scholarly journals Writing Instruction in Secondary Schools: Unraveling Practices and Challenges

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 108-118
Author(s):  
Tirtha Karki
Keyword(s):  
Classroom Observation ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Secondary Level ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Teaching Writing ◽  
Practical Training ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Language Classrooms ◽  
Product Approach

In a discourse related to teaching writing in second or foreign language classrooms, there is a focus on process writing which seems still new practice in many Nepali classrooms. In this context, this study was conducted to explore secondary level English teachers' practices and challenges of teaching writing. The study adopted qualitative research design. For this, twenty secondary level English teachers from both public and private schools of Sunsari District, Nepal were selected as informants. The data were collected through classroom observation, semi- structured interview and Focused Group Discussion (FGD). First, classroom observation of eight teachers was carried out followed by semi-structured interview. Then, the other twelve teachers were invited for FGD. Analysis of qualitative data uncovered that majority of the teachers adopted product approach to teaching writing with abundant stress on support to students for securing good marks in the final examination. The major challenges revealed behind this situation were large class size, low proficient learners, pressure on course completion, lack of practical training for teachers, and insufficient resources including ICT facility in the classroom contexts.

scholarly journals Difficulties Facing English Teachers in Teaching Literary Texts at Higher Secondary Level in Bangladesh

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Khandoker Montasir Hassan
Keyword(s):  
National Curriculum ◽  
Secondary Level ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
Literary Texts ◽  
Dhaka City ◽  
View Point ◽  
Communicative Approach

The present Study examines the difficulties facing English teachers in teaching literary texts in English for Today (11-12) textbook which has been prescribed by the NCTB (National Curriculum Textbook Board) of Bangladesh from the academic session 2015-2016. Literature has always been an integral part of teaching foreign languages. In the era of CA (Communicative Approach), the aim of reading literature has been changed. From this view point, in July 2015, the NCTB has published a new version of English textbook for classes XI-XII, and included some literary texts in this book. The emphasis of these literary texts is not just on content but on the exploitation of the texts to trigger a variety of language activities. Based on a semi-structured interview with six HSC (Higher Secondary) level English teachers from four colleges of Dhaka city, this study particularly focuses on the newly included literary texts to critically evaluate the effectiveness of the materials; and identifies the difficulties that the teachers may encounter. Finally, some recommendations are drawn by means of valuable opinions of the participants.

ENGLISH TEACHING THROUGH DISTANCE EDUCATION: OPPORTUNITY OR THREAT?

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (15) ◽  
pp. 388-419
Author(s):  
R. Meltem ÜNAL ◽  
Necla EKİNCİ
Keyword(s):  
Distance Education ◽  
Educational Opportunity ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Preparation Process ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
English Teaching ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Content Analysis Method

The purpose of this study is to examine English teaching practices through distance education based on the experiences of English teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research is a case study designed according to the qualitative research model. The study group of the research, which were determined through easily accessible case sampling, consists of 13 English teachers employed in public and private lower secondary schools. The data of the study were collected through a semi-structured interview form. Content analysis method was used to analyze the data. The main results of the research can be listed as follows: For most teachers, the course preparation process in distance education is more comprehensive and time-consuming than face-to-face education. However, there are also teachers who do not try too much to plan the process and stay away from technology. The positive reflections of the preparation process on the teaching process, such as providing a variety of methods, techniques, materials, activities and employing technology more, were observed. Teachers evaluate more on homework, student participation and effort. The majority of teachers find distance language teaching sustainable within the framework of their own experience. When the findings of the research are evaluated together, distance language teaching seems to have the potential to be an educational opportunity when it is carried out under appropriate conditions.

scholarly journals NATIVE ENGLISH TEACHERS IN EFL SPEAKING CLASSES: DEPICTING THEIR STRATEGIES TO TEACH VIETNAMESE STUDENTS

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miftahul Mahrus ◽  
Novinda Rosayanti
Keyword(s):  
Classroom Observation ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Role Play ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Descriptive Research ◽  
National University ◽  
Story Completion ◽  
Speaking Skills

The aims of this research are; (1) to know the strategies used by native English teachers to teach speaking to the students of Vietnam National University of Agriculture, (2) to describe how the strategies contributed to the students speaking skills, and (3) to explain the problems faced by native English teachers in EFL speaking classes. This research is descriptive research with a qualitative approach. The data were collected through classroom observation, interviews, and documentation. It presents the result of the study in the form of a descriptive explanation. The findings of this research are the strategies used by native English teachers to teach speaking to the students of Vietnam National University of Agriculture, namely (a) group discussion, (b) role play, (c) brainstorming, (d) storytelling, (e) story completion, (f) describing picture, (g) game (guessing the word), (h) using target language/interview. Based on those strategies, the results show that the strategies help students to improve their speaking skills, vocabulary, and confidence. Also, it can help students to solve problems, increase sensitivity, think critically, and express their ideas. Furthermore, the findings of the problems faced by native English teachers in speaking class are (a) pronunciation, (b) lack of confidence, (c) lack of ending sounds, (d) no vocabulary and grammar.

Improving Grade VII Students’ Achievement in Procedure Text Through Still Pictures

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Berta Ito Lubis And Tina Mariany Arifin
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Data ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
Alternative Media ◽  
Teaching Writing ◽  
Writing Achievement ◽  
Total Percentage ◽  
Procedure Text ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Writing Tests ◽  
Orientation Test

This study was conducted as an attempt to improve students’ writing achievement in aprocedure text by using Still Pictures. The method of the study was Classroom ActionResearch with two cycles and six meetings. The subject of the study was the students ofGrade VII students’ MTs. S. Syahbuddin Mustafa Nauli. The research was conducted intwo cycles and each cycle consists of three meetings. The instruments for collectingdata were taken from writing tests as quantitative data. The result shows theimprovement of the students’ score from orientation test to Cycles I and II tests. Themean of the students’ score for orientation test as Test I was 50.41, Cycle I test was66.25, and Cycle II test was 85.41. The total percentage of the improvement fromOrientation test to Cycles I and II tests was 99.2 %. It can be concluded that the use ofStill Pictures improves students’ achievement in writing a procedure text. Thequalitative data taken from Observation Sheet and Diary Notes show that the students’were enthusiastic and attracted in writing a procedure text because the Still Picturesencourage their creativities and ideas to write better. For English teachers, it issuggested to use Still Pictures as one alternative media of teaching writing a proceduretext.

scholarly journals Artefacts, practices and pedagogies: teaching writing in English in the NAPLAN era

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Gannon ◽  
Jennifer Dove
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
Teaching Writing ◽  
Pedagogical Practices ◽  
Deep Dive ◽  
Geographically Dispersed ◽  
English Classes ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Teaching Of Writing

AbstractIn secondary schools, English teachers are often made responsible for writing results in national testing. Yet there have been few studies that focussed on this key group, or on how pedagogical practices have been impacted in the teaching of writing in their classrooms. This study investigated practices of English teachers in four secondary schools across different states, systems and regions. It developed a novel method of case study at a distance that required no classroom presence or school visits for the researchers and allowed a multi-sited and geographically dispersed design. Teachers were invited to select classroom artefacts pertaining to the teaching of writing in their English classes, compile individualised e-portfolios and reflect on these items in writing and in digitally conducted interviews, as well as elaborating on their broader philosophies and feelings about the teaching of writing. Despite and sometimes because of NAPLAN, these teachers held strong views on explicit teaching of elements of writing, but approached these in different ways. The artefacts that they created animated their teaching practices, connected them to their students and their subject, suggested both the pressure of externally driven homogenising approaches to writing and the creative individualised responses of skilled teachers within their unique contexts. In addition to providing granular detail about pedagogical practices in the teaching of writing in the NAPLAN era, the contribution of this paper lies in its methodological adaptation of case study at a distance through teacher-curated artefact portfolios that enabled a deep dive into individual teachers’ practices.

scholarly journals Mobile Teacher Professional Development (MTPD): Delving into English Teachers’ Beliefs in Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 143-160
Author(s):  
Jepri Ali Saiful
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Teacher Professional Development ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Teachers Beliefs ◽  
Teacher Professional ◽  
Potential Use

In recent years, mobile phones have been used for teacher professional development (TPD). However, the potential use of smartphones, a current-generation of mobile phones, to develop teachers’ pedagogical, social, personal, and professional competences remains underexplored. This mixed methods study, examining the potential use of smartphones for TPD by delving into English teachers’ beliefs, employed a sequential explanatory approach. A quantitative survey was completed by 81 participants, followed by qualitative interviews with 8 selected participants. All the respondents were English teachers in elementary, junior, and senior high schools in 11 provinces in Indonesia. The survey was tested for validity and reliability, and analysed using the descriptive statistics method, while the semi-structured interview was analysed using the content analysis method. Almost all teachers had very favourable and favourable beliefs about the use of smartphones for TPD, perceiving that a smartphone could facilitate the enhancement of their pedagogical knowledge, communication skills, positive characters and English proficiency. Very few teachers had unfavourable beliefs, but among those who did, they believed traditional face-to-face TPD was more beneficial and that smartphones would only lead to addiction. This study recommends that smartphones be optimally applied by English teachers for TPD activities and that governments facilitate such implementation by constructing smartphone TPD models and applications.

Listening to the Experiences and Concerns of Pre-Service Teachers During Teaching Practice Programme

2021 ◽  
pp. 14-27
Author(s):  
Darshana Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Student Teachers ◽  
Prospective Teachers ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Education Programme ◽  
Practical Training ◽  
Teacher Education Programme ◽  
Practice Teaching

Teaching Practice is widely recognised as the sine-qua-non of any teacher education programme. It is a component in the teacher preparation programme where prospective teachers are provided with an opportunity to put their theoretical studies into practice, get feedback, reflect on practice and consequently further improve their teaching skills. As teaching practice is an important component of a teacher education programme, considerable attention must be given to make it more effective and fruitful. This paper is based on a research study conducted to know pre-service teachers' experiences of the quality of teaching practice and the common concerns they have during teaching practice. On the basis of focussed group discussion a total of five themes were identified, these are (1) usefulness of teaching practice (2) experiences/concerns with pupils' behaviour (3) experiences/concerns with own behaviour (4) experiences/concerns with supervisors' behaviour (5) experiences/concerns with institutional and personal adjustments. The outcome of the focussed group discussion was used to prepare a structured questionnaire. Among other things, the study recommended rigorous practical training in lesson planning, demonstration lessons by teacher educators, simulated teaching before the commencement of practice teaching, school orientation programmes, a separate internship of two weeks and writing a journal by student teachers during teaching practice.

Five Portraits of Teachers’ Experiences Teaching Writing: Negotiating Knowledge, Student Need, and Policy

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-60
Author(s):  
Juliet Michelsen Wahleithner
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Writing Instruction ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Comparative Method ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
Teaching Writing ◽  
School Students ◽  
High School English ◽  
High Stakes

Background Numerous reports have highlighted problems with writing instruction in American schools, yet few examine the interplay of teachers’ preparation to teach writing, the instructional policies they must navigate, and the writing development of the students in their classrooms. Purpose This study examines high school English teachers’ instruction of writing while taking into account their preparation for teaching writing—both preservice and inservice, the instructional policies in place, and the learners in their classrooms. Setting Data used come from public high school English teachers teaching in Northern California. These data were collected in 2011–2012, when teachers were sill complying with the mandates of the No Child Left Behind legislation. Research Design I use year-long qualitative case studies of five high school English teachers to highlight various ways teachers used their knowledge of writing instruction to negotiate the pressures of accountability policies and their students’ needs as writers to teach writing. Data collected include beginning- and end-of-year interviews with each teacher, four sets of 1- to 2-day observations of each teacher's instruction of writing, and instructional documents related to each teacher's writing instruction. These data were analyzed using the constant comparative method to look for themes within the data collected from each teacher and then make comparisons across teachers. Findings from the case studies are supported by findings from a survey of 171 high school teachers who taught a representative sample of California high school students at 21 schools in 20 districts. The survey included 41 multiple-choice items that asked about teachers’ instructional practices and their perceptions of high-stakes accountability pressures and their students as writers. Survey data were analyzed quantitatively using descriptive statistics and principal components analysis. Findings Findings illustrate that significant differences existed in how the five teachers approached their writing instruction. These differences were due to both the teachers’ varied preparations to teach writing and the contextual factors in place where each taught. Those teachers with more developed knowledge of writing instruction were better able to navigate the policies in place at their sites and more equipped to plan appropriate instruction to develop their students as writers. Recommendations Findings indicate teachers would be better served by opportunities to develop their knowledge of writing instruction both prior to and once they begin their teaching careers. Additionally, the findings add to an existing body of research that demonstrates the limiting effect high-stakes assessments can have on teachers’ instruction of writing.

scholarly journals Contamination and current practice in decontamination pof nebulisers in ventilated patients

2013 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ellis ◽  
H. Van Aswegen ◽  
R. Ross ◽  
P. Becker
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Growth ◽  
Current Practice ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Ventilator Circuit ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Sterile Drape ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Public And Private Sector

To examine the incidence of contamination and current practice of decontamination of nebulisers after use within a ventilator circuit, in public- and private sector intensive care units (ICUs) in Johannesburg; to assess the presence of and adherence to a decontamination protocol in these ICUs and to identify which practices were associated with lower or no bacterial growth. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used which included a semi-structured interview with the ICU manager and an audit of current nebuliser practice. Nebulisers that were identified in the interview were swabbed and streaked on blood agar plates (BAPs). BAPs were incubated and assessed for bacterial colonisation, number of colony forming units (CFUs) and number of different species of CFUs present. Results: Two hundred and sixty-nine ICU beds were surveyed over a two-month period resulting in 45 nebulisers used within a ventilator circuit that could be tested. The majority (93%) were single-use jet nebulisers, all were being re-used and 52% presented with contamination. None of the ICUs had a nebuliser decontamination protocol in place. Contaminated nebulisers that were stored in a sterile drape had significantly higher concentrations of bacterial growth (p=0.03). Conclusion: The rate of colonisation of re-used jet nebulisers is high. Nebuliser decontamination protocols are urgently needed.

scholarly journals Role of Educational Technology in Public and Private Institutes at Secondary School Level in District Karak (Khyber Pukhtunkhwa) Pakistan

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 39
Author(s):  
Qaiser Suleman ◽  
Ishtiaq Hussain ◽  
Zaitoon Akhtar
Keyword(s):  
Educational Technology ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Secondary Level ◽  
School Level ◽  
Private Institutions ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Secondary School Level ◽  
Teachers And Students

Educational technology plays a fundamental role in enhancing teaching learning process. It has facilitated instructional process and made it more productive, dynamic and effective. Therefore the study was conducted to explore the role of educational technology in public and private institutes in district Karak (Khyber Pukhtunkhwa) Pakistan in comparative perspectives. The main objectives of the study were: to compare the availability of educational technology in public and private institutions at secondary level; to compare the usability of educational technology in public and private institutions at secondary level and to know the usefulness of educational technology in public and private institutions at secondary level. All the heads, teachers and students in public and private secondary schools in district Karak constituted the population of the study. In order to ensure adequate sample, 60 heads, 180 teachers and 600 students serving and studying in public and private sectors at secondary school level in District Karak were selected randomly. The study was delimited to the selected male public and private secondary schools. The study was also delimited to those technologies which are commonly used. The study was descriptive in nature therefore, the researchers decided to develop questionnaire for the collection of data. A single questionnaire was developed for the whole sample. Pilot testing was conducted to know the weakness, misconceptions and ambiguities of the questions. After conduction of pilot testing, the questionnaire was revised and then its final version was prepared in the light of valuable suggestions of the heads, teachers and students. The researchers personally visited to the respective sample and distributed the questionnaires among the heads, teachers and students in public and private secondary schools. In this way data was collected. After the collection of data, the data was organized, tabulated and analyzed. The researchers decided to apply chi-square for the statistical treatment of the data. Therefore, chi square was applied to compare the responses of the sample. After analysis of the data, it was concluded that educational technologies are not available in both sectors. Some technologies are available in minor amount but these technologies are not used in both public and private sectors. Key Words:Educational Technology, Availability of Educational Technology, Usability of Educational Technology, Importance of Educational Technology

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document