Investigation of Iranian and Turkish English language teachers’ views, perspectives and experiences of teaching cultural content in English courses

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monireh Azimzadeh Yiğit ◽  
Yonca Özkan
Keyword(s):  
High Schools ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Cultural Elements ◽  
Teaching Culture ◽  
Language Classes ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Cultural Content

Abstract Nowadays, English has been considered as an International language or a Lingua Franca as a result of its widespread use among non-native speakers. English now is spoken by various people with different languages and diverse cultures. Thus, learners need to know the culture of different people of various countries. As stated by Cortazzi, M., & Jin, L. (1999). Cultural mirrors: Materials and methods in the EFL classroom. In E. Hinkel (Ed.), Culture in second language teaching (pp. 196–219). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, learners should have knowledge about source culture, target culture, and international culture. In this regard, teachers have a great responsibility in including cultural content in their English language classes. Therefore, the main purpose of this pilot study during Azimzadeh’s PhD journey (Azimzadeh, M. (Unpublished). Representation of cultural elements in EFL textbooks used in Iranian EFL high schools [PhD dissertation]. Adana, Turkey: Cukurova University) is to investigate Iranian and Turkish English language teachers’ views, perspectives, and experiences of teaching cultural content in their English language classes. This study was conducted as a mixed-method design. The data collection was done by using a questionnaire and an interview. The questionnaire which was used in this study adopted from CULTNET project (a network of researchers of inter-culture in foreign language education), Byram and Risager’s projects, and Cortazzi and Jin’s (1999) three cultural sources. Participants of this study were 16 teachers who were teaching English language in high schools in Iran and Turkey. The data collected from questionnaires and interviews were analysed by using a series of descriptive statistics and interviews were analysed by using thematic analysis (Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches. London: Sage Publications, Inc). The findings of this study have indicated that both Iranian and Turkish teachers were aware of the importance of teaching culture in their English language classes. They generally claimed that culture was important in language classes and the cultural subjects should be taught in English language classes.

scholarly journals Ideal Classroom Setting for English Language Teaching Through the Views of English Language Teachers (A Sample from Turkey)

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Canan Demir Yıldız
Keyword(s):  
High Schools ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Classroom Environment ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Classroom Setting ◽  
English Language Teachers

English is the most common foreign language given as a class in Turkey. Although English language education has been given for many years, it is seen that there is not a desired result yet. There are many factors that affect this situation such as language, program, method, language education policies, teacher, and student. One of the factors affecting language education is the pysical classroom setting. Within this context, it is searched for ideal classroom setting in language education at high schools. 22 English language teachers from 9 different high schools participated in the study. Views of teachers were reported to Word and analyzed through content analysis. In the context of the current research, it is stated that there are some technological problems, the areas where foreign language materials are exhibited in the classroom environment are limited, and the classrooms do not allow different seating arrangements. According to English language teachers, it was stated that there should be technological equipment and hardware in an ideal language learning setting, there should be sufficient areas for displaying visual materials, furniture should be flexible and classroom population should be at an ideal level.

Teachers’ perceptions and the implementation of the adapted communicative approach in Libya

2022 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdurahman Milad ◽  
Dwi Rukmini ◽  
Dwi Anggani ◽  
Rudi Hartono
Keyword(s):  
High Schools ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Communicative Approach ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
The City ◽  
Meaningful Communication

This study instigates the teachers’ perceptions towards the implementation of the adapted communicative approach to teach English language in Libyan high schools in the city of Khoms. The participants were six teachers of different gender-based high schools. The study followed a pure qualitative method to collect and analyze the date, and the data were collected using an open-ended questionnaire. The findings reveal that the majority of English language teachers in Libyan high schools in Khoms city have positively perceived the implementation of the communicative approach (CA) to teach English language in their high schools’ contexts. They agreed to the majority of the questionnaire’s items such as: the CA emphasizes the communication in the target language and emphasizes that the learners need meaningful communication. All the participants said that they modify the principles of the communicative approach to meet the students’ needs and goals and most of them have agreed that the allocated time is not enough to complete the lesson in the classroom. This study draws out the pedagogical implication that the implementation of the adapted CA to teach English language in high schools in Libya can be quite adaptable, especially when the teachers have to fulfil the students’ needs.

Podcasting as a Next Generation Teaching Resource

2009 ◽  
pp. 350-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Ang Lu
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Efl Context ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Almost All

This chapter aims to investigate how podcasts can be made to fit into the repertoire of resources utilized by teachers, especially in language education. It focuses on arming the language teacher with a fundamental knowledge of podcasting, centering on its potential applications in the classroom. Podcasts are ideal resources for language teachers, especially English language teachers, because almost all topics imaginable are now being treated in podcasts and the bulk of podcasts are recorded in English. Aside from making use of language-teaching podcasts, language teachers can also incorporate English language podcasts dealing with a wide range of issues to cater to the varying preferences of students. In addition to discussing these points, this chapter also provides suggestions for the practical incorporation of podcasts in language learning and teaching, both inside and outside the classroom. Two case studies demonstrating possible ways to use podcasts in an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context are presented.

scholarly journals The Pedagogical Practicum Journey Towards Becoming an English Language Teacher

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 173-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgar Lucero ◽  
Katherin Roncancio-Castellanos
Keyword(s):  
Teaching Practices ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Private University ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Mentor Teachers ◽  
English Language Education ◽  
Teaching Experiences ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Practicum Experiences

This article discusses English language pre-service teachers’ pedagogical practicum experiences. We compiled, from their teacher journals and group talks, the lived teaching experiences of a group of 34 pre-service teachers who were majoring in English language education at a private university in Bogota, Colombia. The analysis of their stories makes us realize that their first practicum experiences are full of feelings and emotions, and that their first teaching practices are based on their mentor teachers’ pieces of advice. These first experiences, in turn, develop the foundation upon which they build themselves as English language teachers.

scholarly journals English Language Teachers’ Attitudes Towards Critical Thinking within Moroccan High Schools

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-67
Author(s):  
Youssouf Laabidi
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
High Schools ◽  
High School Teachers ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Analysis Of Means ◽  
Level Of Use ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Teachers Attitudes ◽  
Descriptive Statistical Analysis

This study addresses the restricted attention of critical thinking in the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) in Moroccan high schools, which is one of the new issues investigated in recent times. Many students could not think critically since their instructors could not implement critical thinking into their instructional practices every day. The primary bjective of this inquiry is to examine teachers’ attitude towards the use of critical thinking in the classroom. In this paper, the questionnaire was used to address only English language high school teachers. Descriptive statistical analysis of means, standard deviations, and percentages were used. The results showed that teachers held a positive attitude towards the use of critical thinking in the classroom. Therefore, they need not hesitate to introduce it in their teaching. Our findings strongly indicate that having an understanding of what really happened in the classroom will surely help shape the development of critical thinking in education. This suggests that further study could be carried to determine teachers’ level of use of critical thinking in Moroccan high schools.

scholarly journals POLICY CHANGE IMPLEMENTATION: THE CASE OF THE CEFR IN MALAYSIAN ESL CLASSROOMS

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 296-317
Author(s):  
Nur Ashiquin C. Alih ◽  
Abdul Halim Abdul Raof ◽  
Masdinah Alauyah Md. Yusof
Keyword(s):  
Policy Change ◽  
Education System ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Readiness For Change ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Change Implementation ◽  
English Language Education ◽  
English Language Teachers

Background and purpose: With rapid global development happening in the world today, the field of education has been awash with various change forces. In an effort to ensure its system is globally competitive, Malaysia has taken a step to align its English language education system to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). However, any change in policy is not without problems and challenges as studies have shown that challenges were inevitable and stakeholders’ buy-in on the new change is necessary. Hence, this study was undertaken to investigate the challenges faced by teachers in implementing the CEFR in Malaysian ESL classrooms, their belief on this new reform and their readiness to implement the CEFR.   Methodology: A mixed-method design was utilized with the use of questionnaire and semi structured interview as means for data collection. 365 English language teachers responded to the questionnaire while 15 English language teachers participated in interview sessions.   Findings: The data revealed five challenges namely teachers’ motivation, materials, time, students’ proficiency level and facilities. Despite facing multiple challenges, all teachers exhibited positive belief towards the adoption of the CEFR. The study also showed that although teachers were emotionally ready to accept the change, their cognitive readiness for change however is dependent upon three important facets namely time, collective effort and adequate materials.   Contributions: The study provides insights into the change in policy involving the CEFR implementation in the Malaysian English language education system which contributes to the scarce literature on the implementation of CEFR.   Keywords:  Policy implementation, challenges in policy change, teachers’ belief, Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), readiness for change.   Cite as: C. Alih, N. A., Abdul Raof, A. H., & Md. Yusof, M. A. (2021). Policy change implementation: The case of the CEFR in Malaysian ESL classrooms.  Journal of Nusantara Studies, 6(2), 296-317. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol6iss2pp296-317

scholarly journals Implementation of the Sheltered Instructional Observation Protocol (SIOP) Model in the Saudi Classroom: EFL Teachers’ Perspectives

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hind A. Al Fadda
Keyword(s):  
Classroom Environment ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Systematic Evaluation ◽  
Job Experience ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
English Classroom ◽  
Observation Protocol ◽  
Teachers Perspectives

This study evaluates the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) model and its application in the Saudi classroom from the English language teachers’ perspective. The study used a descriptive study design, with a selected sample of 300 male and female English language teachers from elementary and middle schools. The research conducted a group-wide comparison using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings illustrate that educational qualification, career status, job experience and training courses substantially affect application of the SIOP model in the classroom. Results also show that technical, financial capabilities and teachers' qualifications enable the SIOP implementation in the Saudi classroom. The study suggests the implementation of the SIOP model for the sake of transitioning from the traditional English language education system to more advanced methods concerned with the systematic evaluation of English language teachers and classroom environment standards. The recommendation includes training teachers on the SIOP model and emphasizes providing other countries with the guidelines related to SIOP implementation in the English classroom.

scholarly journals The enactment of the Malaysian common European framework of reference (CEFR): National master trainer’s reflection

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul Hakim Ali Abdul Aziz ◽  
Radzuwan Ab Rasid ◽  
Wan Zhafirah Wan Zainudin
Keyword(s):  
Education Reform ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Training Model ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
International Standards ◽  
English Language Education ◽  
Master Trainer ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Second Tier

As Malaysia sets out to realise their plan of the English Language Education Reform, the adaptation and implementation of Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) is an obvious choice; however, creating a high-calibre teaching workforce to carry it out poses a significant challenge. This critical reflection article elucidates the implementation of CEFR in Malaysian Pre-, Primary and Secondary schools from the perspective of a National Master Trainer (NMT) who attended multiple courses by Cambridge English Super Trainers (CEST) before going on to train English language teachers using the Cascade Training Model. Based on the trainer’s experience, this article discusses the progress of the training, starting from CEST as the first tier, NMT as the second tier, and District Trainer (DT) as the third tier, until it reaches the teachers who will apply their knowledge and skills in the classroom. We conclude that despite the long and careful planning in terms of teacher training for the CEFR implementation, there are various aspects that need improvements, to better guarantee success in producing an English language programme along with international standards, as the plan dictates.

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