scholarly journals Assessing EFL Students’ Language Proficiency in Secondary School Classes in Benin

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-19
Author(s):  
Ulrich Orlando Sèna Hindeme ◽  
Katchédé Etienne Iwikotan ◽  
Arlette Joséline Arlette Hounhanou
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
English Language ◽  
Basic Function ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Efl Students

This paper presents a study on assessing English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students’ language proficiency in Benin secondary schools. Assessment and evaluation are indispensable components of English language teaching. Assessing students is crucial to both learners and teachers themselves in the sense that its basic function is to improve learning. However, much awareness has not been raised on the key roles of assessment in Benin secondary schools. This study aims at investigating how effective teachers’ assessment of their learners’ language abilities is in EFL classroom and to explore EFL learners’ attitude towards assessment. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, 56 EFL teachers and 458 lower intermediate and upper EFL learners in the Atlantic region in Benin participated in this study. The field study revealed that many teachers wrongly mistake assessment for test and thus use both terms to mean the same thing. Teachers have not been able to see tests as a way of assessing their teaching methods and upgrading their students’ language skills. Besides, most teachers stated that testing is the only tool they use in assessing their learners’ language proficiency and it is mostly for the purpose of assigning grades at the end of the terms. Students declared that most tests consist of grammar questions. As this study draws attention to the close relationship between assessment and teaching, training workshops have been recommended to guide and train teachers on how to effectively assess their students so that teaching and learning in the EFL classroom meet expected objectives and goals.

scholarly journals Teacher-Based Assessment of Speaking in Cameroonian Secondary Schools: The Impact of Teacher Training

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 01-11
Author(s):  
Rudolf N. Akongoh
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Training ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Variation Principle ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

Speaking is an important language skill that deserves a place both in English language teaching and English language assessment. However, the assessment of speaking in Cameroonian secondary schools is still neglected in many teacher-based English language tests. Often, attempts made to assess the skill are done either almost always indirectly or informally, leaving a wide gap between tenets professed in the Competency-Based Approach (CBA) to English language teaching and practice in the field. In 2012, the government of Cameroon officially introduced the CBA as the pedagogic paradigm for the teaching of English as a Second Language (ESL), and by extension, assessment in secondary schools. Eight years down the line, little seems to have changed concerning the way speaking has always been assessed, even though the CBA requires that learners practically demonstrate knowledge, skills and values in testing situations. This article set out to evaluate the contribution of teacher training to the assessment of speaking. Data was collected through qualitative and quantitative methods. A total of 259 questionnaires were administered to examiners of the June 2019 marking session of the Cameroon General Certificate of Education (CGCE) as well as members of the Cameroon English Language and Literature Teachers’ Association (CAMELTA). Also, four interviews were conducted with the maximum variation principle in mind. The findings revealed that teacher training, both pre-service and in-service, is a major factor responsible for the neglect of speaking in assessments. It was recommended that teacher-training institutions introduce or expand courses on testing to include direct assessment of speaking and that opportunities be created for in-service teachers to acquire certification on assessment within the framework of the CBA to English language teaching.

scholarly journals Moodle in English Language Teaching and Learning in Jordan: Instructors and Students’ Perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 1280-1288
Author(s):  
Abdel Hameed Al Awabdeh
Keyword(s):  
User Satisfaction ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
English Language ◽  
Teaching Method ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
English Learning ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods

To support the significance of instructor readiness for the adoption of E-learning, it is necessary to examine the factors affecting instructors’ integration of Moodle into their English classrooms, as well as the students' perceptions of those who are learning English by using Moodle. This study had chosen to implement both qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis. The study's subjects comprised 25 lecturers and 150 students. The findings revealed that the lecturers from the University of Amman's School of English used Moodle as part of the English language teaching method. The majority of them used the option of document uploading and sharing function to give assignments to students and encouraged them to access and download the course materials outside of learning sessions to better enhance their competencies in English learning skills. Additionally, it was later discovered that the positive impacts of adopting Moodle during English lessons are as follows: Moodle promotes student-centered learning engagement, anytime-anywhere learning, simplifies course management, and mitigates the expense and time constraint of delivering lessons. The drawbacks of using Moodle in English classes are linked to technological problems, mainly regarding access to the Internet, inadequate professional development given to instructors, and Moodle's efficacy. Students exhibited favorable views regarding English learning by using Moodle as a platform. This is shown through their great computer self-efficacy, system engagement, and user satisfaction.

scholarly journals Building Cross-Cultural Competence in a Foreign Language through Technology-Enhanced Project-Based Learning

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (27) ◽  
pp. 411-418
Author(s):  
Anastasiia Syzenko ◽  
Yana Diachkova
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Competence ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
English Language ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Master Level

In contemporary changing and innovative academic and working environment, tertiary schools need to rethink their approach to teaching and learning by gearing it towards the skills in most demand. Innovation in any sphere becomes more and more dependent on the collaboration between actors from very different backgrounds who combine their own expertise to create something new. This happens both on an individual- as well as on an institutional level. The organizations of the future will be forced to work more and more closely with people and institutional partners from all over the world in order to bring as many different perspectives and areas of expertise together as possible. This means that cross-cultural competence becomes one of the crucial factors in building a competitive profile of a prospective specialist. Therefore, this paper explores approaches to building cross-cultural competence using the English language as a tool and presents the findings of a pilot training on experimental collaborative cross-cultural project implemented with Master level Economics students in Ukraine. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to collect the data and examine participants' language proficiency. The findings suggest that participation in collaborative technology-enhanced cross-cultural projects has a significant positive effect on learners’ language proficiency and develops their cross-cultural competence facilitating development of productive skills on the basis of receptive ones.

scholarly journals Pedagogical Tools in the 21st Century

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (5BIS) ◽  
pp. 16
Author(s):  
Meryem Aherrahrou
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
English Language ◽  
Classroom Teacher ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Personal Life ◽  
Pedagogical Tools ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Increase Productivity

Neuro-Linguistic Programming has attracted considerable attention in many different areas of life mainly in education. In this context, the major aim of this paper was to explore the implications and effect of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) techniques in English language Teaching and Learning in the Moroccan context. Qualitative and Quantitative methods are used. In this study, we included 2 teachers with and without NLP experience as well as 2 groups including 43 students. Our results stated that after implementing NLP techniques in the classroom, teacher and learners participate together to create a positive atmosphere, increase productivity, motivate themselves to achieve excellence and reach their desired outcome not only inside the classroom but also in their personal life.

The Students’ Perceptions towards the effects of EFL Teachers’ Classroom Assessment Technique on their Academic Achievements: The Case of Four Selected Secondary Schools in Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 20-27
Author(s):  
Faskal Faranso Faltamo
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Classroom Assessment ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Academic Achievements ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Data Collections

Assessment is an integral part of measuring effectiveness of teaching and learning processes. It basically focused on measuring the students’ progress in what they learned. Current study examined the relation between the students’ perceptions towards EFL teachers Classroom Assessment methods and their academic achievements. To this end, descriptive research design with qualitative and quantitative methods of data collections was employed. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources via questionnaire, interview and observations. Target populations of current study were randomly selected 281students and purposely selected four teachers of secondary schools at Wolaita zone, Ethiopia. The data were analyzed using mixed methods of data analysis. Based on results obtained from qualitative and quantitative data, it was found out that the students’ perceptions towards teachers’ assessment was proportional to their achievement. Most dominantly, low achievers were not satisfied with their teachers’ methods of assessment as their students were low and the vice versa it true.

scholarly journals “CONSTANT, ZIG-ZAG LINEAR, OR MULTIPLE?”: THEMATIC PROGRESSION PATTERNS ON EFL STUDENTS’ RECOUNT TEXTS

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 172
Author(s):  
Merina Devira ◽  
Makhroji Makhroji ◽  
Allif Syahputra Bania ◽  
Novia Sari
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Qualitative Method ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Dominant Type ◽  
Linear Pattern ◽  
English Writing ◽  
Thematic Progression ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Progression Patterns

The main problem faced by EFL students in writing English texts includes the difficulties to produce a cohesive and coherent text that it seems necessary to show how the tools of Theme and Rheme can be used to help construct the students' good English writing. This study aimed to find out the types of thematic progression patterns in each clause of the recount texts written by students and the dominant pattern of thematic progression revealed from the texts. The research design of this study is a qualitative method which employed the study instrument of the students' recount texts at class IX of SMAN 2 Langsa, Aceh. A content analysis approach by using a Theme and Rheme framework generated from a theory of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) was used to analyze the thematic progression patterns on the students' recount texts, which included several steps: reading the student's texts, identifying the theme and rheme of every clause of the student's text, describing the thematic progression patterns of student's text and drawing the thematic progression pattern on student's text. The findings of the analysis indicated that there are three (3) thematic progression patterns found on the students' recount texts: the Theme Constant, the Theme Zig Zag Linear pattern and Theme Multiple patterns. The dominant type of thematic progression patterns constructed by the students into their recount texts was revealed mostly on 123 constant or reiteration patterns (76.8%), followed by zig-zag patterns of 35 times (21.8%)  and 9 times (1.25%) of multiple patterns. The results of this study will be facilitative as the tools for English language teaching and learning classrooms particularly for writing English texts. 

scholarly journals Counteractive Measures for the Tribulations Faced by Intermediate Students of Selected Colleges of Lucknow, While Teaching and Learning English

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 516
Author(s):  
Mohammad Owais Khan
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
College Education ◽  
Uttar Pradesh ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Intermediate Students ◽  
Learning English

The present study attempts to highlight the issues related to the Tribulations and Counteractive measures for teaching and learning English to Intermediate students of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP), India. The language policy in intermediate college education emerged as a social and personal problem. The quality of English Language teaching in majority of Indian Intermediate Colleges presents a very appalling picture. Teachers’ language proficiency, exposure to language and teaching materials is major concerns for quality English language learning. In reality intermediate students’ situation in UP is very difficult. They don’t have good opportunities as the big cities’ students have. These students consider English as a subject not as a language. So they focus only on examination not on the learning. This is an area which needs proper investigation. This study and the remedial measures suggested at the end will hopefully help students and teachers in learning and teaching English easily and appropriately. The study will also be useful for teachers, scholars, course designers and material producers of English language teaching.

scholarly journals Scope of Cooperative Learning (CL) Strategies in Teaching English to Saudi Adult EFL Learners: A Study of Practical Barriers and Possible Implications

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ishtiaq ◽  
Muhammad Sabboor Hussain
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Cooperative Learning ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Educational Administration ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Teaching English ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Efl Teachers

This study aims at investigating the teachers’ practices and perceptions in teaching English in Saudi Arabia by viewing their stance on Cooperative Learning (CL) — an innovative teaching approach proposed to raise the language proficiency level of adult EFL learners. The study has been conducted in Qassim University, Saudi Arabia—a vibrant and flourishing EFL context. A quantitative tool (a questionnaire) has been used to collect data and to serve qualitative purposes. It reports 80 EFL teachers’ (40 males and 40 females) perceptions about CL using a 17-items comprehensive survey covering all the possible barriers in the way of implementing CL strategies in EFL classes. The survey items also explore how the EFL teachers in Saudi Arabia foresee the implications of making such an innovative move in their classes. The responses have been analyzed on a 5-point Likert scale which ranges from strongly disagree-disagree-neutral-agree-strongly agree. Major findings are that CL strategies have practical barriers but their implications are far more positive. The barriers are mainly due to the wrong learning habits of the adult EFL learners in Qassim University and lack of will and vision of the educational administration. The study recommends that CL strategies need to be given due consideration and support by the administrators and policy makers to raise the proficiency level of adult EFL learners. The study also allays the misconception that majority of the practitioners in English language teaching field are not ready to practice and implement CL strategies in their classes.

scholarly journals Relationship between Teachers’ Competency Level in Teaching English Language and Students’ English Language Proficiency in Secondary Schools in Rwanda

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (7) ◽  
pp. 104-122
Author(s):  
Girimbabazi Serge ◽  
◽  
Mrs Adegoke Oyebimpe ◽  
Dr. Hesbon Opiyo Andala ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Proficiency ◽  
English Language Proficiency ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Teaching English ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
English Language Teachers

The improvement of students’ English proficiency depends on the level of teaching English language and the competency of teachers in teaching career. The purpose of this study therefore, was to investigate the relationship between teachers’ competency in English language and students’ English language proficiency within secondary schools of Karongi in Rwanda. The study adopted correlation research design research design. Data collection tools were questionnaire and interview guide. The target population was 1794 people comprised of 1560 students, 14 Sector Education Officers, 20 Head Teachers, 200 teachers. A simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques were used to get a sample size of 395 respondents. The study findings revealed that majority of the students with a total of 290 (91.2%) agreed that in their school, teachers are not competent enough in English language. Moreover, almost 292 (91.8%) of the respondents agreed that in their school, students English reading, writing, listening and speaking proficiency level is low and 70 (90.9%) of key informants agreed that both in public and private secondary schools of Karongi District, students’ English language proficiency level in reading, writing, speaking and listening is low. The correlation results showed the association between between teachers’ inability to teach in English, teachers’ inability to read classroom interactions in English language, teachers’ incompetency in English language, teachers’ inability to express themselves in English language as well as teachers’ inability to develop English language educational materials) and dependent variables (students’ reading, writing, speaking and listening English language proficiency and students’ English language proficiency (reading, writing, speaking and listening English proficiency) is positive. The study recommended the Ministry of Education through Rwanda Basic Education Board to avail enough English teaching and learning materials, including charts, textbooks and dictionaries which are adequate in enhancing English language proficiency mastery among students at an early age. All stakeholders of the education sector are recommended to support English teaching and learning activities in Rwanda, as it is the only and one shortcut for making Rwandans master the English language. Keywords: Teachers’ competency, English Language, English proficiency, Rwanda

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