The Effect of Cultural Identity on Learning

The relationship between learning and cultural identity has been on the agenda recently. Some positive correlations have been found out. Researchers like Eleuterio (1997), and Hoelscher (1999) observed that classrooms filled with teachers and students who share their cultural identities build trust and foster stronger relationships, which leads to student engagement, higher motivation and excitement about learning together. Education inevitably brings shifts, however, learners’ cultural identity plays a significant role in transmission of such values. What is more, the more challenging point for this study is the effect of cultural identity on informal learning. This study has been conducted with qualitative research techniques to explore possible links between cultural identity and learning for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (here after T.R.N.C) curriculum subjects. Focus group discussions will be the main data source. The researcher have started to have focus groups from previously decided schools with some pre-prepared questions with an aim of finding evidence of possible correlations between cultural identity and their learning generally. Possible links between areas of the curriculum and utilising learning strategies will be analysed. The focus groups include students from different backgrounds: Turkish Cypriot, Turkish, Russian, and Bulgarian etc. Discussions are underway with the selected research participants whereby the participants are asked some questions to find out their opinions about their cultural identity and possible motivational links to their learning in general. This study will also focus on how these young peoples’ ideas are socially constructed about learning and how their cultural identity is affected by other aspects such as gender, social class and parent's education level. Four schools are identified and visits arranged for focus group discussions. Some initial data from the focus group discussions will be presented.