scholarly journals The Interaction of Code-switching and EFL Teachers’ Perceptions on their Teacher Identity Development

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 163
Author(s):  
Suna Altun

This study aimed to explore pre-service English language teachers` perceptions of code-switching (CS) in language classrooms and how their perceptions affect their teacher identity development. Three pre-service teachers from a private university in Istanbul, Turkey participated in the study. The data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews and graphic elicitation tasks. The data were analyzed and codes were obtained, which later on provided three main themes: the effect of past experiences, perceptions towards CS, and identity development. It was discussed that the pre-service teachers’ past language learning experiences influenced their CS perception both of which in turn affected their identity as self and the practice they demonstrated as language pre-service teachers. It is implied that pre-service teachers’ identity development together with influencing factors such as language choice in EFL classrooms can be incorporated into the teacher education programs.

This particular study is conducted to find out the purposes of teachers' codeswitching in the primary schools, the perceptions of teachers toward using students’ first language in the classrooms, and the amount of the usage of codeswitching in primary schools. A total number of 82 primary school English language teachers from the Johor Bahru state of Malaysia took part in this study. In order to collect comprehensive data from the participants, the researcher applied a mixed-method design. Quantitative data was collected through the Google Form questionnaire, which was sent to the teachers via WhatsApp, and Qualitative data was collected through interviews with five English language teachers of primary schools. The analysis of both types of data showed that the teachers use students’ L1 for three purposes, pedagogical, administrative, and interactional, but mainly students’ L1 was utilized as a pedagogical tool to facilitate language learning and as an administrative strategy to create a less threatening and learner-friendly environment. The results of the study also indicated that the majority of the teachers in the primary schools of Johor switch to students’ L1 to accommodate low proficiency learners and explain difficult concepts such as grammar and vocabulary to the learners. Eighty percent of the participant agreed to minimize the use of L1 in second language learning classrooms.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nutthida Tachaiyaphum ◽  
Peter James Hoffman

This study aimed to investigate English as a Foreign Language (EFL) pre-service teachers’ perceptions towards the use of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) in the English Language Classrooms concerning the teachers’ computer competence and their perceptions of CALL after creating and using their own CALL in language teaching. The participants were EFL pre-service teachers studying in the faculty of education, Mahasarakham University, Thailand. Questionnaires were used to collect the data after teaching with CALL. The findings revealed that the overall computer competence of the participants was a moderate to a high level, yet the participants were not competent in accessing the different types of information and CALL materials online. Furthermore, the participants reported that the use of a computer made language learning interesting and encouraging. However, they demonstrated that a computer training program was required due to the lack of competence in operating some computer programs as well as the inadequate knowledge of new technology for the language learning. It can be surmised that though the EFL pre-service teachers have learned about CALL, they still find the CALL knowledge gained from the teaching methodology courses insufficient for effective CALL integration and design. Therefore, the study suggests that in order to improve teacher preparation courses, the knowledge of CALL including what CALL is, various types of CALL, as well as CALL materials evaluation be provided. Additionally, the understanding of teaching approaches should also be improved along with the technological skills since the knowledge of CALL solely is inadequate to make effective teaching. The teachers need the capability of selecting the right CALL materials and teaching approaches which are appropriate to the lesson.


Author(s):  
Caesar DeAlwis

Teaching English as a second language is distinctive because of its specific needs. Facing a competitive market, students from young need to acquire communicative skills in English for future studies and employment. However, outside the classroom, it is no longer just a norm for multilingual societies to code- switch but rather code–switching has become a part of their unique speech style. As such in the teaching service, ESL teachers may not be able to isolate themselves from such a social norm. The question of whether English language teachers should code-switch in the classrooms has been much debated with mostresearchers maintained that teachers who code-switch, may end up invalidating the second language of students. Cases of students having low level of English proficiency to understand a teacher’s input or students too reluctant to participate in learning because they feel incompetent in the English language classrooms are common concerns to all ESL teachers. Therefore, should the ESL teachers code-switch to make them understood? Or should the English only policy be used and different from the wider multi-cultural linguistic environment? The data collection technique used in this study was audio recording and unstructured interview with 10 TESL teachers, teaching in Sarawak, Malaysia. The perceptions of ESL teachers who generally suggest that code-switching is a common phenomenon and not interference in ELT are pertinent issues to be discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-26
Author(s):  
Rob Miles

This small-scale qualitative case study aimed to investigate English language teachers’ perceptions of the impact of iPads in classrooms in ideal, actual and realistic terms. The study took place at the end of a five-year initiative that saw iPads introduced to English Language classrooms in a UAE Federal Institution. The investigation was carried out from a constructivist epistemology perspective using observations and interviews, analysed through the lens of the SAMR Model (Puentedura, 2010). While curriculum constraints limited the impact in this initiative, the device has the potential to engage students in collaborative tasks and assist in classroom management. A potential two-dimensional SAMR model is proposed, as are opportunities for further research. ﺗﮭ د ف د را ﺳﺔ اﻟ ﺣﺎﻟ ﺔ اﻟﻧ وﻋﯾ ﺔ اﻟ ﻣ ﺻ ﻐرة ھذه إﻟ ﻰ اﻟﺑ ﺣ ث ﻓ ﻲ ﺗ ﺻ ورا ت ﻣﻌﻠ ﻣ ﻲ اﻟﻠ ﻐﺔ ا ﻹﻧ ﺟﻠﯾ زﯾ ﺔ ﺣول ﺗﺄﺛﯾ ر ا ﻷﺟﮭزة اﻟﻠ وﺣﯾ ﺔ ﻓ ﻲ اﻟﻔ ﺻ ول اﻟد ر ا ﺳ ﯾ ﺔ ﺑ ﺻ و ر ة ﻣﺛﺎﻟﯾ ﺔ و و اﻗ ﻌﯾ ﺔ و ﺣ ﻘﯾﻘﯾ ﺔ. و ﻗد ﺑﻧﯾ ت ھ ذه اﻟد ر ا ﺳ ﺔ ﻋ ﻠ ﻰ ﻣﻧ ظ و ر ﻧ ظ ر ﯾ ﺔ اﻟﻣﻌر ﻓﺔ اﻟ ﺑﻧﺎﺋﯾ ﺔ ﺑﺎ ﺳ ﺗ ﺧ دا م اﻟﻣ ﻼ ﺣ ظ ﺎ ت و اﻟﻣﻘﺎﺑ ﻼ ت ، وا ﻟﺗ ﻲ ﺗم ﺗ ﺣﻠﯾﻠ ﮭﺎ ﻣ ن ﺧﻼل ﻋد ﺳﺔ ﻧ ﻣوذ ج SAMR .(Puentedura, 2010) ( ﻓﺑﺎﻟ رﻏم ﻣ ن أ ن ﻗﯾ ود اﻟ ﻣﻧﺎ ھﺞ ﺣد ت ﻣ ن ﺗﺄﺛﯾ ر ا ﻷﺟﮭزة اﻟﻠ و ﺣ ﯾ ﺔ إ ﻻ أ ن ﻟ دﯾ ﮭﺎ اﻟ ﻘد ر ة ﻋ ﻠ ﻰ إ ﺷ ر ا ك اﻟط ﻼ ب ﻓ ﻲ اﻟﻣﮭﺎم اﻟ ﺗ ﻌﺎ و ﻧﯾ ﺔ و اﻟﻣ ﺳ ﺎ ﻋ دة ﻓ ﻲ إ دا ر ة اﻟ ﻔ ﺻ و ل اﻟد ر ا ﺳ ﯾ ﺔ. ﺗﻘﺗ ر ح ھ ذه اﻟد ر ا ﺳ ﺔ ﻧ ﻣو ذ ج SAMR ذو أﺑ ﻌﺎد ﺛﻧﺎﺋﯾﺔ، ﺑﺎ ﻹ ﺿ ﺎﻓﺔ إﻟ ﻰ ﻓ ر ص ﻹﺟرا ء ﻣزﯾد ﻣ ن اﻟﺑ ﺣو ث.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 703-712
Author(s):  
Syed Usman Hashmi ◽  
Syed Qaiser Hussain ◽  
Tahira Adeel Zaman ◽  
Samra Arshad ◽  
Naeem Akhtar

Purpose of the study: The purpose of this study is to explore the merits and demerits of a formative assessment technique used in an English language learning program in Sindh. The teachers teaching the English language to the students of rural Sindh in an English language program implemented a formative assessment technique and in the end, shared their views about the effectiveness of the program. Methodology: The research is based on a qualitative method. Formative assessment was conducted in a language teaching program in rural Sindh. At the end of the program, 6 male and 12 female teachers, who were selected on purposive sampling method, participated in a focused group interview to share their views about the merits and demerits of the formative assessment technique. The data was analyzed using content and thematic analysis. Main Findings: The merits of the formative assessment technique used were reported as helpful in identifying the learning gaps, providing constructive feedback, identifying the students’ strengths, empowering the teachers, and creating a stress-free assessment. Similarly, the demerits were reported as being time-consuming, unconventional assessment strategies, and creating a lack of professional development to adopting a new strategy. Applications of this study: Many language teachers regularly implement formative assessment in their language classrooms and are always in search of some good material to make their formative assessment more fruitful and result-oriented. This study will be useful for such teachers. They can benefit from the findings of the study and improvise their method of formative assessment. Novelty/Originality of this study: The study is one of its kinds using the teachers’ perspectives to explore the effectiveness of drawbacks of formative assessment technique. People who have recently joined the teaching fraternity must be inquisitive about various techniques of assessment. This study is going to assist them in not only deciding whether they want to implement formative assessment in class, but it will also prepare them in advance to encounter the limitations of formative assessment and take necessary measures to address these limitations.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 1333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nhan Trong Nguyen ◽  
Peter Grainger ◽  
Michael Carey

Why do bilingual language teachers and students switch between the two languages in their language classrooms? On the evidence of current research findings in relation to English-Vietnamese code-switching in the educational contexts of Vietnam, this article identifies that classroom code-switching between the second language and the first language has its own pedagogic functions and it can be a valuable language classroom resource to both teachers and learners. In Vietnam, the implementation of the monolingual approach of teaching English-through-English-only faces many challenges such as inadequate classroom resources, students’ low levels of English competence, motivation and autonomy, teachers’ limited English abilities, and inappropriate teaching methods. Many Vietnamese teachers of English support code-switching in the classroom and they teach English through the bilingual approach. English-Vietnamese code-switching is reported not to be a restriction on the acquisition of English; rather, it can facilitate the teaching and learning of general English in Vietnam. This practice of code-switching is not just due to a lack of sufficient proficiency to maintain a conversation in English; rather, it serves a number of pedagogic functions such as explaining new words and grammatical rules, giving feedback, checking comprehension, making comparison between English and Vietnamese, establishing good rapport between teachers and students, creating a friendly classroom atmosphere and supporting group dynamics.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 63-78
Author(s):  
Tuba Işık ◽  
Cem Balçıkanlı

Autonomy support is a recently defined role for teachers, and they are expected to help learners engage in autonomous out-of-class learning. With a focus on English language learning outside the classroom, this study intended to uncover English as a foreign language teachers’ practices related to autonomy support and to discuss the challenges faced by the teachers in this process. Eleven teachers working at the tertiary level at a state university in Turkey were interviewed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in three sessions to find out the extent to which the teachers help their learners become autonomous. The findings revealed that the teachers perform many autonomy-supportive behaviors which are feasible in language classrooms such as motivating students, giving language advice and promoting peer collaboration. In doing this, the teachers utilize five different support mechanisms: affective, resource, capacity, technology, and social support. On the other hand, the findings uncovered such constraints as crowded classes, overloaded curriculum, and low learner motivation. These challenges were perceived as barriers hampering teachers’ efforts for autonomy support. This study highlights the feasibility of creating an autonomy-supportive language learning environment and provides implications for teachers of English as a Foreign Language.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-34
Author(s):  
Andrew Skourdoumbis ◽  
Ahmad Madkur

English is the most widely taught and learned language in the world. Within the broader literatures on the worldwide spread and dominance of English as a key skill for 21st century education, the use of English(es) and English Language Teaching (ELT) in the context of schooling in Asian countries represent an important research direction. Our paper contributes to these debates by exploring the problem of English language teachers’ beliefs about their pedagogical practices in Indonesian pesantren schools. The system of religious pesantren schools provides a unique research context to examine teacher practice in classrooms where English is not assigned the assumed de facto status of a ‘global lingua franca’. In engaging a Bourdieusian lens, this paper explores teachers’ perceptions of the (lack of) symbolic and linguistic capital of English language learning in pesantren, the emergent tensions, and how these frame teacher beliefs and practice. In so doing, this paper aims to contribute to the broader debates in the field that seek to critically analyse and reframe the hegemonic status of English as a global educational commodity of political-economic power.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 56-75
Author(s):  
Nur Gedik Bal ◽  
Perihan Savas

Equipping students with intercultural competence (hereafter IC) is a critical aim of English foreign language classrooms nowadays, and EFL teachers have emerged as essential players for accomplishing this. These teachers should essentially be competent in their intercultural skills so that they can pass these on to their students in order to foster interculturally competent language learners. However, teachers' perceptions regarding IC remain uncertain, particularly in the Turkish context. Thus, before asking teachers to apply methods and strategies so that they can enhance students’ IC in the classroom, it is vital that we investigate what they understand about IC. Therefore, this qualitative study aimed to reveal middle and high school teachers’ understanding of the IC phenomenon and their description of the characteristics of an interculturally competent foreign language learner and teacher. In addition, teachers’ perceptions regarding their own and their learners’ IC were also explored in this study. The participants were 30 middle and high school English language teachers teaching at state schools in Turkey. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect the data. MAXQDA was exploited in order to analyse the data, primarily to code, categorize, and systematize the findings. The results indicated that the teachers considered IC to be the ability to communicate with people from various cultures effectively, having knowledge about one’s own, target, and other cultures, and developing positive attitudes toward other cultures and societies. They also emphasized the inseparability of language and culture and the importance of English as an international language. The teachers also indicated why they viewed themselves and their learners as interculturally competent or incompetent, which could provide insight into where to start intercultural learning and teaching in foreign language classrooms and how to train EFL teachers about different dimensions of IC.


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