Engaging Learners in Online Classrooms: A Case Study from Nepal

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (7) ◽  
pp. 01-06
Author(s):  
Samikshya Bidari
Keyword(s):  
Digital Literacy ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Visual Aids ◽  
Good Communication ◽  
Online Classrooms ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Teachers And Parents ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Since the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak compelled many teachers and students globally to shift online, several unexpected circumstances have emerged. This research contextualized a current scenario with teachers and parents working together towards achieving meaningful learning in Nepal. A qualitative case study was employed as a research design to explore how to maintain collaboration and engagement in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning. Two English language teachers were interviewed to ascertain their perceptions about virtual classrooms. Similarly, two parents were interviewed separately. Parents Teacher Association (PTA) meeting was observed to triangulate the data. This study sought to gain insights into the perceptions of the participants and discovered that students' reactions to online classrooms were mixed; some were more motivated, while others demonstrated unsatisfactory concerns. However, good communication and collaboration with students using visual aids, music, and interesting topic talk related to lessons outside the textbook as supplementary teaching material helped teachers engage their students. Also observed was that teachers with digital literacy built better collaboration than the teachers struggling with digital competency.

scholarly journals Implications of Lesson Study for Tertiary-Level EFL Teachers’ Professional Development: A Case Study From Turkey

SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 215824402110237
Author(s):  
İlknur Bayram ◽  
Fatma Bıkmaz
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Lesson Study ◽  
English Language ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Teaching Style ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Student Thinking ◽  
Pedagogical Content ◽  
Starting Point

This qualitative case study carried out at a Turkish university with four English language teachers aims to explore what teachers experience in the planning, implementation, analysis, and reporting phases of the lessons study process and what the implications of lesson study for teacher professional development can be. Data in this four-month study were gathered through observations, interviews, whole group discussions, and reflective reports. Findings revealed that lesson study had potential challenges and benefits for the professional development of teachers. The model poses challenges in finding a topic and research question, determining the lesson design and teaching style, making student thinking observable and analyzing qualitative data. On the other hand, it benefited teachers in terms of increasing their pedagogical content knowledge, reflectivity, research skills, collaboration, and collegiality. This study suggests that lesson study might be a good starting point for institutions wishing to adopt a more teacher-led, inquiry-driven and collaborative perspective for professional development.

scholarly journals Pronunciation Errors of Letter “G” in English Language Made by Saudi Undergraduate Students

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huda Alqunayeer
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
English Language ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Loan Words ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Academic Year

The primary goal of the present study is to identify the problematic areas in the pronunciation of the letter “g” in English written words made by Saudi female learners of English as a foreign language, and the reasons for the weakness associated with mispronunciation of English written words which contain this letter. The population of the study was the female students (90 students) and their English language teachers (12 teachers) at the Qassim University during the academic year (2014-2015). There were two types of instruments used in this study. The first was a pronunciation test for the student participants in order to investigate the problematic areas of pronouncing “g” in different environments in different words; and the second a questionnaire for the teacher participants to provide comprehensive data about the causes of these errors of pronouncing “g” committed by EFL female students at Qassim University. Ninety female students were included for the pronunciation test and 12 teachers were asked to answer the questionnaire. Simple percentage was used for analyzing the data of recording words (pronunciation test). Results of the students’ recording words revealed that the participants mispronounced “g” before nasals (68%). According to the results of the teachers’ responses to the questionnaire suggested many factors that can cause difficulties for students in terms of pronouncing “g” in English written words. According to them, these difficulties are concerned with reading difficulties, nonstandard spellings, letters that follow “g” (many of them may become combinations), loan words, orthography (no correspondence between the English alphabets and their sounds). The researcher offers recommendations that might help teachers and students to overcome and reduce these mispronunciations of this letter in English written words.

scholarly journals ARABIC TEACHERS’ COMPETENCE: A CASE OF MADRASAH SCHOOLS IN MALUKU

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ummu Saidah ◽  
Saidna Zulfiqar Bin-Tahir ◽  
Nuril Mufidah
Keyword(s):  
Subject Matter ◽  
Qualitative Method ◽  
Arabic Language ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Rigorous Evaluation ◽  
Case Study Design ◽  
Pedagogical Competence ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
The Subject

In reality, not a few teachers who have been certified as educators are less competent in teaching the field of study. Many teachers are also able to master the subject matter, but they have difficult to present the material. This research applied a qualitative method using a case study design. It was carried out in the State Madrasah schools of Salahutu District, Central Maluku Regency. This research was conducted from August to 02 November 2017. The subjects of this study were 3 Arabic teachers, two principals and 6 class students totaling 12 informants. Based on the results, it was found that the pedagogic competence of Arabic language teachers was still relatively low due to the several indicators that were not implemented during the learning process. The personality’s competence of Arabic language teachers is relatively good compared to their pedagogical competence. The lacks of training, facilities, and rewards have caused the low educational competence of teachers. Their personal competence is due to strict supervision and their commitment to building the ummah as followers of religion and not because of their profession as teachers. Students are motivated to learn Arabic due to the motivation is given by the teacher, the mu'amalah is good between teachers and students, and there is a continuous and rigorous evaluation.

scholarly journals The Dichotomy of Specialization: Is a Literature Teacher Necessarily a Language Teacher?

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-133
Author(s):  
Mariam Anana
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Literary Criticism ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Oral Literature ◽  
Language And Literature ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Effective Teaching And Learning

This study investigates the dichotomy of specialization in Literature and English language. In many primary and secondary schools in Nigeria, many teachers who teach Literature are the same teachers who teach English Language. This is responsible for lack of ultimate successes in academic performance, foundational establishment and progressive developments in Literature and English language. Set against the backdrop of the inseparability and non-specialization in individual subjects in question, the study examines the need for a dichotomy of specialization in English Language and Literature with a view to reducing the rate of errors and students’ failures in both subjects. Adopting the simple randomisation, the researcher uses selected primary and secondary schools in Lagos State as the case study; the paper raises four questions and these are: Can English Language teachers effectively teach poetic devices? Are segmental phonemes easily taught by Literature teachers? Can English Language teachers proficiently teach oral literature, literary criticism and non-African literature? Can Literature teachers competently teach stress and intonation? This research uses a qualitative approach and adopts The Speech Act Theory as its theoretical framework. Questionnaire of fifteen (15) items was used for data collection and the simple percentage was applied for data analysis. The researcher discovered that: It is not possible for English Languageteachers to effectively teach poetic devices. Segmental phonemes cannot be easily taught by Literature teachers. Students would lag behind in areas where teachers are not proficient in the subjects they teach. Also, it is not possible for a teacher to place equal emphasis on both English Language and Literature in classrooms. The study therefore recommends the need for a dichotomy of specialization in the two subjects so as to ensure effective teaching and learning of these subjects.

Professional Development Landscapes

2017 ◽  
pp. 98-111
Author(s):  
Beril Yucel ◽  
Meral Güçeri
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Action Research ◽  
English Language ◽  
Collaborative Action Research ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Collaborative Action ◽  
English Language Teachers

This chapter aims to present two action research case studies conducted in the English Language Schools of two universities in Turkey and discuss the long-term effects of this Professional Development activity on teachers' professional lives. In both of these studies, teachers were involved in collaborative action research. The first case study discusses a small scale collaborative Action Research project which targeted 16 English language teachers. Case Study Two, on the other hand, is a large scale project which explores 160 English language teachers' collaborative action research study. Detailed information about each case study is provided by highlighting the aims, institutional contexts, participant profiles, methodology used and findings. Teachers' perceptions about action research and the long-term impact of it on their professional growth are also discussed. Conclusion part highlights the factors that need to be taken into consideration while setting up collaborative action research projects in institutions. Finally, future research recommendations are made.

Faith - Based Teacher Emotional Experiences: A Case Study of a Veteran English Lecturer in China

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 532-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaowei Ding ◽  
Peter I. De Costa
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
English Language ◽  
Religious Faith ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Central Position ◽  
Emotional Experiences ◽  
Faith Based ◽  
Multiple Data ◽  
Second Language Pedagogy

Abstract The exploration of links between faith and second language pedagogy has been underexplored, and the emotional experiences of English language teachers of religious faith are even less studied in applied linguistics circles. This qualitative case study is an effort to address this gap in the research by investigating the faith-based emotional experiences of May, a veteran English lecturer practicing Buddhism in China, by drawing on multiple data sources that include interviews, classroom observations, WeChat conversations, student evaluations, and researcher journals. Our findings revealed that (1) May’s emotional experiences were strongly driven by and deeply derived from her Buddhist faith and other aspects of identity in the classroom; (2) her faith-based emotional experiences were dynamic and fluid; (3) her faith-based identity occupied a central position alongside her professional identities and had a transformative influence on both her emotional experiences and her identity development; and (4) the interactions among her emotional experiences, multiple identities, and pedagogical praxis were complex and reciprocal. The research implications, limitations and future directions are also discussed.

scholarly journals Should teachers use L1 in EFL classroom?

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 25-39
Author(s):  
Shahnaz Mahmud
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Teaching English ◽  
University Teachers ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
English Classroom ◽  
Method Approach ◽  
Rule Out

English language teachers customarily rule out the use of mother tongue for teaching English. Reflecting on the theoretical underpinnings and empirical research on the use of mother tongue (L1) in English classroom and its ongoing debate the present study aims to explore teachers’ and students’ perceptions of it. A mixed method approach using questionnaire and interview is employed to analyze Bangladeshi university teachers’ and students’ belief and perceptions of teaching English with the help of L1. The study also attempts to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of using L1. Results indicate that both teachers and students perceive the necessity of judicious use of L1 to facilitate learning and acquisition of English as a foreign language (EFL).

scholarly journals Critical language teaching in a dynamic language policy terrain: lessons from the Brazilian Science without Borders student mobility programme

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 367-388
Author(s):  
Jonathan Luke
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Student Mobility ◽  
Ethnographic Study ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Critical Approach ◽  
Science Without Borders ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT This article reports on a case study of English language learning in higher education, considering the impact of language policies embedded within a mobility scholarship programme on the practices of language teachers. Based on a larger ethnographic study following the experiences of several undergraduate members of one cohort of Brazil’s Science without Borders programme for students in science and technological fields, this article describes how several language teachers engaged with the power relations of the frequently shifting policy terrain of the programme. It concludes with a discussion of possibilities for teachers in similar situations who endeavour to take a critical approach to language teaching and explores some of the tactics they might employ against those policies which they see as incompatible with their practices.

scholarly journals Students’ Preferences and Attitude toward Oral Error Correction Techniques at Yanbu University College, Saudi Arabia

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
Bushra Alamri ◽  
Hala Hassan Fawzi
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Error Correction ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
English Language ◽  
Classroom Observation ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
University College ◽  
Teachers And Students

<p>Error correction has been one of the core areas in the field of English language teaching. It is “seen as a form of feedback given to learners on their language use” (Amara, 2015). Many studies investigated the use of different techniques to correct students’ oral errors. However, only a few focused on students’ preferences and attitude toward oral error correction techniques, which determine students’ success in language learning. This quantitative research explored teachers’ and students’ preferences as well as students’ attitude toward the use of oral error correction techniques in the language classroom. The participants of the study were English language students and English language teachers at Yanbu University College (YUC) in Yanbu Industrial City, Saudi Arabia. A classroom observation checklist and questionnaires were used to collect the data. The study findings revealed that recast and explicit correction are the preferred techniques by the majority of the students and teachers. The findings also indicated that students have positive attitude toward oral error correction. As the classroom observation revealed that recast was highly used by teachers, it is recommended that teachers should also use other techniques to correct students’ oral errors. In addition, it is recommended that before correcting students’ oral errors teachers should always take into account the purpose of the activity and the proficiency level of students.</p>

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