Roots and Routes: Local Wisdom as the Pathway to Eco-ELT

Abstract

Local wisdom offers deep cultural and ecological values that can guide modern language education toward sustainability. This study investigates English teachers’ beliefs and readiness in integrating local wisdom as a pathway to Eco-ELT. Using a quantitative descriptive design, data were collected through a questionnaire distributed to 35 English teachers from various junior and senior high schools across Aceh Province. The instrument explored two main variables: teachers’ beliefs about the role of local wisdom in Eco-ELT and their readiness to implement it in classroom practice. The findings reveal that most teachers (85%) strongly believe that local wisdom provides relevant and meaningful contexts for developing ecological literacy through English learning. They view traditional values, local folklore, and community-based environmental practices as powerful tools for fostering sustainability awareness among students. However, the results also indicate that only 63% of teachers feel ready to apply these ideas consistently due to limited access to teaching materials, training, and curricular support. The study concludes that teachers’ strong beliefs serve as the roots of transformation in language education, while improving their readiness through professional development and resource support becomes the route toward achieving sustainable Eco-ELT practices in Aceh.