scholarly journals Exploring the Perceptions of Moroccan EFL Teachers Towards Task-Based Language Learning

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-31
Author(s):  
Mohammed Mettar
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
English Language ◽  
Classroom Practices ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Efl Context ◽  
Level Of Use ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
High Level

Moroccan students do not have many opportunities to use English outside the classroom setting. The adoption of task-based language learning (TBLL) is deemed to be an appropriate language instructional method for the Moroccan EFL context. Hence, teachers are explicitly urged in the official Moroccan English language guidelines documents to adopt tasks in their teaching practices. However, no known empirical research has been conducted to investigate teachers’ perceptions and use of TBLL. To fill this gap, this study attempted to investigate high school EFL instructors’ familiarity with TBLL and their views on the use of tasks in their classrooms. An online survey provided quantitative data from 90 participants. Results showed that although Moroccan EFL teachers have a good understanding of the key concepts of this approach, their use of tasks is limited. Lack of task-based materials, large class sizes, and students’ use of their mother tongue to complete the task are identified as the main obstacles facing a high level of use of tasks in teachers’ classroom practices. Several implications for the successful integration of TBLL in the Moroccan EFL context are suggested at the end of the article.

scholarly journals Teachers’ Perceptions on Using Smartphones in English as a Foreign Language Context

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-104
Author(s):  
Ali Abbas Alzubi
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Qr Codes ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Efl Context ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Educational Applications ◽  
Language Context

This study explored the perceptions of English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers at a foundation year in a university in Saudi Arabia. 41 male (27) and female (14) teachers completed a survey using Google Forms. The results indicated that the majority of teachers (83%) supported the integration of smartphones in EFL context, as 71% believe that smartphones would enhance students’ EFL learning. 72% reported that they used smartphones for university-related work. Sending and receiving emails, accessing the internet, and using educational applications were the most reported beneficial features whereas scanning/creating QR codes, using calculator, playing games, and playing a podcast were the least reported. 79 % believed that smartphones would have instructional benefits for the learners such as access to technology, motivation, creativity English language learning opportunities, and variation in instruction whereas 58 % did not see any barriers in the use of smartphones in EFL context. That smartphones may distract students’ attention was the only reported barrier. Recommendations and impactions for further research and applications were suggested.

scholarly journals English in an EFL Context: Teachers’ and Learners’ Motivations for English Language Learning

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Zarrabi
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Language Learning ◽  
Highly Qualified ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Life Chances ◽  
Efl Context ◽  
Efl Teachers

The present study explores the ways in which English is used in public discourse in Tehran-Iran and the motivations of Iranian - English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners and teachers towards English language learning. The paper begins with an overview of different places in which English is used in Iran, such as media, public signs, traffic signs, advertisements, products, people’s ordinary lives, and education. A cohort of 327 participants, including 168 Iranian EFL learners (male and female) and 159 experienced Iranian EFL teachers (male and female) responded to an English language motivation questionnaire. The results revealed that there is an active presence of English in Iran. In addition, the majority of Iranian EFL learners and teachers involved in the study regard English as an important part of their lives for many and various reasons such as being up-to-date, love, education, learning a new skill, being promoted, having a better and more highly qualified job and increased life chances.

scholarly journals Reading Difficulties in English as a Second Language in Grade Five at a Saint Patrick’s High School for Boys, Hyderabad- India

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zena Abdulameer Mohammad ◽  
Muhamad Hasbi
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Reading Ability ◽  
English Language ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Reading Difficulties ◽  
Ability Test ◽  
Essential Components ◽  
High Level

Reading is one of the essential components of the English language. Countries that use English as a second language (ESL) sometimes have difficulties in reading and comprehension. According to many researches, mother tongue has proved some interferences with learning a second language. This study investigated the results of reading difficulties of young second language learners in terms of accuracy, comprehension, and rate using the Neale Analysis of Reading Ability test. The study was carried out in one of the High Schools for Boys in Hyderabad, India and included Grade five, aged 10-12 years. In order to understand the reading difficulties of English as a second language, a qualitative approach was employed. Interview, reading tests, and observation were conducted as a data collection tool. The findings showed that these subjects had no specific language impairments but they had different degrees of language exposure and usage that led to poor accuracy, comprehension, and reading rate during reading English language texts. Five students (50%) were classified at a low level of readers, three (30%) at a high level, and two (20%) at a mild level after evaluation of their compatibility between their chronological and reading age. It is suggested that the teachers should first assess students who struggle in reading accuracy and comprehension and then assist them with their language learning and acquisition that take place at school and home.

scholarly journals Reading Difficulties in English as a Second Language in Grade Five at a Saint Patrick’s High School for Boys, Hyderabad- India

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 521-535
Author(s):  
Zena Abdulameer Mohammad ◽  
Muhamad Hasbi
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Reading Ability ◽  
English Language ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Reading Difficulties ◽  
Ability Test ◽  
Essential Components ◽  
High Level

Reading is one of the essential components of the English language. Countries that use English as a second language (ESL) sometimes have difficulties in reading and comprehension. According to many researches, mother tongue has proved some interferences with learning a second language. This study investigated the results of reading difficulties of young second language learners in terms of accuracy, comprehension, and rate using the Neale Analysis of Reading Ability test. The study was carried out in one of the High Schools for Boys in Hyderabad, India and included Grade five, aged 10-12 years. In order to understand the reading difficulties of English as a second language, a qualitative approach was employed. Interview, reading tests, and observation were conducted as a data collection tool. The findings showed that these subjects had no specific language impairments but they had different degrees of language exposure and usage that led to poor accuracy, comprehension, and reading rate during reading English language texts. Five students (50%) were classified at a low level of readers, three (30%) at a high level, and two (20%) at a mild level after evaluation of their compatibility between their chronological and reading age. It is suggested that the teachers should first assess students who struggle in reading accuracy and comprehension and then assist them with their language learning and acquisition that take place at school and home.

scholarly journals TEACHERS AS RESEARCHERS: THE PERCEPTIONS AND PRACTICES OF CANTHO TERTIARY EFL TEACHERS

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nguyen Thi Thu Uyen ◽  
Truong Vien
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Tertiary Institutions ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Research Engagement ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Conducting Research ◽  
High Level

This descriptive study aims to investigate tertiary EFL teachers’ perceptions and practices of doing research. The study was conducted with the participation of 67 EFL teachers from tertiary institutions in Cantho of Vietnam. Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered via the questionnaire and semi-structured interviews to provide insights into how Cantho tertiary EFL teachers perceive the benefits and challenges of doing research as well as their current status of practices as researchers. The study revealed that (1) Cantho tertiary teachers held positive perceptions of conducting research in the field of English language teaching, and that (2) their practices as researchers were reported to be at a high level. Understanding these is an important part of the broader process of attempting to resolve research challenges teachers are facing and thus to encourage teacher research engagement among EFL teachers. <p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0887/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

scholarly journals Conceptualizing Language Learning Metaphors in the Saudi EFL Context: Practicality, Applicability & Appropriacy

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 277
Author(s):  
Mansoor S. Almalki
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Efl Context ◽  
Teacher Student ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Efl Classrooms ◽  
Teachers Attitudes

This paper tries to investigate the trends about the use of metaphors in the Saudi EFL classrooms. The proper implementation of metaphors (i.e. instruction, acquisition, and socialization metaphors) by teachers can be a reason for boosting source in the interactional and instructional patterns of the Saudi EFL classrooms, and the significance of these metaphors at aforementioned settings was investigated in the present study. Focusing upon the perceptive design of the study, a survey was conducted to know the significance of the three metaphors in the interactional settings of the Saudi EFL classrooms. This study targeted Saudi EFL teachers’ attitudes towards the three delimited metaphors.. The respondents consisted of 200 Saudi EFL teachers drawn from the English Language Centers of the Saudi Universities. A 22-item Likert-scale questionnaire was designed to know the opinions of Saudi EFL teachers about the dynamic use of metaphors in the context of the  Saudi EFL classroom. The findings of the study reflected that the Saudi EFL teachers represented by the cohort of this study presented a mixed attitudes towards the utilization of the three delimited metaphors. The findings show that a limited exposure of instructional metaphor may be one of the reasons of the poor performance of the Saudi EFL teachers. A limited exposure of  acquisition metaphor may also be damaging the dynamics of teacher student interactional and instructional patterns inside the Saudi EFL classrooms. The findings further  show that the teachers’ imbalanced use of class time and hardly any reliance on the coordinated interaction might be due to the limited exposure to the latest techniques embedded in the socialization metaphor. Although policy makers do not acknowledge the fundamental role of metaphors into classroom pedagogies, the participant-teachers recommended professional use of all the metaphors to achieve prerequisite dynamics of the EFL classrooms by fully acknowledging the applicability, appropriateness, and practicality of all the variables of acquisition metaphor.

Albanian EFL Teachers’ Perceptions of the Role of Grammar Instruction in EFL Learning

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 433
Author(s):  
Enriketa Söğütlü
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Classroom Practices ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Grammar Instruction ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Grammar Knowledge ◽  
Efl Learning

The role of grammar knowledge and the contribution it makes to foreign/second language learning has been one of the most hotly debated issues in language research. Studies and findings in the field have revealed that after a relatively long period of exaggerated underestimate, grammar stands now where it should. Various theories of learning have caused theories of language learning to emerge, which on their part have had a strong influence on language teachers regarding the strategies they adopt, develop and implement in their classroom practices. This paper attempts to explore some Albanian EFL teachers’ perceptions and beliefs on the role grammar knowledge and grammar instruction play in their students’ EFL learning. It also aims to investigate how these teachers’ attitudes influence their classroom practices of grammar instruction and grammar related activities. Since hardly any research on the issue has been conducted in Albania, this study may also serve as an incentive for further large-scale research, which might offer suggestions for improvement in EFL teaching strategies and expectations in Albania.

scholarly journals Teaching Phonetics Using A Mobile-Based Application in an EFL Context

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 189
Author(s):  
Haggag Mohamed Haggag
Keyword(s):  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Satisfaction Scale ◽  
Efl Context ◽  
Mobile Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Faculty Of Education

Mobile based learning has been an effective mean for learning languages. The aim of this study is three-fold: first, to investigate the process of designing mobile-based application for teaching phonetics in EFL context. The second is to verify the effect of this mobile application on pre-service EFL teachers' achievement of English phonetics at a university level. Finally, it aims to investigate participants' satisfaction towards Mobile Assisted Language Learning. The research implements a mobile based program for developing preservice teachers' segmental elements in a phonetics courses. It deals with how to design the program, implement it and test its results. Participants of the study were (23) pre-service English language teachers at Hurghada Faculty of Education, South Valley University, Egypt. Instruments of the study included a mobile based phonetics module, English phonetics achievement Test and an English Satisfaction scale. Results showed a development in participants' achievement at the level (0.01) in mastering the segmental elements (Phonemes identifications- consonants classificationvowels classification). Participants showed their satisfaction of the application through their positive feedback and responses to the items of the questionnaire

scholarly journals Investigating Teachers’ Perceptions and Instructional Practices Regarding Form- Focused Instruction of Speech Acts in Iranian EFL Context

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melahat Amir Jahansouz Shahi ◽  
Neda Gharagozloo ◽  
Reza Raissi
Keyword(s):  
Instructional Practices ◽  
Speech Acts ◽  
English Language ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Mixed Methods Design ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Efl Context ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Explanatory Mixed Methods ◽  
Language Instructors

Abstract This study aims to investigate Iranian EFL teachers’ perception and instructional practices towards form-focused instruction of speech acts specifically request, apology and invitation. To this aim, through sequential explanatory mixed methods design the researchers used criterion sampling and 30 English language instructors in Islamic Azad University (IAU) of North Tehran Branch served as the subjects. To attain general perception and teaching practices of instructors towards form-focused instruction of speech acts, they were asked to answer a pragmatic questionnaire. Besides, in order to achieve an enhanced awareness concerning instructors’ perceptions and practices regarding form-focused instruction a semi-structured interview was conducted for the same 30 English language instructors. Finally, six classes were observed by the investigators through convenience sampling. Likewise, through the triangulation approach, the investigators studied and merged the required data. The statistical results of the quantitative and qualitative data analysis revealed that form-focused instruction of speech acts is mostly focused by the Iranian EFL instructors. Most of them agreed with the use of explicit strategies for instructing request, apology and invitation speech acts rather than implicit strategies. Additionally, the explicit strategies were used by most of the instructors in EFL classes. The results of the current study are beneficial for syllabus directors and scholastic administrators to have a different outlook towards the curricula and textbooks' content, particularly for EFL settings.

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