scholarly journals ELT During Lockdown: A New Frontier in Online Learning in the Saudi Context

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 44
Author(s):  
Uzma M. Hashmi ◽  
Hussam Rajab ◽  
Sayyed Rashid Ali Shah
Keyword(s):  
Online Teaching ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Real Life ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Descriptive Research ◽  
Sequential Mixed Methods ◽  
New Frontier ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Indispensable Tool

This study explores pedagogical challenges pertaining to the new online English Language Teaching (ELT) practices that emerged due to the covid-19 pandemic outbreak and the subsequent worldwide lockdown. Based on an explanatory sequential, mixed methods, descriptive research design, quantitative and qualitative data from 265 English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers in the Saudi context were collected by utilising a custom designed, twenty-two items on a psychometric five-point Likert items, open-ended questions, and a questionnaire. The quantitative data were statistically analysed using SPSS whereas the qualitative textual data were analysed employing the grounded theory. The findings of the study indicate that EFL teachers regard full scale online teaching as a challenging endeavour; however, a valuable and indispensable tool in language teaching, especially, during the outbreak of covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, most of the participants prefer to receive more professional development opportunities based on real life teaching experiences in online ELT. The study presents suggestions and recommendations for further research.

scholarly journals Emergency Remote Teaching amidst Global Pandemic: Voices of Indonesian EFL Teachers

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-80
Author(s):  
Arif Nugroho ◽  
◽  
Mariam Haghegh ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Online Teaching ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Lesson Plan ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
Teaching Activities ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Efl Teachers

A number of research studies have been conducted to examine the practices and challenges of online English language teaching in the age of Covid-19 pandemic. However, research on the teachers’ insights and suggestions to overcome the challenges of the emergency remote teaching still remains unexplored. The present study shed some light on EFL teachers’ teaching activities, challenges, and insights of the emergency remote teaching amidst the global pandemic. The data were obtained from 27 Indonesian EFL teachers (17 female and 10 male) by means of self-written reflection and semi-structured interview. The results revealed that the emergency remote teaching activities were conducted by administering online forum and discussion, integrating social media, and designing interactive exercises. Notwithstanding the facts, the teachers encountered some challenges such as unfamiliarity with digital platforms, inability to provide quick feedbacks, and lack of students’ motivation and engagement during the remote teaching. In responding to the challenges, this study further depicted that joining professional development programs, creating representative lesson plan, and designing interactive online classroom activities could became alternative solution. These results contribute to the realm of English language teaching as fruitful insights and as a ‘wake-up call’ for educational stakeholders in order to enhance the efficacy of online teaching and learning, particularly during the global pandemic.

scholarly journals Investigating the Impact of Task-based English Language Teaching on Student Competencies at a Saudi EFL Context

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamza Alshenqeeti
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Language Instruction ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Saudi Students ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Perceived Relevance ◽  
The Impact

This study examines the impact of task-based English language teaching on Saudi students’ competencies, such as reading comprehension and writing proficiency. The mixed-methods approach, involving an experimental component and a qualitative component based on interviews with the participants, is applied in this study. The procedure for the experimental component was developed with attention to the design, implementation, and assessment of task-based English language instruction activities. A growing body of literature suggests that task-based English teaching has gained significance in recent decades because of its perceived relevance in augmenting linguistic and non-linguistic competencies of learners. The study results indicate that the use of tasks in language learning classrooms promotes students’ learning, the development of skills in reading and writing, social interaction, and the motivation to use English in real-life situations. These findings can be used to promote language learning in students studying English as a foreign language.

scholarly journals Incorporating Communicative Competence in Assessment and English Language Teaching in Multilingual Settings

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-13
Author(s):  
Ella Yuzar
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Communicative Competence ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Test Validity ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Historical Review ◽  
Language Testing ◽  
Language Assessment ◽  
English Language Teaching

There has been a high level of agreement among scholars that communicative competence should be integrated within language learning and assessments. The study attempts to unravel the issues of how communicative competence can be assessed and measured in multilingual environments and how communicative language testing can be promoted. Using the content analysis approach as the qualitative method, it begins with the historical review of communicative competence that started at the beginning of 1970s to the most current concept involving intercultural communicative competence. Then, some practical models of communicative competence that can be used to propose a measurement of communicative competence are presented. Later, this article argues that there is an upsurge need to shift the paradigm of language testing and language assessment towards communicative competence. Moreover, the nature of language testing should not only concern linguistic or knowledge competence but also recognize the different varieties of English. This study implies that, in the field of language testing, language test designers should encompass the concept of communicative competence in the test construct to include real-life language use, and by extension, to increase test validity. As for teachers, a reform integrating communicative competence in classroom language assessment has become essential within the scope of language teaching.

scholarly journals Critical Pedagogy Trends in English Language Teaching

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-165
Author(s):  
Brenda Portilla Quintero ◽  
Jennifer Herrera Molina
Keyword(s):  
Critical Pedagogy ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Real Life ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
English Classes ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Mixed Approach ◽  
Meaningful Experiences

This article presents a literature review regarding the latest trends in the inclusion of Critical Pedagogy (CP) in English Language Teaching (ELT) in different countries worldwide and in Colombia, considering its different regions. A review of different articles was conducted by considering four databases that include two regional and two international journal directories in both English and Spanish. The papers were analyzed and discussed from a mixed approach in which four keywords were tracked, and factors such as geographical distribution, as well as the way in which CP was implemented in the studies, were identified. The results of this query show that CP in ELT is an emerging trend, especially in countries where political, social, and economic inequality remains. In the same way, the findings suggest that different strategies regarding curricula analysis, the role of teachers and students as social subjects, among others, have been carried out in order to foster the understanding of this theory and its application and considerations in real-life contexts. Attempts to implement CP in English classes have proven to be meaningful experiences and constructive at developing critical thinking strategies in students.

scholarly journals Intercultural Competence in ELT Contexts: A Study of EFL Teachers’ Perceptions

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdelhak Bouslama ◽  
Fawzia Bouhass Benaissi
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
English Language ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Cultural Mediators

Intercultural competence (IC) has been promoted by many educationalists as the most exalted type of competence in modern foreign language teaching (FLT). Among the difficulties to incorporate IC into FLT can be due to the fact that teachers may not have sufficient knowledge on the concept. To test this hypothesis, we attempt to answer the following question: how do Algerian English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers perceive the concepts of culture and IC as well as the objectives of the intercultural approach (ICA) in English language teaching (ELT) contexts? The present study proceeds to analyze teachers’ knowledge, perceptions and understanding of the concepts of culture, IC and the ICA and seeks to identify any potential deficiencies that may hinder effective IC teaching. The main aim of the study is then to help teacher trainers establish training programs that address more efficiently targeted teachers’ needs with regard to IC teaching. This paper will hopefully assist in improving the implementation of IC into FLT classrooms. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with eight teachers and then analyzed thematically. The findings revealed that many EFL teachers displayed a lack of theoretical understanding concerning the ICA and its objectives, which may well impact negatively on their IC teaching practices. Teacher educators therefore need to focus more on updating EFL teachers’ on both the theoretical and practical levels that learners are today expected to grow as cultural mediators equipped with a set of skills rather than as native-like proficient language users.

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