scholarly journals EFL Teachers’ and Learners’ Perceptions of Grammatical Difficulties

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maha Alhaysony ◽  
Eid Alhaisoni
Keyword(s):  
Rank Order ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
University Teachers ◽  
English Grammar ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
The One

This paper investigates grammatical difficulty from the perspective of Saudi university students, of EFL as well as from the perspective of university teachers. It aims to find out which English grammar features are more difficult/less difficult than others. Furthermore, it attempts to determine the reasons and causes that account for such grammar difficulty. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were the two research instruments used in this study. A total number of 103 students and 85 university teachers took part in the questionnaire, while only 20 teachers and 25 students responded in the interview. All the participants were from Aljouf University (males and females). The results showed that some English grammar features were more difficult and some were less difficult than others. The obtained difficulty order determined by EFL learners and the one obtained by the teachers’ perceptions were compared. Some similarities and differences were found to exist in the rank order of the features for the two groups. The findings of the study may be beneficial to syllabus designers, material developers, teachers and EFL learners. 

Enhancing EFL Teachers’ Pronunciation Pedagogy Through Professional Learning: A Vietnamese Case Study

RELC Journal ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 003368822095247
Author(s):  
Loc Tan Nguyen ◽  
Jonathan Newton
Keyword(s):  
Professional Learning ◽  
Classroom Practice ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Teaching Skills ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Teacher Professional ◽  
Teachers Professional Development ◽  
The Impact

The role of teacher professional learning (TPL) in assisting teachers to teach pronunciation in English as a second/foreign language (ESL/EFL) contexts has received little attention. The study reported in this paper extends this line of research by investigating how six EFL teachers at a Vietnamese university transform and integrate the pronunciation pedagogical knowledge they received from a TPL workshop into teaching practice. It then examines the teachers’ perceptions of the impact of the workshop on their knowledge gains and pronunciation teaching skills. Data were collected from seven lesson plans designed by the teachers, video recordings of 24 subsequent classroom observations, and six individual semi-structured interviews. The study adopted a content-based approach to qualitative data analysis. The findings show that the teachers were all able to translate TPL into classroom practice of pronunciation teaching. The findings further show that workshops designed and implemented in accordance with research-based TPL principles can be effective for promoting teachers’ knowledge of pronunciation pedagogy and refining their pronunciation teaching skills. The study has implications for ESL/EFL teachers’ professional development in pronunciation teaching.

scholarly journals Self-directed Teacher Professional Development in Saudi Arabia: EFL Teachers’ Perceptions

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1359
Author(s):  
Hamad I. Alshaikhi
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Teacher Professional Development ◽  
Workplace Learning ◽  
Learning Context ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Directed Learning ◽  
Teacher Professional

This study explores Saudi EFL teachers’ perspectives, attitudes and experiences with regards to their teacher professional development (TPD) with special emphasis on workplace learning and self-directed initiatives. Using semi-structured interviews and reflective essays, the study managed to highlight a thriving workplace learning context in which teachers are involved in many forms of self-directed learning, including experiences stemming from the dailiness of the everyday realities of their schools. Data showed that Saudi EFL teachers are committed professionals who are well aware of a variety of TPD resources and opportunities; some of them are institutionalised while the majority are self-directed by teachers themselves beyond any institutional requirement. The study revealed that many participants had high preferences for self-directed learning over institutional provisions for its embeddedness in their context, the nature of their specialisation, and for the changing nature of their profession. Networking, collaboration, reflection and collegiality are some of the main features of self-directed learning as reflected in teachers’ current practices.

scholarly journals EFL teachers’ perceptions and practices of their language assessment knowledge

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hossein Farhady ◽  
Kobra Tavassoli
Keyword(s):  
Language Assessment ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Multiple Dimensions ◽  
Meaningful Relationship ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
High Level

AbstractResearch on language assessment knowledge (LAK) of teachers has focused on two major topics: identifying the LAK needs of teachers and developing appropriate LAK tests. Although the prior research findings significantly contributed to our understanding of the parameters of LAK, they were mostly quantitative and did not provide much information about EFL teachers’ perceptions and applications of their LAK in a direct and face-to-face situation. Therefore, this qualitative study was designed to shed light on some key issues related to teachers’ LAK using semi-structured interviews. The issues included EFL teachers’ perception of their LAK and their utilization of LAK in their teaching. The participants were 11 teachers with a high level of LAK and 10 teachers with a low level of LAK determined by their performance on a LAK test. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and content analyzed. The findings did not reveal significant differences in the responses provided by the two groups of teachers. Further, to investigate the extent of teachers’ application of LAK in classroom contexts, some of the tests made by the participating teachers were collected and content analyzed. The results showed that teachers with high LAK wrote longer tests with more varied sections and tasks. Finally, no meaningful relationship was found between the teachers’ level of LAK and their students’ performance on classroom achievement tests. The findings imply that the language assessment field needs more research on multiple dimensions of LAK.

scholarly journals Self-Efficacy and Critical Thinking as the Predictors of Autonomous Language Learning in EFL Contexts

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Mania Nosratinia ◽  
Faranak Amiri Hossaini
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Rank Order ◽  
Sampling Strategy ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Age Range ◽  
The Relationship

The thrust of the present study was to systematically investigate the relationship between EFL learners' Self-Efficacy (SE), Critical Thinking (CT), and their Autonomy (AU). To this end, 196 male and female EFL learners, within the age range of 20 to 30 (Mage= 25) were selected based on convenience sampling strategy. They were asked to fill in three questionnaires, namely Sherer, Maddux, Mercadante, Prentice-Dunn, Jacobs, and Rogers' SE Scale (1982), Honey's CT questionnaire (2000), and Zhang and Li's Learner AU questionnaire (2004). Since the assumptions of normality of distribution were violated for the scores of AU and SE, in order to find out the relationships among the variables, the non-parametric Spearman Rank Order Coefficient of Correlation was conducted. The results revealed that there was a significant and positive correlation between AU and CT, AU and SE, and CT and SE. Furthermore, a regression analysis revealed that SE has the largest β coefficient (β = 0.519, t = 7.65, p = 0.0005). This is to say that SE makes the strongest statistically significant unique contribution to explaining AU. CT turned out to be the second significant predictor of AU scores (β = 0.186, t = 2.75, p = 0.007). The study concludes with a discussion on the obtained results followed by presenting some implications for EFL teachers, learners, and syllabus designers.  

scholarly journals Teachers’ Perceptions on Code-Switching in EFL Classroom Discourse

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 45-53
Author(s):  
Alireza Bonyadi ◽  
Mehdi Kheyrollahi Kalvanagh ◽  
Minoo Bonyadi
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Code Switching ◽  
Classroom Teaching ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Efl Classrooms ◽  
Linguistic Proficiency

Abstract Feasibility of maintaining an educational sustainable development (ESD) depends on exploring teachers’ concepts on their common practices in classroom settings. Speakers in multilingual contexts commonly switch their codes, languages, during their numerous social interactions. Nowadays, the phenomena, code switching, has expanded to cover any situation in which speakers switch from one accepted code into another. Through this perspective, various studies have been conducted to investigate different aspects of code-switching in EFL classrooms. The present study qualitatively investigated teachers’ perceptions on code-switching in their classrooms addressing two research questions, namely what types of code-switching EFL teachers were practicing in EFL classrooms and what were their perceptions on their code-switching. Four EFL teachers participated in the study. The analysis of the data collected through manual and electronic observations as well as structured interviews, indicated that intra-sentential and inter-sentential types of code-switching were practised throughout the classroom teaching processes. The main motives for resorting to code-switching were found to be EFL students’ lack of linguistic proficiency, keeping solidarity with the students and managing the classrooms.

Teaching Writing to Tertiary EFL Large Classes: Challenges and Prospects

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 28-35
Author(s):  
Lalla Meriem Ouahidi
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Classroom Management ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Teaching Writing ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Large Classes ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
University Teachers ◽  
Teachers Experiences ◽  
Large Groups

The rapid population growth, the excessive demand for higher education, and the increasing interest in English are behind the appearance of large classes at the Moroccan Departments of English in higher education institutions. The current study sheds light on teachers' experiences and probes into the challenges they encounter in teaching writing to large groups. Additionally, it seeks to provide some insights into how teachers approach this thorny issue. To achieve this end, the researcher opted for semi-structured interviews as a qualitative tool to cast light on teachers' perceptions of this issue and disclose the strategies they deploy to make teaching and learning of the writing skill conducive to productive outcomes. The findings reveal that university teachers face various problems in over-sized cohorts, including feedback, assessment, and classroom management. In the light of the findings, some suggested strategies will be set so that teachers working in similar contexts can implement them successfully.

Bangladeshi EFL Learners’ English Connectors: Overused or Underused?

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 1357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed Md Golam Faruk ◽  
Pulak Barua
Keyword(s):  
Native Speakers ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
The Other ◽  
Final Exam ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
English Writing ◽  
English Only ◽  
Native Speakers Of English ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
The One

The paper investigates the answer scripts of an “English Writing” exam of 72 students in a Bangladeshi university in order to find out the nature and extent of the use of connectors in their second semester-final exam. It also tries to find out similarities and differences between the connector use of Bangladeshi non-native speakers (BNNS) and that of French, Japanese, Swedish, and Chinese non-native speakers on the one hand and between the connector use of BNNS and that of the native speakers of English (only British and American) on the other. To this end, the secondary data for other non-native and native speakers (NS) of almost the same age and level were collected from some published articles. The paper finds that in comparison to NS, BNNS, like most other non-native speakers, underuse most of the connectors.

scholarly journals EFL In-service Yemeni Teachers’ Perceptions and Perspectives on the Importance of Teaching Stress and Intonation as Supra-segmental Features of Speech and Sound attributes to the Process of Comprehension: A Survey-Study

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafiq Al-Shamiry ◽  
Ahmed M. S. Alduais
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Statistical Data ◽  
Social Situation ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Arabic And English

Purposes: To obtain the EFL in-service Yemeni teachers’ perceptions and perspectives on the importance of teaching stress and intonation as supra-segmental features of speech and sound-attributes to the process of comprehension. Methods: 40 EFL teachers who were identified as in-service teachers in both public and private schools at IBB city, Yemen (20 Arts’ graduates and 20 Education’s graduates, both males and females) participated in this survey-study. A researcher-made questionnaire consisting of 20 items - aiming at achieving the above stated objective was distributed to the participants. Results: The 17th version of SPSS, descriptive statistics, mainly percentages and frequency tools were used to analyse the collected data. The statistical data indicated that a large number of the in-service teachers are incompetent in the supra-segmental features of speech, yet demonstrated negative attitudes towards the importance of using applying such features. Though there is an attempt to communicate in English language, there is no clear consideration for the use of these features of speech. Syllabus’ update, motivation and teachers’ fluency, and teachers overall qualification are the the responsible factors behind the failure of practice and appropriate use of these features. Educational system, social situation, major differences between the two phonological systems of the Arabic and English languages, and difficulty of these features of speech are the discouraging factors respectively from the teachers’ perspective. Developing teaching methods, laboratories, and frequent evaluation were the proposed encouraging factors from the teachers’ perspective. Conclusions: The study is concluded with that a large number of the in-service school’s teachers are incompetent in terms of supra-segmental features of speech due to focus on other language elements other than communication. Most of the teachers are not fluent and this supports their tendency to ignore applying yet showing the importance of these features to their learners - an ability which they themselves are not competent in.

scholarly journals Engaging Instructions in History Classrooms: Exploring University Teachers' Perceptions and Practices

2021 ◽  
Vol VI (III) ◽  
pp. 38-48
Author(s):  
Gouhar Pirzada ◽  
Yaar Muhammad ◽  
Saba Zaka
Keyword(s):  
Student Engagement ◽  
Classroom Management ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
University Teachers ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
Teacher Student ◽  
Engaging Instruction ◽  
Positive Learning Environment ◽  
Student Relationship

This interview study aimed to explore the perceptions and practices of the university teachers regarding student engagement in History & Pakistan Studies classrooms. Data were collected from four PhD professors from a public sector university. A qualitative research design was used, and semi-structured interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was done to extract findings from the qualitative data. The finding is arranged into three themes, i.e., student engagement, instructional strategies, and classroom management. The finding suggested that teachers use different strategies and practices to improve student engagement. Moreover, teachers used different practices to make their classes interesting. It is reported that having a cordial teacher-student relationship is beneficial for enhancing student engagement level and overall performance at the postgraduate level of education. Effective classroom management plays a significant role in creating a positive learning environment for engaging instruction.

scholarly journals Iranian EFL Teachers’ Perceptions of Learning Accent

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 108
Author(s):  
Hassan Galbat ◽  
Farhad Fahandezh Sa’adi
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Native People ◽  
Foreign Accent ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Language Understanding ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Female Teachers ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Authentic Language ◽  
Age Range

Since the appearance of “Audio-lingual Method”, the issue of foreign accent has been the focus of many researchers and many teachers attempted to sound as native like as possible to better teach native English accent. The present study attempted to uncover the Iranian EFL teachers’ perceptions on accent, the way they viewed their own accent, and how English accent can be improved. Totally 50 male and female teachers with different age range, qualifications, teaching and learning experiences participated in the study. The data of the study were collected using Teachers’ Perceptions of Accent Questionnaire developed by the researcher and semi-structured interviews. Based on the analysis performed on the data collected through questionnaires and interviews, it was found that teachers care about learning accent and they considered it valuable and important. They admitted that they have foreign accent to some degree and they did not seem to be happy with foreign accent and were more in favour of native like accent. Regarding the strategies to improve English accent, they mentioned techniques like listening to authentic language, understanding pronunciation rules, and comparing people’s accent with their own accent, watching English movies, noticing stress, and pronunciation patterns, imitating, speaking with native people, using books, and recording and monitoring their own speeches.

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