scholarly journals An Evaluation of Sub-Skills (Vocabulary, Grammar and Pronunciation) in the Grade 9 English Textbook of Afghan Secondary Schools

English language is a part of the school's curriculum in all levels in Afghanistan as a foreign language. Despite it being including for decades, very little research has been done in regard to the quality and evaluation of the ELT English textbooks. The current study investigates and evaluates English Language Sub-skills of the secondary school textbook “Grade 9” to evaluate the effectiveness of the materials for the teaching and learning of the subskills. The Eclectic Checklist of Demir & Ertas (2014) has been selected for evaluating the selected English textbook. The findings indicate that the selected textbook lacks contextualized usage of vocabulary, systematic representation and sufficient explanations of grammatical structures, and appropriate usage of pronunciation activities. Furthermore, the findings indicate that the textbook needs improvements in developing and presenting the sub-skills of English language appropriately, particularly grammar and pronunciation. These findings will be helpful to policy makers and ELT textbooks developers of Afghanistan to represent the contextualized and appropriate usage of the English Language sub-skills in upcoming versions of ELT textbooks.

Author(s):  
Ashairi Suliman ◽  
Mohamed Yusoff Mohd Nor ◽  
Melor Md Yunus

Objective - The implementation of Dual-Language Programmes (DLP) in the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics is an initiative under the ‘Upholding the Malay Language and Strengthening the English Language’ (MBMMBI) policy. Though it has some similarities with the previous policy known as ‘English for the Teaching of Science and Mathematics’ (PPSMI), its execution is idiosyncratic in its own way. Since its inception in 2016, the programme has entered its third cycle involving students in primary and secondary schools in Malaysia. The curiosity to scrutinise the programme implementation has led to this study. The study aims to investigate the execution of this programme and to assess its sustainability. Methodology/Technique – Gleaning through the students’ language capabilities, attitudes, teachers’ support and acceptance of the programme, the study uses a questionnaire with open-ended questions and focus group discussions to unravel the aforementioned issues. 1,530 students from secondary schools across Malaysia were selected as the respondents of this study. Findings - The results reveal findings that may represent a measure on the direction of this programme. Looking from the student perspective, the challenges confronted in addition to those put forward may further serve as an indicator for the sustainability of the program. Novelty – This study infers how the programme can be further enhanced in terms of its implementation in its fourth year since inception. The findings of this study may assist policy makers in shaping the direction of the programme. Type of Paper: Empirical. Keywords: Dual-Language Programme (DLP); Sustainability; Science and Mathematics; Students; Policy and Programme Implementation. JEL Classification: A20, A23 A29.


2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 422-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patsy M. Lightbown ◽  
Nina Spada

AbstractOne of the challenges facing second and foreign language (L2) teachers and learners in primary and secondary school settings is the limited amount of time available. There is disagreement about how to meet this challenge. In this paper we argue against two ‘common sense’ recommendations for increasing instructional time – start as early as possible and use only the L2 (avoiding the use of the first language (L1)) in the classroom. We propose two better ways to increase the instructional time: provide periods of intensive instruction later in the curriculum and integrate the teaching of language and content. Studies in schools settings around the world have failed to find long-term advantages for an early start or exclusive use of the L2 in the classroom. Nevertheless, many language educators and policy makers continue to adopt these practices, basing their choice on their own intuitions and public opinion rather than on evidence from research.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-76
Author(s):  
Steven Sylvester Bockarie ◽  
Michael Sahr Bengu

The study entitled 'Constraints in English Language Teaching and Learning in Senior Secondary Schools: Strategies for Implementation' seeks to unravel the myriad of problems in teaching and learning the English Language in senior secondary schools and offers strategies that can be implemented to salvage the situation. Learning to teach is more than simply knowing the results of research and theory; it always involves learning the ‘craft’ of classroom exposition, explanation, organization, and guidance. The desired outcome of the language learning process is the ability to communicate competently, not the ability to the ability to use the language exactly as a native speaker does. To guide the study, three research questions were posed. The questions examined the following three variables: (1) the constraints in teaching English; (2) the constraints in learning English; and (3) strategies for implementation in senior secondary schools. The research will be carried out in two senior secondary schools in Kenema City, Eastern Sierra Leone (Government Senior Secondary School and Methodist Senior Secondary School). The study revealed that: the lack of adequate teaching and learning materials, poor pedagogical and academic subject matter competency, and the negative attitude of students towards the English Language, account for the major constraints in the teaching and learning of the subject.


2020 ◽  
pp. 92-97
Author(s):  
N.V. Maklakova ◽  
◽  
E.I. Besedina ◽  
I.A. Maklakov ◽  
◽  
...  

Presented is the analysis of correct choice of EFL Textbooks in the context of developing students’ effective communicative writing skills. Despite the needs of society for specialists, able to write in foreign language, most school graduates are not ready for written intercultural communication. Today, we should change the strategy of developing written communication skills and consider them as a goal, rather than as a means of teaching and learning. The paradigm shift is supposed to be reflected in training materials that should be appropriately selected in accordance with the goal. To be effective, the choice of training aids ought to be based on appropriate criteria. Our research was aimed to determine criteria for selecting EFL textbooks for effective developing written communication skills of students. The proposed criteria were verified in series of modern English textbooks.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-360
Author(s):  
Mphatso Imwa

This article systematically reviews the literature on the Potential of using Smartphone in teaching and learning of English Language in secondary schools. It focuses on the benefits, perceptions, challenges, and solutions towards incorporating smartphones in secondary school education. Through online research, 9 empirical and theoretical articles, case studies, and surveys defending the use of a smartphone in teaching and learning of English language in secondary schools were analyzed. The results from the study show that smartphones do have potential at improving teaching and learning of English amongst the teachers and learners in secondary schools. However, it is revealed also that there is need to establish effective pedagogical ways of using the smartphones in order to reduce indiscipline, distraction, and cases of cyberbullying. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 284
Author(s):  
Asma A. Hussein ◽  
Hamza Zeebaree

This study examines the use of first language (L1) in secondary school EFL classes in Duhok city in the Kurdistan Region - Iraq. The use of L1 in EFL classes has been an ongoing debate among researchers and practitioners across the globe especially as regards its role as a facilitator of, or a hinderance/barrier to the teaching of English. Hence, the researcher aims to discover whether or not the use of Kurdish facilitates the teaching of English, in secondary schools in Duhok city. In addition, the researcher aims at finding out on what basis do teachers decide to use L1 and for what purposes do they use it. In this study, among the participants were 50 English language teachers from different secondary schools in Duhok city. The data were collected through interviews. The results indicated that the use of L1 (Kurdish) facilitates teaching of foreign language (FL) and that a balanced and judicious use of L1 in the EFL classroom by teachers can be useful in the language learning process especially with regard to grammar and vocabulary instruction.


2021 ◽  
pp. 760-769
Author(s):  
Reena Vihol ◽  
Dhaval Patel

In the English language and Textbook of English, Structure and Grammar is an important part. In this paper, the researcher’s purpose to compare the structure and grammatical items in the textbooks of secondary school of Gujarat grade IX and X. English textbooks of grade IX and X analysed mainly by two parameters: Structure and Grammatical Items. The researcher studied each lesson of grade IX and X to assess the Structure and Grammatical Items.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. 94-96
Author(s):  
Zebo Botirova Hakimjon qizi ◽  
Islomjon Umrzoqov Israilovich

One of the difficult aspects of learning a foreign language, particularly in an EFL context, is vocabulary teaching and learning .This article investigates the difficulties faced by EFL teachers and their learners in the process of teaching and learning English language .It aims at exploring the motivating potential of games in improving the teaching and learning vocabulary in EFL beginners’ classes in Uzbek secondary schools.


Neofilolog ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (42/1) ◽  
pp. 25-38
Author(s):  
Melanie Ellis

This paper reports on some of the data from a large-scale study Teaching and Learning Foreign Language in lower secondary school, which began in the school year 2011-12 and traces selected groups of learners through the three years of Key Stage 3 (gimnazjum), ending in school year 2013-14. The study was conceived and is managed by the Foreign Language Section of the Educational Research Institute (ERI) in Warsaw with European funding. (see Acknowledgement). In this article the focus is on data obtained from interviews conducted with learners from class one of 120 lower secondary schools, where the students were asked to describe and give opinions about learning English in their school and to imagine an ideal lesson. The learners are the reason that lessons in school take place, but their views are rarely consulted. This study attempts to redress the balance.


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