scholarly journals EFL TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS ON USING PEDAGOGICAL MODULES IN ECUADOR: A FOCUS GROUP INTERVIEW

2021 ◽  
pp. 42-56
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
English Language ◽  
Focus Group Interview ◽  
National Curriculum ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Group Interview ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
State Schools

English language textbooks are widely used as one of the essential resources in education. In Ecuador, local authorities created specific course books for state schools and high schools called pedagogical modules. Hence, the terms pedagogical textbook, course book, and modules will be used interchangeably. This study aims to explore perceptions of Ecuadorian English as a Foreign Language teachers on implementing the pedagogical modules to state schools, which were provided by the Ministry of Education. Besides, participants will provide perceptions on the connection of the mentioned textbooks with the Ecuadorian National Curriculum. The study includes an exploratory qualitative design using a focus group interview with eight EFL teachers from primary and secondary schools. The focus group interview findings indicated that teachers have both positive and negative perceptions towards using these pedagogical textbooks. Teachers agree that these pedagogical modules promote English learning success in a contextualized and authentic way by connecting aspects from the curriculum and current ELT principles. Nonetheless, all of the teachers indicated that integrating the pedagogical modules to state schools was, in many ways, disorganized. Based on the results, this study suggests constructive changes to specialists in charge of creating and editing EFL pedagogical modules.

scholarly journals DEVELOPING LANGUAGE COMPETENCE FOR TOURISM STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES IN A BLENDED LEARNING LANGUAGE COURSE

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ineta Luka
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
English Language ◽  
Formative Evaluation ◽  
Focus Group Interview ◽  
Evaluation Research ◽  
Group Interview ◽  
Professional Literature ◽  
Language Competence ◽  
European Languages ◽  
Key Skills

The paper presents the main findings of the second stage of Erasmus+ project „Key Skills for European Union Hotel Staff” (2014-2016) – the online course designed for A2/B1 level of language competence in 12 European languages and B2/C1 English language course to promote tourism students’ and employees’ language competence and raise their intercultural awareness. It analyses pedagogical, linguistic and field professional literature on course creation and presents the conducted evaluation research containing formative evaluation from three perspectives – provider (document review), recipient (a focus group interview with 14 learners) and wider community (a focus group interview with 7 hospitality industry managers and a survey of 21 language teachers from six countries) to identify the initiative’s consequences and opportunities for modification and improvement. The strengths and weaknesses of the course have been identified and suggestions on how the process could be made more efficient/effective for the organisation, the end users and the community have been provided.

Student teachers’ perceptions of critical thinking and its teaching

ELT Journal ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-48
Author(s):  
Rui Yuan ◽  
Paul Stapleton
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Student Teachers ◽  
Teaching Practices ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Education ◽  
Teachers Perceptions

Abstract Although the importance of critical thinking (CT) has been stressed in English language education, little attention has been paid to language teachers’ perceptions and experiences regarding CT during the pre-service stage of their careers. Drawing on data from a focus group and follow-up email interviews with pre-service language teachers, this study shows that the participants had a limited understanding of CT, and lacked preparation and support in their programmes regarding how to implement CT-oriented teaching practices. The findings also revealed a range of individual and contextual challenges faced by the participants when they tried to integrate CT into their language teaching. The study concludes with recommendations on how to cultivate a critical mindset among language teachers while developing CT-oriented pedagogies.

scholarly journals Intercultural Competence in the Eyes of State School English Language Teachers in Turkey

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 56-75
Author(s):  
Nur Gedik Bal ◽  
Perihan Savas
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Language Classrooms ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Foreign Language Classrooms

Equipping students with intercultural competence (hereafter IC) is a critical aim of English foreign language classrooms nowadays, and EFL teachers have emerged as essential players for accomplishing this. These teachers should essentially be competent in their intercultural skills so that they can pass these on to their students in order to foster interculturally competent language learners. However, teachers' perceptions regarding IC remain uncertain, particularly in the Turkish context. Thus, before asking teachers to apply methods and strategies so that they can enhance students’ IC in the classroom, it is vital that we investigate what they understand about IC. Therefore, this qualitative study aimed to reveal middle and high school teachers’ understanding of the IC phenomenon and their description of the characteristics of an interculturally competent foreign language learner and teacher. In addition, teachers’ perceptions regarding their own and their learners’ IC were also explored in this study. The participants were 30 middle and high school English language teachers teaching at state schools in Turkey. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect the data. MAXQDA was exploited in order to analyse the data, primarily to code, categorize, and systematize the findings. The results indicated that the teachers considered IC to be the ability to communicate with people from various cultures effectively, having knowledge about one’s own, target, and other cultures, and developing positive attitudes toward other cultures and societies. They also emphasized the inseparability of language and culture and the importance of English as an international language. The teachers also indicated why they viewed themselves and their learners as interculturally competent or incompetent, which could provide insight into where to start intercultural learning and teaching in foreign language classrooms and how to train EFL teachers about different dimensions of IC.

scholarly journals Smartphone Screen Recording Apps: An Effective Tool to Enhance Fluency in the English Language

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-229
Author(s):  
Catherine Vanessa Pardo Soto ◽  
Cecilia Cisterna Zenteno
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
English Language ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
Focus Group Interview ◽  
Video Recording ◽  
Group Interview ◽  
Video Recordings ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Convenience Sampling

This investigation intended to assess the effectiveness of smartphone video recording applications in increasing the speaking fluency of students of English as a foreign language (EFL). The study was conducted on a group of thirty-one 7th grade students aged between 12 and 13 years and enrolled in a subsidised school in Chile. The convenience sampling method was employed to select the participating students and the participants’ manner of communication was analysed through several English speaking sessions in which they used their smartphone video recording applications. Data collection was undertaken through pre- and post-speaking tasks used in this action research. The collected data were examined using a specific analytic rubric and a focus group interview. Data analysis was accomplished via two techniques: a simple percentage analysis and a thematic examination. The findings revealed an increase in the speaking fluency of the participating students, specifically with regard to the ‘pace’ criterion identified in the analytic rubric used to assess improvement in the speaking performance of students as evidenced by video recordings. Also, the results of the focus group interview conducted with the students evidenced the participants’ positive response to the use of smartphone recording video applications in ameliorating their English communication fluency.

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