complexity, students generally supported the inclusion of current affairs in English courses. The study concludes that integrating current world affairs into Foundation-level ELT enhances linguistic competence, critical thinking, global awareness, and learner engagement. The findings support the inclusion of authentic newspaper-based materials in ELT curricula to better prepare students for academic, professional, and real-world communication contexts.
Keywords: Current World Affairs, English Language Teaching (ELT), Newspaper-Based Learning, Authentic Materials, Vocabulary Development, Reading Comprehension, Global Awareness, Foundation Programme Students.