Non‐native English language teachers’ perspective on culture in English as a Foreign Language classrooms

2006 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasemin Bayyurt
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Language Classrooms ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Foreign Language Classrooms

scholarly journals Intercultural Competence in the Eyes of State School English Language Teachers in Turkey

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 56-75
Author(s):  
Nur Gedik Bal ◽  
Perihan Savas
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Language Classrooms ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Foreign Language Classrooms

Equipping students with intercultural competence (hereafter IC) is a critical aim of English foreign language classrooms nowadays, and EFL teachers have emerged as essential players for accomplishing this. These teachers should essentially be competent in their intercultural skills so that they can pass these on to their students in order to foster interculturally competent language learners. However, teachers' perceptions regarding IC remain uncertain, particularly in the Turkish context. Thus, before asking teachers to apply methods and strategies so that they can enhance students’ IC in the classroom, it is vital that we investigate what they understand about IC. Therefore, this qualitative study aimed to reveal middle and high school teachers’ understanding of the IC phenomenon and their description of the characteristics of an interculturally competent foreign language learner and teacher. In addition, teachers’ perceptions regarding their own and their learners’ IC were also explored in this study. The participants were 30 middle and high school English language teachers teaching at state schools in Turkey. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect the data. MAXQDA was exploited in order to analyse the data, primarily to code, categorize, and systematize the findings. The results indicated that the teachers considered IC to be the ability to communicate with people from various cultures effectively, having knowledge about one’s own, target, and other cultures, and developing positive attitudes toward other cultures and societies. They also emphasized the inseparability of language and culture and the importance of English as an international language. The teachers also indicated why they viewed themselves and their learners as interculturally competent or incompetent, which could provide insight into where to start intercultural learning and teaching in foreign language classrooms and how to train EFL teachers about different dimensions of IC.

scholarly journals Measuring Digital Competence and ICT Literacy: An Exploratory Study of In-Service English Language Teachers in the Context of Saudi Arabia

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Abdulteeef M. Al Khateeb
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
English Language ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Ict Literacy ◽  
Digital Competence ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
English Language Teachers

The purpose of this research is to measure in-service English language teachers' digital competence, particularly for the enhancement of teaching English as a second/foreign language in schools in Saudi Arabia. Information and communication technology (ICT) knowledge is currently considered as a vital skill for foreign language teachers in addition to their linguistic competence. Recently, there has been a focus on digital competence, since it can be regarded as a gateway for enriching knowledge, economies, societies and individuals. There is also a massive need for teachers to assess their own digital competence according to non-conventional norms (i.e., having the ability to share content and manage information). In light of this rationale, this paper investigates the following research question: to what extent are English language teachers in Saudi Arabia digitally competent and in what aspects? This study used a standardized questionnaire that was constructed using a validated comprehensive framework. This instrument was designed to assess the professional capability of English language teachers in terms of their willingness and readiness to use ICTs along with their current digital competence used throughout their teaching and educational practices. The research included a diverse range of participants who come from various backgrounds, genders and experiences. The study was concluded with a presentation of useful recommendations and key research questions for future research.

scholarly journals Pronunciation Errors of Letter “G” in English Language Made by Saudi Undergraduate Students

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huda Alqunayeer
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
English Language ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Loan Words ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Academic Year

The primary goal of the present study is to identify the problematic areas in the pronunciation of the letter “g” in English written words made by Saudi female learners of English as a foreign language, and the reasons for the weakness associated with mispronunciation of English written words which contain this letter. The population of the study was the female students (90 students) and their English language teachers (12 teachers) at the Qassim University during the academic year (2014-2015). There were two types of instruments used in this study. The first was a pronunciation test for the student participants in order to investigate the problematic areas of pronouncing “g” in different environments in different words; and the second a questionnaire for the teacher participants to provide comprehensive data about the causes of these errors of pronouncing “g” committed by EFL female students at Qassim University. Ninety female students were included for the pronunciation test and 12 teachers were asked to answer the questionnaire. Simple percentage was used for analyzing the data of recording words (pronunciation test). Results of the students’ recording words revealed that the participants mispronounced “g” before nasals (68%). According to the results of the teachers’ responses to the questionnaire suggested many factors that can cause difficulties for students in terms of pronouncing “g” in English written words. According to them, these difficulties are concerned with reading difficulties, nonstandard spellings, letters that follow “g” (many of them may become combinations), loan words, orthography (no correspondence between the English alphabets and their sounds). The researcher offers recommendations that might help teachers and students to overcome and reduce these mispronunciations of this letter in English written words.

scholarly journals English as a Lingua Franca Approach: Implications and Limitations in Saudi English as a Foreign Language Classrooms

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 96-104
Author(s):  
Samar Alharbi
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
English Language ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Lingua Franca ◽  
English As Foreign Language ◽  
The World ◽  
Language Classrooms ◽  
Native Speakers Of English ◽  
Foreign Language Classrooms ◽  
Global Language

English language considers a global language spoken by a majority of people around the world. It is a language used mainly for communication, trades and study purposes. This widespread of English language being wildly spoken lead to different varieties of English as a lingua franca (ELF) means that non native speakers of English still be able to communicate with each other. Using ELF as a legitimate variety of English in language classrooms is questioned by some researchers. This paper will provide an overview of the concept of ELF. It will also present implications and limitations of using ELF in Saudi English as foreign language classrooms.

scholarly journals Teaching English as a Foreign Language in Iraq

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 409-446
Author(s):  
Bushra Saadoon Al - Noori
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
English Language ◽  
College Of Education ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
First Year ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Ibn Rushd ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
The Government ◽  
Daily Plan

Baghdad University is located in Baghdad; the Capital of Iraq, consists of many colleges via Sciences and Humanities , for example: College of languages, College of Arts, College of Education for Women and College of Education /Ibn Rushd and others. Each one of these Colleges consists of various departments. Our department is the English Department for four academic years. In the First year, we have four sections of more than fifty students each. Our students are boys and girls and all of them are going to be English Language Teachers because all these four academic years will make them qualified to be so. The government helps them to find jobs immediately after graduation. In these four years, our students spend 45 days in schools as a student - teacher and the staff members are visiting those two or three times to evaluate them in relation to the method of teaching and daily plan. Staff members will evaluate the way of treating the pupils in the secondary school, their way of teaching, their confidence inside the classrooms and many other points.

scholarly journals Autonomy Perceptions from Teachers of English as a Foreign Language in Diverse Colombian Public Teaching Settings

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 148
Author(s):  
Dr. David Wealthy Guerrero
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
English Language ◽  
Research Question ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Research Production ◽  
English Language Teachers

<p><em>This qualitative descriptive case study reports the features in autonomy dynamics of three Colombian English language teachers in public schools in the District in Bogota Colombia. Three semi-structured interviews and reflective journals were used for data collection. The research question that guided this study was: What perceptions about autonomy do the three Colombian English language teachers have? The general purpose of this investigation was to identify the main features in teachers’ perceptions related to Autonomy. The specific objective was to identify the strategies that promoted autonomy in Teachers of English as a Foreign Language -TEFL- in different public schools in Bogota, Colombia. The study is, therefore, particularly significant as it can play a role in encouraging Colombian English as a Foreign Language -EFL- teachers to relate the factors needed to get a high quality in Education dynamics. Data indicated that the process heightened the teachers’ awareness of ‘self’ and practice. Autonomy also activated both the teachers’ ability to critically reflect on their context as well as focus on positive aspects of their practice through the willingness to improve their academic abilities and research production. Taken together, the findings serve as baseline data to further professional development in language assessment. </em></p><em></em><em></em>

Spelling Pronunciation versus Relaxed Pronunciation in Foreign Language Teacher Education

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-46
Author(s):  
Mehmet DEMİREZEN
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Native Students ◽  
Language Teacher Education ◽  
Language Teacher ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
The Creation

Accurate pronunciation is an important part of learning any language, and especially when non-native students are trained to be English language teachers. Good pronunciation is more than just mastering individual sounds since it also requires understanding intonation, stress, pitch and junctures. In this respect, first things first, two functional issues come to the stage: Spelling pronunciation versus relaxed pronunciation. Spelling pronunciation depends on the use of a pronunciation that is based on spelling that includes common pronunciation of the silent vowel and consonant letters. The converse of spelling pronunciation is pronunciation spelling which produces the creation of a new spelling form on the basis of pronunciation. In this study, the contrastive positioning of spelling pronunciation versus pronunciation spelling in English words, phrases, clauses, and sentences will be analyzed to train the English teachers.

Alternatieve Wegen Voor Gevorderde Taalleerders

1986 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 101-109
Author(s):  
Wil Knibbeler
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Educational Theories ◽  
Advanced Students ◽  
Language Classrooms ◽  
Foreign Language Classrooms ◽  
Community Language

Alternative or humanistic approaches to foreign language teach-ing such as the Silent Way, Suggestopedia, Community Language Learning and Confluent Education, have been generated by scholars who are not linguists. An analysis of the ideas underlying the respective approaches leads to the conclusion that they are suitable for advanced students as well as for beginners. Although humanistic approaches are not based on empirical research, they have their roots in sound educational theories. If language teachers want to introduce these approaches into their teaching, they do not have to opt for any of them, but they can select elements from them. An example fo such an integrative approach is The Explorative-Creative Way. Research on processes which occur in second or foreign language classrooms, should be done in accordance with qualitative procedures as wellas with quantitative ones.

Triggering effect of CLIL practice on English as a lingua franca awareness

ELT Journal ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 387-397
Author(s):  
Şebnem Yalçın ◽  
Yasemin Bayyurt ◽  
Benan Rifaioğlu Alahdab
Keyword(s):  
Classroom Practice ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Instructional Practice ◽  
Lesson Plans ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Lingua Franca ◽  
Language Classrooms ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Classrooms

Abstract The present study explores whether/how CLIL practice at primary English language classrooms raises English language teachers’ awareness towards their language use from an English as a lingua franca (ELF)-aware perspective. English language teachers in a CLIL program completed a survey about their classroom practice and their opinions about their English language use in the classroom. They also shared their lesson plans to showcase their everyday teaching. The findings revealed that although CLIL practice presented challenges for language teachers, their experience enabled participants to conceptualize themselves as ‘competent English language users’ instead of non-native English language teachers. Moreover, the findings suggested that teachers’ CLIL experience enabled them to become aware of the three major components of ELF awareness; namely, awareness of language and language use, awareness of instructional practice, and awareness of learning.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document