scholarly journals Revisiting Grammar Teaching in a Saudi EFL Context: Teachers’ Perceptions and Practices

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariam Yousef Abduh ◽  
Sami Algouzi

In language, meaning is conveyed and received through words and grammar. A phrase or a sentence is not a random collection of words. In the absence of grammar, words hang together without any real meaning. Thus, grammar plays an essential role in language teaching. With adequate grammar explanations in meaningful contexts and practice, some serious errors in learners' language can be avoided. This study aimed at examining the relationship between teachers’ perceptions of grammar teaching and their actual practices in a Saudi EFL context. Questionnaires and classroom observation checklists were used to gather information about teachers' perceptions of grammar teaching and to compare that with their practices. The paper sought to find answers to these questions: 1) What are teachers’ perceptions of grammar teaching? 2) Do teachers’ perceptions of grammar correlate with their actual teaching in EFL classes? 3) What are teachers’ perceptions of problems, if any, hindering their practice of grammar teaching? The sample consisted of 23 teachers who completed a questionnaire discussing their perceptions of grammar teaching and practice. Six of these teachers were observed teaching grammar in classes. The findings revealed that there was a negative correlation between teachers' perceptions of grammar teaching and their perceptions of their grammar classes. Also, there was a negative correlation between teachers' perceptions of grammar teaching and the observed classes. However, teachers' perceptions of their classes were mostly reflected in observation cards, and they were positively correlated. Further, the study revealed teachers' tendency towards traditional methods of teaching where the meaningful practice was overlooked.

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 291-306
Author(s):  
Mariam Yousef Abduh ◽  
Sami Algouzi

In language, meaning is conveyed and received through words and grammar. A phrase or a sentence is not a random collection of words. In the absence of grammar, words hang together without any real meaning. Thus, grammar plays an essential role in language teaching. With adequate grammar explanations in meaningful contexts and practice, some serious errors in learners' language can be avoided. This study aimed at examining the relationship between teachers’ perceptions of grammar teaching and their actual practices in a Saudi EFL context. Questionnaires and classroom observation checklists were used to gather information about teachers' perceptions of grammar teaching and to compare that with their practices. The paper sought to find answers to these questions: 1) What are teachers’ perceptions of grammar teaching? 2) Do teachers’ perceptions of grammar correlate with their actual teaching in EFL classes? 3) What are teachers’ perceptions of problems, if any, hindering their practice of grammar teaching? The sample consisted of 23 teachers who completed a questionnaire discussing their perceptions of grammar teaching and practice. Six of these teachers were observed teaching grammar in classes. The findings revealed that there was a negative correlation between teachers' perceptions of grammar teaching and their perceptions of their grammar classes. Also, there was a negative correlation between teachers' perceptions of grammar teaching and the observed classes. However, teachers' perceptions of their classes were mostly reflected in observation cards, and they were positively correlated. Further, the study revealed teachers' tendency towards traditional methods of teaching where the meaningful practice was overlooked.


2013 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masateru Nishimuro ◽  
Simon Borg

In this paper we examine the relationship between teachers’ practices and cognitions in teaching grammar. A qualitative analysis of classroom observations and interviews with three experienced Japanese teachers of English highlights both the key features of these teachers’ pedagogies in teaching grammar and the cognitions underpinning their work. Their practices were characterized by detailed teacher-fronted explanations of grammatical forms, metalinguistic explicitness, and the use of the L1. These practices were underpinned by the teachers’ beliefs about the value of grammar, though there was little evidence that the teachers’ pedagogical choices were consciously informed by current theoretical or methodological ideas in the field of L2 teaching. Rather, the approach to grammar adopted by the teachers had a strong experiential basis and was influenced by a desire to motivate and promote the well-being of their students as well as by contextual factors such as learners and colleagues. 近年、教師認知の観点からCommunicative Language Teaching (CLT) の導入に関わる考察が多くなされているが、本稿は日本の英語教育の主な関心であり続ける文法指導にその焦点をあてた。日本の高校に勤める経験豊かな3人の日本人英語教師各々に授業観察と観察前後のインタビューからなる質的調査を実施し、文法指導の実践とその実践の根拠となる彼らの教育的信条や認知との関係性を探った。日本語を用いた教師主導の文法形式の説明とメタ言語学的明示性に象徴された彼らの実践は、文法指導に価値をおく彼らの信条が根拠となっていたが、その指導法を採用する判断においては第二言語(外国語)教育分野の理論、方法論を基にしたという根拠はほぼなかった。むしろ彼らの指導法は、教師自身の学習・指導経験が大きな基礎をなし、学習者の動機を高め彼らに人間として良く成長してほしいという願い、学習者や同僚といったコンテクスト要因に影響されていた。


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Khadija Al Balushi

Grammar teaching continues to be a controversy matter in the field of teaching and teacher Education. It is generally agreed that attention to grammatical form is necessary and useful, but many issues related to teaching grammar still needs further research (Barnard & Scampton, 2008:59). This study investigated the relationship between Omani TESOL (teaching English to speakers’ of other languages) teachers’ attitudes towards grammar teaching and their grammatical knowledge. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 40 respondents teaching English in Omani schools. The findings showed that there was a positive correlation between teachers’ attitudes towards grammar teaching and their grammatical knowledge. However, there were no effect of gender on teachers’ grammatical knowledge and no effect of teaching experiences on attitude towards grammar teaching. The findings indicated that the final model of standard multiple regression showed that teachers attitudes towards grammar, gender, experience, age and the educational phase they teach in did not make a statistically significant unique contribution to the prediction of their grammatical knowledge. Such findings suggest directions for further studies in investigating the influence of language teachers’ attitudes/knowledge on their classroom practices.INTRODUCTIONIn recent years, grammar teaching has regained its rightful place in language curricula. Language teaching professionals are now of the belief that grammar cannot be ignored, and that without a good grammatical knowledge, learners’ language development can be severely constrained (Baleghizadeh & Farshchi, 2009). Grammar teaching and learning has attracted significant research attention. For example, many studies examined teachers’ explicit or declarative knowledge about grammar (e.g. Shuib, 2009; Andrews, 1994; Bloor, 1986). These studies showed that learners and teachers had encountered inadequate levels of grammatical knowledge. Other studies focussed on L2 and FL teachers’ beliefs about teaching grammar (Baleghizadeh & Farshchi, 2009; Borg& Burns, 2008). Borg and Burn’s (2008) study indicated that teachers expressed very strong beliefs in the need to avoid teaching grammar in isolation and reported high levels of integrating grammar in their practices. Baleghizadeh and Farshchi’s (2009) study revealed that teachers’ beliefs could be traced back to their long experience of teaching textbooks that heavily draw on deductive approaches to teaching grammar. Yet, we have to fully understand whether teachers’ attitudes towards grammar teaching have an influence on their grammatical knowledge. This is important because teachers’ attitudes/beliefs play a major role in influencing what they do in the classroom (Borg, 2006; Borg, 2003). Moreover, Shulman (1987) stressed that in order to teach grammar appropriately teachers need both grammatical knowledge and the skills “pedagogical content knowledge”. Thus, the current study focused on in-service TESOL teachers’ attitudes towards grammar teaching, and their grammatical knowledge to see if there is a correlation between the two and whether other background differences affect their knowledge of and attitudes towards grammar. This might help teacher educators to see the relationship as well as the impact of


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 20
Author(s):  
Yaqoub Obaid Al-Qutaiti ◽  
Mohaida Mohin

Teachers of English and other concerned educators try hard to make their students be fluent and accurate users of English. In order to achieve that aim, they should ensure that they have students who rarely or never make language errors. During their studying period, students must see the difficulties, challenges, and rewards of using the language correctly and accurately. They have to obtain a better understanding of how language is structured and interconnected logically. More importantly, EFL teachers and other educators should enhance the idea of how students can use correct English in their lives inside and outside classrooms. The main purpose of this study is to investigate EFL teachers’ perceptions pertaining to grammar teaching, correction of students’ grammatical mistakes and the challenges that are prevalent when teaching grammar in the Omani context. In addition, the study advocates some practical recommendations to EFL teachers, supervisors, teacher trainers, curriculum developers and assessment officers ascribed to grammar teaching.


Author(s):  
Threesje Roza Souisa ◽  
Lelyemin Yanuarius

<span>This study is aimed at describing the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) senior high schools’ teachers’ perceptions on grammar teaching; their teaching strategies which are the most and less frequently applied in their classroom practices and the challenges that they have in teaching grammar. Explanatory mixed approaches were conducted involving 63 teachers as the sample population in collecting quantitative data, and </span><span lang="IN">five</span><span> selected teachers as participants for collecting the qualitative data. The findings showed that teachers' perceptions of grammar teaching are based on their conceptual knowledge as they have experienced it and it is based on grammar theories. The teachers applied vary grammar approaches and strategies but they still face with the challenges in teaching grammar such as students' learning styles and less of teaching references.</span>


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 90-104
Author(s):  
Mohan Singh Soud

This article explores the perceptions of pre-service English language teachers studying at Master’s level under Education faculty at Tribhuvan University Nepal towards grammar and grammar teaching employing a qualitative research design. Three pre service English teachers were involved in this study, out of which two were females and one was male. The research participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview technique to collect relevant information to fulfill its purpose. The finding several that pre-service English teachers are in favour of teaching grammar. However, they believe that grammar should not be taught giving rules directly. All of the participants favour the use of inductive method of teaching grammar though they were taught through the use of deductive method at school.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 163
Author(s):  
Giusi Antonia Toto ◽  
Pierpaolo Limone

In the relationship between teachers and distance learning in the context of COIVD-19, a series of unprecedented dynamics have emerged relating to a process of open-air experimentation that is going on in the world of school. The main constructs investigated in this paper concern the professional perceptions of teachers in terms of their skills and resistances towards digital technologies. To investigate this topic, a questionnaire on distance learning was administered to a sample of 658 teachers. From a methodological point of view, factor and reliability analyses and correlation and regression analyses were conducted. From the analysis of the results, it emerged that the questionnaire measures the resistance of teachers to distance learning and focuses on three main dimensions (two positive and one negative) that link teachers’ perceptions to the resistance to distance learning. In conclusion, the theme of the acceptance of technologies in the practice of teachers is still a subject full of meaning for professional perception and vision. A second issue concerns precisely the relationship between digital technologies and users, which must no longer focus only on the relationship with students but also on the perspective of the other training actors, including teachers.


SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A153-A154
Author(s):  
Huisu Jeon ◽  
Sonhye Jeoung ◽  
Goeun Kim ◽  
Hyeyoung An ◽  
Hyojin Nam ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Bedtime Procrastination (BP) is defined as the behavior of going to bed later than intended, despite the absence of external factors. Bedtime procrastination is also prevalent among insomnia patients, and is associated with various sleep problems. Recent studies suggest emotional regulation as a mechanism of the procrastination behavior that is the conceptual foundation of bedtime procrastination. Emotional regulation difficulties are also associated with insomnia, but there is still a lack of research on the relationship between insomnia, emotional regulation strategies and bedtime procrastination. Thus, the study assumed that severity of insomnia would affect bedtime procrastination, and examined the moderating effect of the emotional regulation strategies in this relationship. Methods This study was conducted in 376 adults (mean age 23.73 ±2.14 years, 84.6% females). Participants were asked to answer Bedtime procrastination scale (BPS), an emotional regulation strategy checklist, and the Insomnia severity scale (ISI). Results As a result, a significant positive correlation was found between insomnia severity and bedtime procrastination (r=.286, p&lt;.01), and avoidant/distractive regulation style (r=.101, p&lt;.05). active regulation style (r=-.172, p&lt;.01) and support seeking regulation style (r=-.102, p&lt;.01) showed a significant negative correlation with the severity of insomnia. Bedtime procrastination behavior showed significant negative correlation only with active regulation style (r=-.151, p&lt;.01). Support seeking regulation style moderated the relationship between insomnia and bedtime procrastination behavior (B=.0165, 95%, CI=.0014, .0316). The interaction effect between insomnia and support seeking regulation style was also significant (∆R^2=.0112, p&lt;.05), indicating that the effect of insomnia on bedtime procrastination depends on the level of use of the support seeking regulation style. Conclusion These findings suggest that the level of support seeking regulation style is meaningful in terms of how insomnia affects bedtime procrastination. Support (if any) This work was supported by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF-2018S1A5A8026807)


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