Preparation An Assessment of Undergraduate EFL Students' Level of Environmental Awareness at Koya University

Abstract

The growing environmental crises caused by climate change demands increased environmental awareness. One way to achieve this is through education. The aim of this study was assessing the environmental awareness of the undergraduate EFL students and suggesting the integration of environmental issues into language classes. The assessment involved 200 students of Koya University of the academic year 2024-2025 using a semi-structured questionnaire combining quantitative and qualitative questions. The quantitative data were analyzed descriptively using the SPSS software, while the qualitative data were categorized by number and percentage of responses for each question. The findings revealed that students generally exhibited positive environmental attitudes and practiced environmentally- friendly behaviours but at a moderate level. Concerning the university's environmental practices, the findings highlighted the need for better integration of environmental issues across the curricula and more extra- curricular environmental programs and activities with more student involvement. The qualitative results indicated the students' limited, superficial, and fragmentary environmental knowledge but with positive attitudes to learn. In terms of gender differences, the female students demonstrated a slightly higher level of awareness and knowledge; however, the differences were not statistically significant. These outcomes emphasize the importance of integrating environmental issues into the university curricula and encouraging student-centered environmental activities. To this end, the study proposes strategies to incorporate environmental education into language classes, aiming to enhance students’ knowledge and promote environmentally-responsible attitudes and behaviors in support of Koya University’s Green University Initiative.