INTRODUCTION
The process of language learning and language teaching is constantly changing. It started
at a time when students were prescribed what to say and how to say it, and reached the
acceptance of a standard “international” variety that is intelligible and local (Crystal, 2001,
p57). Since the cultural effect is clear on language learning, educationists could no longer
assume the availability of a “one-size-fits-all” method of teaching and need for learning.
English speaking classrooms in EFL environments started to focus on the students’ needs
and motivation, rather than the teacher assumptions and prescription of dos and don’ts.For
a long time, syllabus design, course material and teaching methods were carefully selected
based on the EFL teachers’ beliefs and practices. In this respect, Wu (2006) found that the
similarities between the teachers’ teaching methods and the students’ expectations were
extremely limited. In her study, Wu (ibid) reflected the confidence that when students do
not find their expectations, and hence do not feel comfortable in their learning environment,
they might start resisting the learning process.
In the light of the knowledge of the importance of the collaboration between teachers’
beliefs and students’ expectations, this study attempts to reach the students’ point of view
in a specific EFL course. This paper is meant to investigate the attitudes of students in the
English Department, in the College of Basic Education in Kuwait. The “Conversation
Course”, which is the focus of this study, is one of four compulsory basic skills courses