scholarly journals English language assessment in Malaysia: Teachers’ practices in test preparation

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Looi Chin Ch'ng
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Classroom Teaching ◽  
Assessment Practices ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Assessment Guidelines ◽  
English Language Teachers

In the context of English language teaching, many studies that claimed to investigate teachers’ assessment practices were actually exploring their perceptions and belief with little reference to what they were practising in schools. The need to address such a limitation has prompted this study to examine the current formal assessment practices of English language teachers in lower secondary schools. Specifically, this paper reports how the teachers prepare the formal assessments. Extensive structured interviews were conducted with 72 teachers from 24 schools in Kuching division, Sarawak. Relevant documents such as test papers and assessment guidelines were also collected for further analysis. The findings from this study revealed that a majority of the teachers conducted formal assessments mainly due to the requirements of the school and ministry while following pre-determined steps in preparing a test. Furthermore, the findings also revealed teachers’ reliance on commercial reference books in constructing exam questions and sample answers. The outcome of the study provides an insight on the nature of English language teachers’ assessment practices in relation to the classroom teaching and learning at the secondary level.This could help inform the Ministry of Education in providing necessary support for the teachers particularly assessment practices in ESL context as well as in formulating a better assessment policy for schools.

scholarly journals The use of reflective practice towards achieving effective English language teaching at primary schools

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 364
Author(s):  
Siti Noor Aneeis Hashim ◽  
Nurahimah Mohd Yusoff
Keyword(s):  
Reflective Practice ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
English Language Teachers

<span>The purpose of this study was to explore the use of reflective practice by English language teachers in providing effective English language teaching in primary school classrooms. This qualitative case study involving six in-service English language teachers who were selected based on purposive sampling. The data in this study were collected using teachers’ reflection logs and a series of semi-structured interviews with the English language teachers. Thematic analysis was used to identify emerging themes based on the codes gathered from the interviews and teachers’ reflections logs. The results showed that the English language teachers used reflective practice erstwhile in preparing and providing effective English language teaching for the students. They reviewed what has been accomplished and identify constructive guidelines to follow to succeed in the future teaching. They have also been doing variations of changes in teaching based on reflecting on the quality of instruction, levels of instruction, using incentive to motivate the students and managing time equally in teaching and learning process to help the children in learning English language. Since there is no clear guideline for teachers who use reflective practice in their classes, this study provided some insights on the preparations and the use of reflective practice as part of their teaching and learning process.</span>

Supporting the development of primary in-service teacher educators

ELT Journal ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 428-437
Author(s):  
Laura Grassick
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Primary Teachers ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
State School ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
University Lecturers ◽  
School Curricula

Abstract English language as a compulsory component of primary state school curricula is a growing phenomenon around the world. One of the challenges of this lies in training the vast numbers of teachers required. To date there has been little consideration of how those tasked with facilitating the professional development of primary English language teachers might be supported and the kind of knowledge, skills, and understanding they might need. This paper explores the experiences of primary teachers and university lecturers learning to become in-service teacher educators in the context of primary ELT curriculum change in Vietnam. The findings provide insights into the participants’ understanding of primary English language teaching and learning and the new curriculum, their awareness of the classroom contexts in which primary teachers work, and their ability to support teachers in implementing the innovation. The implications of this beyond the context of the study are highlighted.

scholarly journals English Language Teachers' Resource Centre: A Model for Developing Contexts

1970 ◽  
Vol 15 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 64-76
Author(s):  
Ram Ashish Giri
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Teaching Resources ◽  
Teaching Programme ◽  
Curricular Practices ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Poor Teaching

It is an irony that when the importance and demand of the English language in the developed as well as developing countries have increased several folds in the last five decades, the standards of its teaching and learning have decreased considerably. The deterioration of standards has been attributed to inadequate English language teaching (ELT) policy, poor teaching environment, inadequate infrastructure, or to ELT practitioners who in most countries are largely untrained. In order to address the problem, the respective countries have been engaged in modernising and improving their curricular practices and teacher preparation programmes for some time now. What is rarely considered is the fact that a good teaching programme requires adequate teaching resources. Central to the amelioration of English language teaching process is unarguably the resource that is available to support the teaching and learning processes. While it is necessary that the teachers are adequately trained, establishment of an English language teachers” resource centre to cater to the developing needs of the teachers (and learners)is essential. This article provides a rationale for the establishment of a teachers' resource centre, and, based on the experience in Nepal, suggests a model for its development and operation in other developing contexts. It discusses features as well as constraints of such a centre, and outlines ways in which it can, despite the constraints, be sustainable.Key words: English language teaching; ELT resource centre; Resource centre facility; Resource centre management; English language teachersJournal of NELTA Vol. 15 No. 1-2 December 2010Page: 64-76Uploaded date: 4 May, 2011DOI: 10.3126/nelta.v15i1-2.4611

scholarly journals Blended Learning Mobility Approach and English Language Learning

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Mazen Ismaeel Ghareb ◽  
Saman Ali Mohammed
Keyword(s):  
Blended Learning ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Kurdistan Region ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
The University

Although the benefits of blended learning have been well documented in educational research, relatively few studies have examined blended mobilities in education in Kurdistan region government and in Iraq. This study discusses a blended mobility approach for a teacher training program designed for in-service English language teachers (ELT) and investigates its effectiveness by comparing the latest participation of the University of Human Development for computer science and proposing the same program for training English for lecturers and students. The research involved proposes new mobility program for teaching and learning English language and using their language skills in an ongoing business project using several software for communication and management of their projects. Results will show the framework for new blended learning and blended mobilities of many different English language teaching (ELT) aspects.

scholarly journals The Role of Counselling in English Language Teaching

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 48-55
Author(s):  
M. John Britto
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Remarkable Change ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
English Language Teachers

Counselling plays a significant role in bringing out a remarkable change in an individual’s personal and professional life. It has entered a number of domains including education. As human problems are mushrooming day by day in this hi-tech world, there is a dire need for finding solutions to those problems. It is counselling that comes to one’s aid to solve one’s problems that are psychological and personal. In English language teaching and learning too, there are multiple problems encountered by teachers and students as well. This paper discusses how counselling is indispensable to English Language Teaching (ELT) for finding solutions to problems faced by English language learners. Exploring the relevance of counselling to ELT, it also seeks to highlight the benefits of integrating it with ELT. It brings out the need for introspection of English language teachers to provide counselling to students. It enumerates various counselling skills, and presents an account of problem-solving method in ELT and eight approaches to counselling.

scholarly journals Has Differentiated Instruction Gone ‘Awry’ in Online Teaching and Learning?

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 501-510
Author(s):  
Faizah Idrus ◽  
Nur Afini Zainal Asri ◽  
Nurin Najihah Baharom
Keyword(s):  
Differentiated Instruction ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Online Teaching And Learning ◽  
Environmental Strain ◽  
English Language Teachers

Differentiated Instruction (DI) is a classroom strategy that helps teachers to cater their teachings to students with different abilities and learning needs. The issue here is whether DI is still relevant in the online teaching and learning amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the aim of this paper is to explore selected ESL teachers’ practices of differentiated instructions in their online classes. It also seeks to examine challenges these teachers withstand while implementing DI in their online classrooms. A qualitative design employing the semi-structured interviews and teachers’ reflection notes are used as data collection instruments. A total of six English language teachers from three selected schools in Malaysia took part in this investigation. Thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke (2006) is applied. The findings revealed that environmental strain, resources constraint and students’ and parents’ attitudes are the main challenges in DI while teaching in an online platform.

scholarly journals Editorial

HOW ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (27) ◽  
pp. 7-9
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Language Teacher ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
The World ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Ethics In Research

New ways of thinking are constantly emerging in English language teachers around the world, new ways that open windows to other horizons in English language teaching and learning. In this first issue of HOW Journal in 2020, the English language teacher-authors articulate themes related to colonial issues, ethics in research, self-reflection, and novel implementations concerning teaching progress.

Facilitating ELT through Moodle and Google Classroom

2019 ◽  
Vol 118 (10) ◽  
pp. 506-518
Author(s):  
Binoy Barman ◽  
J. Karthikeyan
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Pedagogical Practices ◽  
Classroom Teaching ◽  
Technological Tools ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Virtual Interaction ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Teaching Learning

Now-a-days many English language teachers are resorting to what is called “blended teaching/learning” in an endeavor to incorporate information technology into their pedagogical practices. They often use virtual platforms like Moodle and Google Classroom to supportand supplement their physical classroom teaching, which transcends the routine constraints of traditional educational system. In their capacity, teachers and students may engage in necessary interactions “anytime anywhere”, adding extra momentum to the teaching-learning process. English language teaching (ELT) may be specially facilitated by such features as constant connectivity, anytime feed-backing, assignment creation, submission and grading, file sharing, virtual interaction and collaboration, etc. Here is an attempt to delineate some important features of Moodle and Google Classroom, two useful technological tools, in the light of the author’s experience as a teacher.

The Importance of Raising Teacher Awareness of Culture-sensitive English Language Teaching

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nino TVALCHRELIDZE
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Awareness ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Professional Associations ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Daunting Task ◽  
English Language Teachers

It is straightforward that English language teachers in the 21st century face the daunting task educating students from diverse ethnic, racial, linguistic and religious background. It has become pivotal for teachers to raise their own cultural understanding first to be successful educators.  This study demonstrates to what extent English language teachers in Georgia value and practice culture-sensitive English language teaching and learning. The study concluded that at first teachers have to grasp the inseparability of language and culture to achieve students’ success in gaining communicative competence in English language. Based on the results of the study, English language teachers, in order to raise their cultural awareness are recommended: to participate in periodic in-service trainings, workshops and regional or national conferences that focus on target and international culture;  to receive in-service professional training through participation in  professional associations such as English Teachers’ Association of Georgia (ETAG), Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Foreign Language Teachers Association; the Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research (SIERAR); to subscribe to the journals and other publications of these professional associations.

WhatsApp for Educational Purposes: Exploring Omani English Language Teachers` WhatsApp Use and Corresponding Beliefs

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Nabhan Al Mamari ◽  
Jarek Dydowicz ◽  
Chahrazed Mirza
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Instant Messaging ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Government Schools ◽  
Virtual Community Of Practice ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
English Language Teachers

A growing body of research accentuates the potential of adopting social media platforms, including instant messaging applications in formal learning. This study aims to explore Omani English language teachers' use of WhatsApp in their teaching as well as their perspectives regarding its use. Twelve Omani English language teachers from various government schools were interviewed and a number of WhatsApp artifacts were collected. The data was analyzed using Thematic Content Analysis and focused on both the teachers’ beliefs and their use of the software. The study revealed that teachers’ employed WhatsApp for a number of educational purposes such as managing their classes, communicating with parents, improving particular language skills and providing ongoing assistance to support in-home learning. In addition, WhatsApp emerged as a means of developing and maintaining a Virtual Community of Practice (VCoP) in the participants' professional contexts which allowed for sustained continuous professional development of the participants. The research uncovered largely positive views regarding WhatsApp use to facilitate both English language teaching and promote out-of-class learning. The participants confirmed the user-friendly and practical aspects of the application which facilitates both teaching and learning processes. The practical implications of these findings are to support teachers in their agentive role and allow for the bottom-up mobile technology-reliant initiatives that support achieving educational results.

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