The Potential of English for Social Purposes and Cooperation for Emergency Remote Language Teaching

Author(s):  
Francisco Javier Palacios-Hidalgo ◽  
Cristina A. Huertas-Abril

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to explore new practices in language teacher education. English for Social Purposes and Cooperation, a socially-responsive and technology-friendly approach to English language learning, may help students around the world continue learning from home. This chapter analyzes the perceptions of a group of pre-service teachers after designing socially responsive materials specially created for the COVID-19 crisis. Action research is employed to improve teacher educators' activity and pre-service teachers' training, and a mixed-method approach based on grounded theory and content analysis is performed. Findings show that the experience has provided participants with meaningful examples of material design. This encourages teacher educators to include the proposed approach in their teaching and reveals the need for specific training in material design. Results may help prove the potential of action research for improving the teaching practice.

2007 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-68

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RELC Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 003368822098527
Author(s):  
Benjamin Luke Moorhouse ◽  
Yanna Li ◽  
Steve Walsh

Interaction is seen by many English language teachers and scholars as an essential part of face-to-face English language classrooms. Teachers require specific competencies to effectively use interaction as a tool for mediating and assisting learning. These can be referred to as classroom interactional competence (CIC). However, the situation created by the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic which began in early 2020, and the recent advancement in technologies have led to teachers conducting synchronous online lessons through video-conferencing software. The online environment is distinctly different from the face-to-face classroom and teachers require new and additional skills to effectively utilise interaction online in real time. This exploratory study used an online mixed-method survey of 75 university level English language teachers who had engaged in synchronous online teaching due to COVID-19, to explore the competencies that teachers need to use interaction as a tool to mediate and assist language learning in synchronous online lessons. Teachers were found to require three competencies, in addition to their CIC – technological competencies, online environment management competencies, and online teacher interactional competencies – which together constitute e-CIC. The findings provide greater insights into the needs of teachers required to teach synchronously online and will be of interest to teachers and teacher educators.


Linguaculture ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy Cook

Abstract The first part of this paper considers approaches to teacher education for EFL developed during the 1960s-1990s, drawing upon two sources: the taxonomy of three approaches proposed by Wallace (1991) and personal reminiscence. It discusses each of Wallace's approaches in turn: craft, 'applied science', and reflective practice.The second part considers whether these approaches are adequate models for teacher education now. I suggest that while they are still relevant, they are also too inward looking for contemporary needs.They need to be supplemented with a more outward looking approach, in which teachers are prepared to engage with four aspects of the contemporary context: new communication technologies, the new global linguistic landscape, the relationship between English and learners' own languages, and the rival political views of English language learning as promoting either a global neoliberal agenda or a global civil society.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 208
Author(s):  
Tunku Mohani Tunku Mohtar ◽  
Charanjit Kaur Swaran Singh ◽  
Napisah Kepol ◽  
Ahmad Zainuri Loap Ahmad ◽  
Sasigaran Moneyam

The present study investigated the beliefs and efficacy of a teacher teaching English to students who were weak at the language. The objective of the study was mainly to investigate the beliefs and efficacy of the ESL teacher for teaching writing to weak learners. The research was a case study of the English Language teacher teaching Form Three class of students whose English proficiency was very low. An interview was conducted with the teacher to further probe the instructional strategies applied to enhance her beliefs and efficacy in her own capabilities to make learning happen in her classroom. Observations were made to investigate the teacher’s efficacy in teaching and the performance of the students specifically for writing. Results show the teacher’s beliefs of her students’ capabilities and their language needs helped shape the teacher’s instructional strategies. The teacher’s efficacy enabled her to decide to undertake the task of teaching writing to her students because she was confident in her ability. The teacher provided clues to the students to facilitate their learning. This kind of feedback from the teacher indirectly motivated them to learn. The teacher’s beliefs and efficacy contributed to her teaching practice and the instructional strategies that she used in turn enhanced her beliefs and efficacy. The study implicates that teacher’s beliefs and efficacy can assist the weak learners in improving their writing skills and also facilitate language learning.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 113
Author(s):  
Shamim Kousar ◽  
Shabana Sartaj ◽  
Syed Waqar Shah ◽  
Shoukat Ali Lohar

In this modern world where everything is connected with new technologies and internet. Under control of the internet and new technological inventions, it is hard to undermine their contribution to foreign language teaching. This study pertains to the beginner level students doing English language diploma courses in their initial stage at a private English learning institute located in Sindh province of Pakistan. The study aims at investigating English teaching practices through SS method (Student to student) such as pair work and group study and reduce TS method (Teacher student) of teaching. In such methods modern technology such as visualizer and multimedia (modern technology) are great help for practicing a language teaching. The use of aids and tools is one of the useful resources for language learning and teaching in an easy manner. Most of the researchers’ interest lies in action research and carried out different cycles of action research such as planning, acting, observation and reflection. The study used convenient sampling to recruit participants (n=20). Data for the study included open-ended questionnaires, classroom observations and semi –structured interviews from students as well as researchers’ reflections as a supplementary source of data. The study finds multimedia usage crucial, especially by the young generation of language teachers who understand and support the idea of technology in the classroom, on the contrary to the older generation which criticizes and underestimates its importance.


Author(s):  
Fang Yuan

Traditional English teaching practice often centers on the teacher and implements the teaching mode of “exemplifying by the teacher-answering by students-evaluating by the teacher”. This inflexible teaching mode fails to fully exert student’s subjective function; at the same time, due to the lack of necessary guidance and help from teachers, students are more likely to suffer from learning burnout and low self-confidence. With this regard, an English multimedia teaching mode was proposed in this study based on Krashen’s “Language Input Theory”. The theory is characterized by emphasizing the analysis of English language learning from the perspectives of “acquisition” and “learning”, advocating “understanding” of knowledge and using student-centered teaching methods. In this study, Krashen’s theory was combined with interactive learning methods and multimedia information technology to form an English teaching mode focused on “teacher-student”, “student-student” and “student-computer” interactions and build an “in class- after class” and “online-offline” English learning environment. This mode was practically applied in the teaching of “College English” at Hohai University in Jiangsu Province, China. The results show that the English multimedia teaching mode based on Krashen’s theory is more effective than the traditional teaching mode in improving students’ interest and self-confidence in learning.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Lammert

Twenty-first century educators are faced with new dilemmas, as well as new opportunities. In response to the increasing racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of students, some school districts and states have implemented policies mandating particular curriculum. However, evidence increasingly shows that teachers who are effective in diverse classrooms are adaptive and responsive rather than strictly adhering to scripted curriculum. One proposed solution is preparation to conduct practice-based research as part of teaching. Practice-based research is a method of studying ones’ own teaching that draws on action research, design-development research, and transformative research. As a method through which teachers define questions, explore solutions, and share successes in professional communities, practice-based research holds tremendous potential to support teachers in diverse classrooms as they work to teach in culturally sustaining ways despite external pressures. This chapter begins with the history of action research and the tradition of teachers conducting research on their practice. Then, examples of practice-based research in literacy teacher education settings from a review of the research literature are provided to demonstrate the challenges, opportunities, and design features for this work. The chapter concludes with recommendations for teacher education policies, for teacher educators, and for practice.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (193) ◽  
pp. 450-461
Author(s):  
Mairin Hennebry-Leung ◽  

While the field of language learning motivation has progressed significantly in recent decades, there is still a considerable gap in our understanding about teachers ’ motivational practice. Specifically, the focus has been on descriptive accounts of the strategies teachers employ and their perceived effectiveness, but how teachers think about student motivation and their own motivational practice and why teachers do what they do is vastly under-researched. Understanding teacher cognitions on this phenomenon is a crucial component of moving the field forward into real classroom impact. Drawing on stimulated recall interview data, this paper explores the cognitions of English language teachers in Hong Kong, in relation to learner motivation. Findings point to diverse approaches to motivational practice dependent largely on the extent to which teachers’ conceptualisations of motivation are static or dynamic and the degree to which they recognize the agentive role of the teacher in shaping and directing motivation. The paper argues the need for an explicit focus on motivational teaching practice in teacher education programmes, equipping language teachers with the tools for socioculturally classroom responsive pedagogical frameworks.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (31) ◽  
pp. 168-186
Author(s):  
Silene Cardoso

ABSTRACT This article presents and briefly discusses some results of a survey conducted as part of a study on multiple literacies and the use of technology in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom. An online questionnaire has been sent to English teachers of the third cycle and secondary education in Portugal with the aim to investigate their perceptions on the use of new technologies, particularly Web 2.0 tools, in their teaching practice. This article focuses particularly on the results from the questions related to materials and digital tools frequently used, teachers’ general view on the use of technology, as well as the digital and critical literacies approach. It has been found that although technology seems to be part of the teaching practice of this group of teachers – and although further research is necessary to deeply understand the actual use of technology in this particular scenario – it can be assumed that suitable guidance, training and further development of appropriate materials for teachers and students are necessary to facilitate and better integrate new technologies in the EFL classroom.   Keywords: New technologies and language learning. Multiliteracies. Digital literacies. Critical thinking. English language teaching. RESUMO Este artigo apresenta e discute brevemente alguns resultados de uma pesquisa realizada como parte de um estudo sobre múltiplas literacias e o uso da tecnologia na aula de inglês como língua estrangeira (English as a Foreign Language – EFL) (Cardoso, 2017). Um questionário online foi enviado a professores de inglês do terceiro ciclo e secundário, em Portugal, com o objetivo de investigar as perceções e as opiniões deles a respeito do uso das novas tecnologias, especialmente dos recursos da Web 2.0, em sua prática profissional. O presente artigo enfoca particularmente os resultados obtidos das perguntas relacionadas à frequência de uso de materiais e recursos, à visão dos professores sobre o uso da tecnologia, assim como à abordagem das literacias digitais e críticas. Embora a tecnologia pareça fazer parte da prática discente desse grupo de professores, e ainda que pesquisas adicionais sejam necessárias para entender melhor o uso real dessa tecnologia nesse cenário em particular, é possível dizer que são necessárias algumas medidas para que a integração significativa e eficaz das novas tecnologias nas salas de aula de EFL, tais como, orientações adequadas e treinamento aos professores, e maior desenvolvimento de materiais apropriados. Palavras-chave: Novas tecnologias e ensino de línguas. Multiliteracias. Literaturas digitais. Pensamento crítico. Ensino de língua inglesa.   RESUMEN Este artículo presenta y discute brevemente algunos resultados de una investigación realizada como parte de un estudio sobre múltiples literacias y el uso de la tecnología en la clase de inglés como lengua extranjera (Card., 2017). Un cuestionario en línea fue enviado a los profesores de Inglés Graduado de secundaria y, en Portugal, con el fin de investigar las percepciones y sus opiniones sobre el uso de las nuevas tecnologías, especialmente capacidades Web 2.0 en su práctica profesional. El presente artículo se centra particularmente en los resultados obtenidos de las preguntas relativas a la frecuencia de uso de materiales y recursos, a la visión de los profesores sobre el uso de la tecnología, así como al abordaje de las literas digitales y críticas. Aunque la tecnología parece formar parte de la práctica discente de este grupo de profesores, y aún si son necesarias investigaciones adicionales para entender mejor el uso real de esta tecnología en este escenario en particular, es posible decir que son necesarias algunas medidas para que la integración significativa y eficaz de las mismas nuevas tecnologías en las aulas de EFL, tales como orientación adecuada y capacitación a los profesores, y el desarrollo de materiales apropiados. Palabras clave: Nuevas tecnologías y enseñanza de lenguas. Multilenuales. Literaturas digitales. Pensamiento crítico. Enseñanza de lengua inglesa. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22169/revint.v14i31.1523


Author(s):  
Saleh Al-Busaidi ◽  
Victoria Tuzlukova

This study explored how English language teachers at Sultan Qaboos University’s Center for Preparatory Studies in Oman perceive practices and challenges related to inclusive education and innovating in teaching English to visually impaired students. The study was carried out taking descriptive qualitative approach. Interviews with seven English language teachers were used to collect data. We asked them about both successful and challenging aspects of creating an inclusive language learning environment and using assistive technologies. We found that assistive technology is crucial to language learning of special needs students. The identified challenges include insufficient teachers’ knowledge and expertise in inclusive education, lack of institutional focus of attention on systematic planning and material design for inclusion, novelty of the concepts of inclusive education and assistive technology among others. The results of the study indicate the need for targeted teacher training and professional development, and suggest that innovations in education and technology can be effectively used to shift practices and perspectives of English language teaching in the context of Oman to being universally accessible, equally usable, more inclusive and tailored to students’ individual needs.


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