scholarly journals Teachers’ Perceptions on Using Smartphones in English as a Foreign Language Context

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-104
Author(s):  
Ali Abbas Alzubi

This study explored the perceptions of English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers at a foundation year in a university in Saudi Arabia. 41 male (27) and female (14) teachers completed a survey using Google Forms. The results indicated that the majority of teachers (83%) supported the integration of smartphones in EFL context, as 71% believe that smartphones would enhance students’ EFL learning. 72% reported that they used smartphones for university-related work. Sending and receiving emails, accessing the internet, and using educational applications were the most reported beneficial features whereas scanning/creating QR codes, using calculator, playing games, and playing a podcast were the least reported. 79 % believed that smartphones would have instructional benefits for the learners such as access to technology, motivation, creativity English language learning opportunities, and variation in instruction whereas 58 % did not see any barriers in the use of smartphones in EFL context. That smartphones may distract students’ attention was the only reported barrier. Recommendations and impactions for further research and applications were suggested.

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-31
Author(s):  
Mohammed Mettar

Moroccan students do not have many opportunities to use English outside the classroom setting. The adoption of task-based language learning (TBLL) is deemed to be an appropriate language instructional method for the Moroccan EFL context. Hence, teachers are explicitly urged in the official Moroccan English language guidelines documents to adopt tasks in their teaching practices. However, no known empirical research has been conducted to investigate teachers’ perceptions and use of TBLL. To fill this gap, this study attempted to investigate high school EFL instructors’ familiarity with TBLL and their views on the use of tasks in their classrooms. An online survey provided quantitative data from 90 participants. Results showed that although Moroccan EFL teachers have a good understanding of the key concepts of this approach, their use of tasks is limited. Lack of task-based materials, large class sizes, and students’ use of their mother tongue to complete the task are identified as the main obstacles facing a high level of use of tasks in teachers’ classroom practices. Several implications for the successful integration of TBLL in the Moroccan EFL context are suggested at the end of the article.


Author(s):  
Anıl Rakıcıoğlu-Söylemez ◽  
Sedat Akayoğlu

The study focuses on prospective English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers' perspectives on the use of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) resources in teaching English as a foreign language context. One hundred and six prospective EFL teachers enrolled in a teacher education program participated in the study, completed a survey on the perceived used of CALL in a classroom, and attended semi-structured face-to-face interviews with the researchers. Thus, the study aimed to identify the prospective EFL teachers' perceptions of their existing skills to integrate CALL into the future professional practices. The common perceptions and strategies of the prospective EFL teachers to use and integrate CALL into the language classes were examined and reported. In addition, pre-service teachers' perceived benefits and challenges of using CALL in EFL teaching contexts will be addressed from the participants' perspectives. Finally, the study provides implications for further research in addition to recommendations for EFL teacher education programs.


Author(s):  
Anil Rakicioglu-Soylemez ◽  
Sedat Akayoglu

The study focuses on prospective English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers' perspectives on the use of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) resources in teaching English as a foreign language context. In addition to examining prospective teachers' perceptions, the similarities and differences in their perceptions and factors affecting their beliefs about using CALL resources will be addressed. The study aimed to identify the prospective EFL teachers' perceptions of their existing skills to integrate CALL into their future professional practices. The perceived factors that will facilitate and inhibit their future teaching practices by using CALL resources and their expectations from the teacher education program in terms of providing the necessary training to use CALL resources in their teaching practices were examined. The perceived benefits and challenges of using CALL in EFL teaching contexts will be addressed from the participants' perspectives. Finally, the study provides implications for further research in addition to recommendations for EFL teacher education programs.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Zarrabi

The present study explores the ways in which English is used in public discourse in Tehran-Iran and the motivations of Iranian - English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners and teachers towards English language learning. The paper begins with an overview of different places in which English is used in Iran, such as media, public signs, traffic signs, advertisements, products, people’s ordinary lives, and education. A cohort of 327 participants, including 168 Iranian EFL learners (male and female) and 159 experienced Iranian EFL teachers (male and female) responded to an English language motivation questionnaire. The results revealed that there is an active presence of English in Iran. In addition, the majority of Iranian EFL learners and teachers involved in the study regard English as an important part of their lives for many and various reasons such as being up-to-date, love, education, learning a new skill, being promoted, having a better and more highly qualified job and increased life chances.


Author(s):  
Yustinus Calvin Gai Mali

This paper discusses three main projects and their related activities that students do in a Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) classroom at English Language Education Study Program, Dunia University Indonesia. The practical discussions in this paper will be an interest of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers in Indonesia who look for practical ideas to teach the use of CALL in EFL classrooms, feel interested in integrating CALL into their classroom practices, and wish to explore ideas about how their students can benefit from technology. At the end of the paper, I address voices to support the use of CALL in teaching and learning in Indonesia.  


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 45-61
Author(s):  
Sibel Tatar

This paper presents a study on the employment criteria used by school administrators and their views on the strengths and weaknesses of local teachers and expatriate teachers. This study aimed to provide a perspective on the issue from an English as a foreign language context. Questionnaires collected from administrators of 94 private primary and high schools in Istanbul were analyzed. Although being a native speaker of English ranked seventh out of the eight criteria, the presence of expatriate teachers in a school was considered important. In addition, participants from schools that employed both expatriate and local teachers attributed more importance to the native-speakerness criterion. Finally, administrators found local teachers more knowledgeable in teaching methods, whereas expatriate teachers were perceived as better in language use.


2020 ◽  
pp. 881-902
Author(s):  
Valentina Morgana ◽  
Prithvi N Shrestha

Recent research indicates that mobile technologies can support second language learning. However, studies focused on the use of the iPad and teaching in schools is still scarce. This study reports on an action research project that investigated the use of the iPad in the English as a foreign language (EFL) context in an Italian school. The study sought to investigate learners' and teachers' perceptions of mobile learning through the use of the iPad. The data was collected through a survey (N=41), classroom observations (N=4), interviews (N=20), and recorded teacher meetings (N=5). Results show a positive impact on student motivation and on the approach to second language learning tasks. We found that within the duration of the study students and teachers became increasingly independent in the use of the iPad for English language learning and teaching. This study provides educators with hints on how to start integrating mobile devices to perform specific language learning/teaching tasks.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-158
Author(s):  
Carlos Lenin Alvarez Llerena

ABSTRACTThe Backward Design Model (BDM) is a curriculum approach in language teaching, which begins with the specification of learning outcomes that are the basis for developing instructional processes and input (Richards, 2013). This study aims to display a theoretical analysis of how the integration of the BDM has impacted English as a Foreign Language class. Thus, this study provides the results of reviewing research-based articles about how the integration of the BDM has benefited EFL teachers and students. These benefits are related to the main elements of the BDM, namely, designing learning to provide enduring understandings, assessing students’ performance based on acceptable evidence, and planning learning experiences and instructions based on desirable outcomes. The results indicated that the BDM indeed brought benefits to EFL teachers and students, revealing that this model's efficient application can help (a) teachers better understand the procedural knowledge of learning and (b) students improve their English language skills.ABSTRAKBackward Design Model merupakan pendekatan kurikulum dalam pengajaran bahasa yang diawali dengan spesifikasi hasil belajar yang menjadi dasar untuk pegembangan proses dan masukan pembelajaran (Richards, 2013). Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menampilkan analisis teoritis tentang bagaimana integrasi Backward Design Model (BDM) berdampak pada kelas bahasa Inggris sebagai bahasa asing. Penelitian ini merupakan hasil dari telaah artikel berbasis penelitian tentang bagaimana integrasi BDM bermanfaat bagi para guru dan siswa EFL. Manfaat ini berkaitan dengan elemen utama BDM yaitu merancang pembelajaran untuk pemahaman yang bertahan lama, penilaian kinerja siswa berdasarkan bukti yang dapat diterima, dan merencanakan pengalaman dan instruksi pembelajaran berdasarkan hasil yang diinginkan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa BDM memang membawa manfaat bagi para guru dan siswa. Hasil penelitian juga mengungkapkan bahwa penerapan model yang efisien ini membantu para guru untuk memiliki pemahaman yang lebih baik tentang pengetahuan prosedural pembelajaran dan juga membantu siswa untuk meningkatkan kemampuan berbahasa Inggris mereka.


2021 ◽  
pp. 50-56

This study aimed to explore Sudanese EFL undergraduate students’ level and kinds of motivation towards learning English as a Foreign Language. Simple random sampling technique was used to select (25) firs-year students drawn exclusively from the English Language Department, at College of Languages, in University of Bahri. A questionnaire was used as a tool for data collection. The data was then analysed using statistical package for social science (SPSS). The researcher adopted the descriptive analytical method to interpret the data obtained from the above mentioned instrument. The findings revealed that most of Sudanese EFL students have extrinsic orientation towards English language learning. Therefore, the study recommended that EFL teachers should incorporate authentic teaching materials and content into their lecture plans to supplement and enhance textbook units and topics to encourage internal motivation in students and help them achieve their goals.


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