English Language Education in Rural Contexts: Examining Students’ Perceptions and Motivation Through a Contextually Grounded Extracurricular Program

Abstract

We conducted this case study in Türkiye to examine how a contextually grounded extracurricular program shaped rural students’ perceptions of English and their motivation to learn and use the language. Recognizing motivation as an equity‐related concern in rural contexts, where students may have limited opportunities to perceive the local relevance of English, we investigated a 4‐week program that connected English with students’ socioeconomic, sociocultural, and digital realities. Drawing on semi‐structured interviews and observation notes, we explored how students’ perceptions and motivation developed through the program. Before the program, the students viewed English as a global language associated with opportunities abroad and distant professional goals, while perceiving it as disconnected from everyday rural life. Their motivation was largely extrinsic, as they valued English mainly for its perceived educational and professional benefits. Following the program, most participants began to reconceptualize English as both globally significant and locally useful, identifying possible applications in agriculture, rural tourism, international trade, digital entrepreneurship, and community‐based initiatives. Their motivation remained largely extrinsic because English continued to be valued as a means of attaining economic, professional, and community‐related outcomes. However, participants’ accounts showed early signs that this motivation was becoming more internalized and self‐endorsed, as they connected English with goals that were personally meaningful and relevant to their communities. By highlighting the glocal dimensions of English use, we contribute to research on rural schooling, language learning motivation, and social justice, demonstrating how context‐sensitive initiatives can promote more equitable access to meaningful language learning experiences in rural settings.