Emergent STEM lecturer identities: The shaping effects of EMI in action in an internationalised and Englishised HE context

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
David Block

Abstract This paper examines the emergent identities of three STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) lecturers, focusing especially on how they construct themselves with regard to their disciplines and how researchers construct them as potential English language teachers. It begins with essential background information before discussing identity as a key construct. The paper then moves to the presentation of a Foucauldian-inflected version of positioning theory which is employed as a means of understanding the construction of English-medium instruction (EMI) STEM lecturer identities. In the second half of the paper, there is a discussion of three case-studies of EMI STEM lecturers, which shows how each orientates to his or her subject discipline, and the prospect of acting, on occasion, as an English language teacher. Specifically, there is a detailed consideration of how EMI lecturers position themselves in their contacts with researchers and in their teaching; how their self-positionings are consistent or not with how researchers position them; and how self-positionings are similar or different across EMI lecturers. The paper ends with a discussion of what conclusions can be drawn from the research findings.

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eka Pratiwi ◽  
Yuyun Yulia

In English language classroom, teachers’ questions are important parts of teaching English language. Teachers need to know what kind of questions which potentially support students learning target language.  However, students did not actively participate in learning particularly when responding teachers’ questions. To overcome this problem, it is important for teachers to modify their question through some techniques in order to get students’ responses. This study reports the types of teachers’ questions used by English teachers in classroom, and the classification of modification questions used by teachers during teaching English language in class.This research belongs to classroom discourse analysis. The research was conducted at tenth grade of SMKN 1 Nunukan. The data were collected through observation, video recording, and interview. The teachers’ questions were analyzed using Miles and Huberman’s (1995) model of qualitative data analysis.The research findings show that both teachers pose more questions of knowledge level than other levels, and the teachers used various techniques to modify their questions when the students did not give response. The modification of modifying questions are repeating and rephrasing. Then sometimes teachers negotiated questions by in Bahasa Indonesia or first language (local language). The domination of knowledge level questions and how teachers modified the questions is influenced by teachers’ competence, students’ competence, situation of teaching English language, and teaching material.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meriem Baghoussi ◽  
Ilhem Zoubida El Ouchdi

To help learners acquire and develop the necessary skills for the 21st century, Algeria has adopted the Competency-Based Approach (CBA) along with the Project-based Learning (PBL) approach within its educational system. Theoretically speaking, the goal behind such reform is to shift from a content-based to a process-based learning/teaching and thus to make learning more relevant and realistic for students. However, in practice, teachers find difficulties in putting into practice the two approaches. The aim of the present paper is to explore those obstacles that hinder the execution of the PBL approach in the third-year secondary education English classes and to identify to what extent English language teachers master and use PBL methodology in their classes. To reach the aim of the study, the following hypothesis is put forward: teachers lack both training and background knowledge on the approaches that help to implement PBL in classrooms. For the sake of collecting information about the issue tackled in this study, twenty EFL teachers from some secondary schools in Mostaganem city received a questionnaire. The research findings confirm the hypothesis mentioned above. They reveal that teachers neither master nor use the project-based instruction proficiently in their classrooms despite the guidance provided in the third-year pedagogical documents. Those hindrances are due to the lack of professional training and the insufficient theoretical knowledge on the diverse approaches, methods and strategies related to PBL


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 110-127
Author(s):  
Houichi Asma ◽  
Sarnou Dallel

Cognitive Load Theory is a theory that can be used by educators to design effective instructions. It has been applied in many areas, including teaching English as a foreign language as it contributes to positive outcomes. Before designing instructions, teachers should well understand the theory of Cognitive Load alongside human brain architecture. Sometimes students are taught more than they can learn due to their limited cognitive capacities which teachers do not consider. Students, therefore, often experience a cognitive overload which may lead to learning failure. So to what extent Algerian university teachers of English are aware of cognitive load theory? This research aims at exploring the perspectives of Algerian university teachers of English on the theory of cognitive load and its connection to instructional design. The study is expected to increase teachers' awareness of the importance of cognitive load theory in instructional design. 21 English language teachers from different universities of Algeria were enrolled in this query. A questionnaire was used to examine the respondents’ knowledge of the theory and their instructional design experiences. Even though the early expectation was that teachers are knowledgeable about the theory, the research findings showed that teachers lack sufficient knowledge of the theory; yet, they tend to work with some of its techniques when they design instructions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (12) ◽  
pp. 73-90
Author(s):  
Veronico N. Tarrayo ◽  
◽  
Philippe Jose S. Hernandez ◽  
Judith Ma. Angelica S. Claustro ◽  
◽  
...  

Given the paucity of studies regarding research practices of teachers, particularly English language teaching (ELT) practitioners in the ASEAN region and in the Philippines, this study explores the research practices of English language teachers in the Philippines. Using purposive-convenience sampling, a total of 49 teachers of English from a Philippine university were asked to answer a survey. To validate the data, pertinent public university documents were examined, and interviews with the university research heads were conducted. Findings suggest that the teachers were cognizant of the link between teaching and their own and their schools’ research practices. This research also reports the teachers’ positive perception towards research, and high receptivity to and interest in it. However, such research engagement was somehow constrained by factors such as crowded teaching timetables or heavy workload, lack of funding or financial support, difficulty in understanding (e.g., the language) published research, and the challenge of contextualising research findings for classroom use. This paper concludes with a note on how a conducive research climate in a school is a requisite in cultivating teachers’ interest in research.


Author(s):  
Youssouf Laabidi ◽  
Hicham Laabidi

The implementation of technology in classrooms affords educators more opportunities to work better in their lessons. However, there are numerous distinctive barriers that might prevent teachers from making use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in their teaching practices. Admittedly, studying the obstacles to the integration of technology in schools would be an important step in developing the quality of teaching. The primary objective of this study is to discover the barriers that stop university language teachers from using ICT in teaching. In this study the questionnaire is employed as data collection instrument. The questionnaire addresses only university English language teachers. Forty-six university English language teachers are chosen from two universities: Moulay Ismail University Faculty of Arts and Humanities – Meknes and Sidi Mohamed Ben AbdellahDahr – El Mahraz – Fes as a case study. So as to analyze the data from the questionnaire, the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19 is employed. The research findings reveal that Moroccan university English language teachers face multiple barriers such as large classes, lack of computers, lack of Internet and insufficient technical support that prevent them from using ICT in their teaching practices.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 423-456
Author(s):  
Leyla Yılmaz Fındık ◽  
İlknur Bayram ◽  
Özlem Canaran

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how sustainable development (SD) is conceptualized by pre-service English language teachers in Turkey and design a specialized course syllabus on SD in English language teaching (ELT) in the light of the research findings. Design/methodology/approach The study used a mixed-methods sequential explanatory study design and investigated the case of a state university in Turkey with the involvement of 133 pre-service English language teachers. Findings The findings indicated that most pre-service English language teachers received no training or a course on SD in their whole education life and tended to associate SD mostly with the economic growth of a country, followed by education, social and ecological concepts. It was also found that the majority of the participants had a unidimensional view of SD. No direct links with ELT have been detected from participants’ responses. The findings also pointed to the eagerness of the participants to receive an ELT-specific course on SD providing that the course involves interactive teaching and learning activities with reference to contemporary sources focusing on global and local issues, as well as studying the methods facilitating the incorporation of such issues into teaching practice. Research limitations/implications This research is based on the experience of one Turkish university with limited quantitative and qualitative data. Practical implications Based on the participants’ knowledge, views and suggestions, this paper contributes to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence obtained from a local context and suggests a practical framework for a field-specific course syllabus aiming to enhance teacher candidates’ knowledge, skills and values related to SD and its incorporation into ELT. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study seeking to explore pre-service ELT teachers’ conceptualization of SD in Turkish higher education, and drawing on the research findings, the authors attempted to design a course syllabus targeted at pre-service teachers in ELT departments.


EFL Journal ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Youssouf Laabidi ◽  
Hicham Laabidi

Information and communication technology can be considered as a powerful tool which provides us with new views on education. Being aware of the benefits of technology in teaching will surly assist teachers, administers and parents cultivate a positive attitude toward ICT.In this research the questionnaire is used as data collection instrument. The questionnaire addresses only university English language teachers. Forty six university English language teachers are chosen from two universities: Moulay Ismail University Faculty of Arts and Humanities – Meknes and Sidi Mohamed Ben AbdellahDahr – El Mahraz – Fes as a case study. So as to analyze the data from the questionnaire, the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19 is employed. The research findings reveal that Moroccan university English language teachers regard Information and Communication Technology as very essential in their teaching


RELC Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 003368822110112
Author(s):  
Marie Alina Yeo ◽  
Jonathan Mark Newton

Recent nationalist and isolationist policies coupled with travel restrictions have prompted a shift in perspectives on the internationalization of higher education. Furthermore, criticisms surrounding issues such as the widespread adoption of English as a medium of instruction in higher education and quality assurance of transnational programs have emerged, with increasing calls for more inclusive models and greater emphasis on quality over quantity. This paper presents an evaluative study of a transnational Master of Arts in the Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (MATESOL) program delivered in partnership by an institution in Singapore (SI) and a university in New Zealand (NZU) and designed for English language teachers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. Drawing on an impact evaluation, the paper identifies key design features in the program that contributed to its effectiveness as an inclusive model of English medium instruction (EMI) and internationalization in transnational higher education (TNHE).


2021 ◽  
Vol 88 ◽  
pp. 123-134
Author(s):  
Zorica Đurović ◽  
Milica Vuković-Stamatović ◽  
Miroslav Vukičević

Considering the importance of adequate understanding of instruction books and manuals on board vessels all over the world, as well as the challenges it imposes to the English language teachers and course designers, this paper aims to answer important research questions in relation to the quantity and type of vocabulary required for their adequate reading comprehension. In this study we use the method of Lexical Frequency Profiling and the software developed by Anthony Laurence – AntWordProfiler 1.4.0w. The corpus is comprised of 1,769,821 running words obtained from instruction books and manuals of various ship and machinery types. The results of this study point to the high technicality and lexical demand of the corpus, which calls for a highly technical English courses’ design and further research in marine engineering (English) vocabulary. Additionally, the research findings point to the need of creating a marine engineering-specific word list.


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