scholarly journals A Critical Examination of Motivation in the Omani English Language Education System

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali S.M. Al-Issa
Keyword(s):  
Education System ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Critical Examination ◽  
English Language Education

scholarly journals POLICY CHANGE IMPLEMENTATION: THE CASE OF THE CEFR IN MALAYSIAN ESL CLASSROOMS

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 296-317
Author(s):  
Nur Ashiquin C. Alih ◽  
Abdul Halim Abdul Raof ◽  
Masdinah Alauyah Md. Yusof
Keyword(s):  
Policy Change ◽  
Education System ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Readiness For Change ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Change Implementation ◽  
English Language Education ◽  
English Language Teachers

Background and purpose: With rapid global development happening in the world today, the field of education has been awash with various change forces. In an effort to ensure its system is globally competitive, Malaysia has taken a step to align its English language education system to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). However, any change in policy is not without problems and challenges as studies have shown that challenges were inevitable and stakeholders’ buy-in on the new change is necessary. Hence, this study was undertaken to investigate the challenges faced by teachers in implementing the CEFR in Malaysian ESL classrooms, their belief on this new reform and their readiness to implement the CEFR.   Methodology: A mixed-method design was utilized with the use of questionnaire and semi structured interview as means for data collection. 365 English language teachers responded to the questionnaire while 15 English language teachers participated in interview sessions.   Findings: The data revealed five challenges namely teachers’ motivation, materials, time, students’ proficiency level and facilities. Despite facing multiple challenges, all teachers exhibited positive belief towards the adoption of the CEFR. The study also showed that although teachers were emotionally ready to accept the change, their cognitive readiness for change however is dependent upon three important facets namely time, collective effort and adequate materials.   Contributions: The study provides insights into the change in policy involving the CEFR implementation in the Malaysian English language education system which contributes to the scarce literature on the implementation of CEFR.   Keywords:  Policy implementation, challenges in policy change, teachers’ belief, Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), readiness for change.   Cite as: C. Alih, N. A., Abdul Raof, A. H., & Md. Yusof, M. A. (2021). Policy change implementation: The case of the CEFR in Malaysian ESL classrooms.  Journal of Nusantara Studies, 6(2), 296-317. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol6iss2pp296-317

scholarly journals Cram Schools in Japan: The Need for Research

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Lowe
Keyword(s):  
Education System ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Language Education ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Japanese Education ◽  
English Language Education ◽  
Specific Field ◽  
Cram Schools ◽  
Cram School

The private juku (cram school) industry is an enormously profitable and influential area of education in Japan, including in the specific field of English language teaching (ELT). However, while much research has been carried out in other areas of ELT in Japan, juku have largely escaped the attention of researchers. This paper attempts to argue the need for more research into English language education as it is practiced in juku. The article first situates juku within the Japanese education system, and then illustrates the extent to which juku have been under-researched when compared to other ELT contexts in Japan. The author advocates the need for more research into ELT to be carried out in juku, and finally suggests some areas into which this research could be conducted. 学習塾産業は大きなビジネスであり、日本の英語教育に大きな影響を与えている。ところが、高校や大学などでの英語教育に関する研究は多くなされているが、学習塾での英語教育の研究はされていない。本論では、初めに、学習塾の現状を説明し、次に、どれだけ学習塾の英語教育の研究が不足しているか説明する。最後に、学習塾の英語教育の研究の必要性を訴え、より多くの研究がこの分野で行われるべきであると論じる。

scholarly journals Learning English in Catalonia

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-74
Author(s):  
Irati Diert-Boté ◽  
Xavier Martin-Rubió
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
University Students ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Education System ◽  
English Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Education ◽  
English Learning ◽  
English Language Education ◽  
Small Stories

Abstract The aim of this study is to unveil English learners’ beliefs and emotions regarding the English language education received in Catalan schools. For that purpose, data from 5 focus groups with 31 university students have been analysed through a combination of MCA and small stories analysis. The findings reveal that the participants are dissatisfied with the English language education provided, and they believe that the teachers and/or the system are to blame for their (low) level of English. In the main story analysed, boredom, demotivation, irritation and frustration are emotions attached to English learning in high school, which are also present in most of our subjects’ small stories; it is the repetition (iterativity) of small stories, beliefs and emotions across participants that leads us to the detection of a discourse of victimhood, by which students identify themselves as the victims of their English teachers and/or the education system.

scholarly journals English language education reform in pre-2020 Olympic Japan: educator perspectives on pedagogical change

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (271) ◽  
pp. 107-131
Author(s):  
Michiko Weinmann ◽  
Ryo Kanaizumi ◽  
Ruth Arber
Keyword(s):  
Education Reform ◽  
Curriculum Reform ◽  
English Language ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Language Ideologies ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Critical Examination ◽  
Pedagogical Change ◽  
English Language Education ◽  
Educator Perspectives

Abstract This paper reports on the perspectives of English language teachers and teacher educators on the most recent English language education policy and curriculum reform in Japan, implemented in preparation for hosting the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Previous research has comprehensively analysed how language ideologies based on national imaginaries, native-speakerism and deficit views of Japanese teachers’ pedagogy and practice continue to frame debates about English language education in Japan. Through select thematic episodes derived from the interview data with English language practitioners located in Japan, this paper brings into focus the views of English language educators who articulated insightful counter-positions to taken-for-granted understandings of effective English language use and teaching. The authors argue that in order to effect a paradigm shift in global English language education, in Japan and internationally, it is important to incorporate a critical examination of teacher perspectives that challenge and augment prevalent tropes about English language teaching and learning. The paper concludes with implications for addressing the policy-practice and theory-practice divides in English language education. It argues that a continued engagement with educator perspectives is an important space for bringing about a transformation of language ideologies and pedagogical change at the grass-roots level of the English language classroom.

scholarly journals English Language Education in Algeria: Hostage of an Exam-Centric Education System

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nabil Djawad BEMMOUSSAT ◽  
Naima BOUYAKOUB
Keyword(s):  
Education System ◽  
Classroom Practice ◽  
English Language ◽  
Standardized Test ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Research Paper ◽  
Sample Population ◽  
English Language Education ◽  
Vocabulary Building ◽  
Post Test

The present research paper is a plea for a reform policy of English Language Education in Algerian secondary-school education. It attempts to redraw the boundaries of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) from a teaching-testing perspective based on two fundamental questions: the ‘what-to-teach’ and the ‘what-to-test’, which represent the rationale of Algerian EFL classrooms. It also expands into a discussion of the discrepancies existing between stated objectives and classroom practice. This deviation from the prescribed syllabus is dictated by the Baccalaureate exam, a standardized test par excellence and the ‘entry visa’ to university. The study was carried out with a sample population composed of twenty-eight male and female students from the English Department of the University of Tlemcen, Algeria during the first term of the academic year 2018-2019. The data collected tools employed in this pilot experimental study, a pre-unit test (a pre-test), remedial activities, and a post-test, were conducted on the sample at the end of the experiment. The research paper culminates with a formulation of initial pedagogical steps that are likely to develop students’ communicative abilities within an exam-centric education system characterized by a grammar-focused and vocabulary-building test-oriented teaching. Hence, to negotiate a balanced approach that would accommodate both effective teaching and efficient testing.

scholarly journals Qualitative properties of mathematical model of English language education

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Atena Ghasemabadi ◽  
Nahid Soltanian
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Global Stability ◽  
Equilibrium Point ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Qualitative Properties ◽  
English Language Education ◽  
Compound Matrices ◽  
Reproduction Numbers ◽  
Coexistence Equilibrium

AbstractThis paper presents a mathematical model that examines the impacts of traditional and modern educational programs. We calculate two reproduction numbers. By using the Chavez and Song theorem, we show that backward bifurcation occurs. In addition, we investigate the existence and local and global stability of boundary equilibria and coexistence equilibrium point and the global stability of the coexistence equilibrium point using compound matrices.

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