Digital encounters with Asian Englishes: Perceptions and language ideologies among Turkish university preparatory students

OpenAlex · English

While many people see English as a global language, regional varieties from Asia, particularly Korean, Indian, and Filipino English, are gaining prominence through their digital manifestations via YouTube, Instagram, online gaming, and more. In Türkiye, on the other hand, much of the education in the English language is based on native-speaker norms, creating a disconnection between students’ everyday speech and teacher expectations. This study aims to examine how Turkish university-level students view Asian Englishes and to what extent exposure to Asian Englishes inform their attitudes towards English language, as well as their identities as users of the English language. According to survey data (n = 120) and focus group discussions (n = 18), Korean and Filipino Englishes are usually seen as accessible and relatable while Indian English is frequently judged as less familiar due to relative unfamiliarity and sociolinguistic biases of the respondents. Non-native speakers of English communicate effectively on the Internet, and students find their communicative competence admirable. Nevertheless, it is still the case that students regard American and British English as the most legitimate. Findings suggest that English teaching in Türkiye should go beyond native-speaker models and acknowledge the linguistic diversity of global English use.