scholarly journals Teachers’ Perceptions of the Use and Effectiveness of Children’s Literature in the EFL Classrooms of the Primary Schools of Kuwait

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 87
Author(s):  
Khaled Shuqair ◽  
Abdulmuhsin Dashti
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
English Language ◽  
School Administration ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Efl Classrooms ◽  
The State Of Kuwait

The research examines the teachers’ perceptions of the use and effectiveness of children’s literature in their EFL classrooms in the primary public schools of the State of Kuwait. The research was conducted towards the beginning of the second semester of the academic year 2017/2018. It poses three main and interchangeable questions: 1) To what extent do teachers use children’s literature in their EFL classrooms? 2) Does the school administration help towards the integration of children’s literature in the EFL curriculum for the primary graders? 3) How effective is the teachers’ use of children’s literature in enhancing the students’ proficiency in the skills of the English language? The population of the study is the English teachers in the primary public schools in the six educational districts in Kuwait. The sample consisted of 66 English teachers selected from the 18 schools representing the six educational districts. The participants were asked to respond to a 15-statement survey and six open-ended questions. For the first question, results showed that most of the teachers frequently use children’s books in their EFL classrooms and are very much acquainted with the techniques of employing children’s books in their classes and with the various genres of children’s literature. For the second question, most of the participants agreed that the school administration is responsible for providing children’s books. However, the results also indicated that most school administrations do not consult teachers on the books to be purchased, and, as such, these books are sometimes not suitable for use in an EFL classroom. For the third question, results showed that teachers successfully use children’s books in enhancing the English skills of their EFL students, and, hence, they enrich the students’ learning experience.

scholarly journals Ecuadorian Teachers’ Perceptions of Teaching English: Challenges in the Public Education Sector

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-249
Author(s):  
Agnes Orosz ◽  
Mirdelio Monzón ◽  
Paola Velasco
Keyword(s):  
High School Students ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Teacher Training ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
Pedagogical Practices ◽  
Teaching English ◽  
School Students ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Training Opportunities

The current English curriculum in Ecuador requires high-school students graduate with an intermediate (B1) level. Attaining this target depends on several factors, such as teaching strategies employed in class and teacher training opportunities offered. Ecuador is ranked low for English language proficiency and, therefore, an exploratory approach has been conducted as the main data collection method to investigate the possible reasons for poor performance. In the previous phase of an overarching research project, round table discussions were held to explore themes related to English teachers’ pedagogical practices. The data gathering process in the phase described in the present study involved conducting in-depth interviews with 10 primary and secondary school English language teachers. The transcribed interviews were analyzed by putting the material through the MAXqda qualitative analysis software. The resulting coded categories allowed the authors to investigate three specific issues dealt with in the present research study, namely: teachers’ perceptions of the importance of learning English, actual classroom teaching practices, and the teachers’ observations on in-service training options. The findings of the study demonstrated that English teachers in Ecuadorian public schools recognized the importance of English and are making a substantial effort to keep up with the professional demands related to teaching English as a Foreign Language, but they lack the required knowledge to develop skills, such as critical thinking and creativity. They are also facing several challenges, such as a demanding new curriculum and students’ lack of motivation at a time of apparently dwindling teacher training opportunities.

Another look at the Acceptability of Philippine English through the Lens of Basic Education Teachers

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-115
Author(s):  
Jenifer Mangalus
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
English Language ◽  
Basic Education ◽  
School Administrators ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Academic Context ◽  
English Classes ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Post Test

While there have been studies and awareness seminars conducted in the promotion of Philippine English (PE), still PE has not fully-penetrated in most public schools. Hence, the study sought to identify the acceptability of PE among English teachers from a secondary high school in Pampanga. PE’s levels of acceptability were determined using Torres and Alieto’s (2019) Grammatical and Lexical Acceptability Questionnaire. Pre -test result revealed that teachers have low acceptability level of the PE grammatical and lexical items   and that they are not aware of the PE. A webinar was conducted to introduce the PE among teachers and the post-test showed a significant difference to their acceptability level. Furthermore, teachers’ answers to the follow up questions imply that they are willing to introduce PE in the classroom, which they believe will help the students to be more conversant and become more confident in speaking the English language. It is concluded that teachers are open to incorporating the PE in their classes to further improve their students’ confidence in learning the language. The following recommendations were given: (1) Teachers should be provided with more seminars that will update them with the current status of Philippine English; (2) Teachers should be encouraged to consider the Philippine English in motivating students to be confident speakers in the English classes; and (3) School administrators and English teachers should promote the acceptance of Philippine English in the academic context.

scholarly journals Teachers’ Perceptions of the Standard-based English Language Curriculum in Malaysian Primary Schools

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 195-208
Author(s):  
Suriati Sulaiman ◽  
◽  
Tajularipin Sulaiman ◽  
Suzieleez Syrene Abdul Rahim ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Curriculum ◽  
Teachers Perceptions

scholarly journals Autonomy Perceptions from Teachers of English as a Foreign Language in Diverse Colombian Public Teaching Settings

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 148
Author(s):  
Dr. David Wealthy Guerrero
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
English Language ◽  
Research Question ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Research Production ◽  
English Language Teachers

<p><em>This qualitative descriptive case study reports the features in autonomy dynamics of three Colombian English language teachers in public schools in the District in Bogota Colombia. Three semi-structured interviews and reflective journals were used for data collection. The research question that guided this study was: What perceptions about autonomy do the three Colombian English language teachers have? The general purpose of this investigation was to identify the main features in teachers’ perceptions related to Autonomy. The specific objective was to identify the strategies that promoted autonomy in Teachers of English as a Foreign Language -TEFL- in different public schools in Bogota, Colombia. The study is, therefore, particularly significant as it can play a role in encouraging Colombian English as a Foreign Language -EFL- teachers to relate the factors needed to get a high quality in Education dynamics. Data indicated that the process heightened the teachers’ awareness of ‘self’ and practice. Autonomy also activated both the teachers’ ability to critically reflect on their context as well as focus on positive aspects of their practice through the willingness to improve their academic abilities and research production. Taken together, the findings serve as baseline data to further professional development in language assessment. </em></p><em></em><em></em>

scholarly journals English Language Learning Demotivating Factors for Saudi High School EFL Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Raneem Alyousif ◽  
Zainab Alsuhaibani
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Extrinsic Motivation ◽  
English Language ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Efl Students

Demotivating factors are one of the sources that can reduce students&rsquo; motivation toward language learning. This study investigated language learning demotivating factors among high school EFL students. It also explored the educational implications and recommendations for promoting EFL students&rsquo; motivation from teachers&rsquo; perspectives. A total of 365 Saudi high school EFL students and 18 secondary English language teachers from six public schools participated in the study. The data of the study were collected via two research instruments: a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews with students and teachers. The results revealed that subject- related and teacher-related demotivating factors were the most reported demotivating factors for Saudi high school EFL students. The results also showed that lack of interesting topics, lack of activities for practicing English, overemphasis on grammar, and incompetence of teachers were the most demotivating factors for EFL students toward English learning. Moreover, several recommendations for promoting students&rsquo; motivation have been suggested by teachers such as technology use, extrinsic motivation and encouragement, and competitive and collaborative work.&nbsp;

scholarly journals THE LANGUAGE EDUCATION IN PRIMARY SCHOOL IN GREAT BRITAIN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SECOND HALF OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (191) ◽  
pp. 246-249
Author(s):  
Marianna Chevelіuk ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Spoken Language ◽  
Independent Learning ◽  
Gifted Children ◽  
Reading And Writing

In public schools, the English language has long been subordinated to the classics. The first schools for the poor focused on teaching children to read the Bible. Later, they aimed to teach them the minimum skills of reading, writing, and encryption that would suit them for modest and rewarding employment in the short term before they went to work. Spoken language plays a central role in learning. By talking to their children, parents help them find words to express their needs, feelings and experiences. With the help of language, children can turn their active reaction to the environment into a more accurate form and learn to manipulate it more economically and effectively. Schools tried to make speaking a separate subject, a conversation lesson, and a period of "news"; there were many schools where the day was played in games, accompanied by conversations between the teacher and the children, both individuals and groups, and sometimes the whole class. Traditionally, one of the first tasks of primary school was to teach children to read, because reading was the key to most learning and to the possibility of independent learning. In many primary schools, reading and writing were treated as an extension of spoken language. The children were introduced to reading the daily events and the atmosphere in the classroom. Notices of return home, letters to sick children, signs to return materials and tools to the proper place - all encouraged reading and writing. The children, together with the teachers, developed homemade books, which they then read individually or in small groups. These books helped them see the meaning of reading and understand the purpose of written writings. As for modern languages, for many years in primary schools there have been sporadic, individual and rather inconsistent attempts to teach children, almost always French. The age at which boys in independent preparatory schools started Latin and French showed that there were no fundamental difficulties in learning a second language, at least for some younger students. It was unknown whether a second language could be taught to all or most children. Typically, these experiments were dedicated to the most gifted children in the fourth year of primary school, and were conducted through the appearance among the staff of someone who was well "fluent" or "loved" the French language.

scholarly journals Young Adult Literature (YAL): An Analytical Study Among Selected EFL Teachers in Jordanian Public Schools

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 278
Author(s):  
Baderaddin Yassin ◽  
Hadeel Saed
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Young Adult ◽  
Young Adult Literature ◽  
English Language ◽  
Ya Literature ◽  
Academic Benefits ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Official Curriculum ◽  
Efl Students

The purpose of this study is to shed light on Young Adult literature (YAL) in Jordan. Eleven English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers and 62 EFL students in Jordanian public schools participated in this research to first measure their awareness of the YAL and to evaluate the academic benefits of integrating English YA literature into the Jordanian public school curricula. A group of EFL instructors and EFL learners were interviewed using a semi-structured guide. The instructors' interview questions focused on demographics, definitions of YA literature, age classification of YAL, benefits, and challenges of using YA novel in Jordanian English curricula. Questions for the learners centered on demographics, definition and age classification of YAL, and the use of YA novels in the EFL classroom. The study revealed that EFL teachers' reliance on the official curriculum tends to remove innovation and creativity from their teaching and limit their opportunities to adapt the curricula to the competence and interest of their EFL students. The research also revealed that EFL students who read English YA novels developed necessary competencies in both the English language and daily life experiences. The results showed that most EFL teachers in this research paper asserted that English YA novels positively affected EFL students in Jordan. This effect led to increased motivation and engagement in EFL classrooms.   Received: 27 January 2021 / Accepted: 8 April 2021 / Published: 10 May 2021

scholarly journals Natural Approach in English Classes in Primary Schools: Teachers' Perception and Implementation

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pranata Giri ◽  
L. P. Artini ◽  
N. N. Padmadewi
Keyword(s):  
Elementary Schools ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
Teaching English ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Natural Approach ◽  
Young Learners ◽  
English Classes ◽  
Public Elementary Schools

This study aimed at investigating teachers’ perceptions about natural approach in teaching English for young learners and its implementation in public primary schools in Gianyar Regency, particularly on teachers’ perceptions on natural approach in teaching English for young learners, how the English teachers implement naturalistic values in teaching English as a foreign language in Gianyar regency, and teachers’ perceptions about naturalistic values for young learners related to the strategies in teaching English as a foreign language in classroom. The subjects of the study were 3 English teachers in 3 different public elementary schools in Gianyar Regency. The research design of the study was mixed methods. This study used three instruments: observation sheets, questionnaires, and interviews. The observation sheet was used to find out how teachers implemented the naturalistic values in teaching English for young learners. The questionnaire was used to find out teachers’ perceptions on natural approach and the interview was used to find out how teachers’ perceptions related to their strategies in teaching English for young learners in their classrooms. This study showed that the relation between teachers’ perceptions and the implementation found that there were few results indicated inconsistency between both of them. The data were also supported by the result of interviews.

scholarly journals PRIMARY ENGLISH TEACHERS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DURING COVID19 PANDEMIC: A PRELIMINARY RESEARCH

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Wiputra Cendana ◽  
Yonathan Winardi
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
External Support ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Home Based

There have been many ways offered as professional development (PD) for language teachers as well as conferences discussing its trends and alternatives. However, the world is facing CoVid19 pandemic that changes the context and media of English language teaching and learning in primary classrooms at present. Therefore, there is a need for novice teachers to be equipped by ways and opportunities in professional development that suit with the existing context and available media to apply PD. A preliminary cross-sectional survey was done in late July 2020 to get feedback on the ways primary English teachers of two private schools in West Jakarta did professional development. Possible solutions and opportunities are offered to assist them having a sustainable and meaningful professional development in the future during home-based learning (HBL) due to CoVid19 pandemic.The conclusion of the research is the primary English teachers have done various PD ways and need internal and external support from the school and local government mainly in the infrastructure, in order to provide the best possibility of the new learning experience with the students in the online classroom.    

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