scholarly journals ELT in Algeria: The Hegemony of the Teach-to-the-Test Approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Smail Benmoussat ◽  
Nabil Djawad Benmoussat
Keyword(s):  
Standardized Tests ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Communicative Language Teaching ◽  
High Stakes ◽  
Grammatical Analysis ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Direct Outcome ◽  
High Stakes Exams ◽  
Communicative Abilities

The late 1970s witnessed the emergence of a widespread movement that expressed its reaction against the approaches and methods which focused too much on the teaching of discrete items. That was clearly stated by applied linguists, teachers and educators who virtually all contended that traditional methods which used translation and systematic grammatical analysis left the language learners little time to practice the spoken language and to enhance their communicative abilities. As a direct outcome of such reaction, a concern developed to make foreign language teaching, not least English “communicative”. Communicative Language Teaching, henceforth CLT, has attracted a worldwide interest. Regrettably, seldom is testing processed “communicatively”; most Algerian EFL teachers prefer to cling tenaciously to the teach-to-the-test approach “principles”. This preference is closely related to the notion of “achievement” which means nothing more than giving the opportunity to the learner to score well on standardized tests and high-stakes exams. This dimension indicates the extent to which the teach-to-the-test approach acts as the “sword of Damocles” hanging over ELT in Algeria converting EFL keep-pace learners into set-the-pace swots.

Engaging Exam-Oriented Students in Communicative Language Teaching by ‘Packaging’ Learning English Through Songs as Exam Practice

RELC Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 003368822097854
Author(s):  
Kevin Wai-Ho Yung
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
High Stakes Testing ◽  
Communicative Language Teaching ◽  
High Stakes ◽  
Secondary English ◽  
Language Curriculum ◽  
Teachers And Students

Literature has long been used as a tool for language teaching and learning. In the New Academic Structure in Hong Kong, it has become an important element in the senior secondary English language curriculum to promote communicative language teaching (CLT) with a process-oriented approach. However, as in many other English as a second or foreign language (ESL/EFL) contexts where high-stakes testing prevails, Hong Kong students are highly exam-oriented and expect teachers to teach to the test. Because there is no direct assessment on literature in the English language curriculum, many teachers find it challenging to balance CLT through literature and exam preparation. To address this issue, this article describes an innovation of teaching ESL through songs by ‘packaging’ it as exam practice to engage exam-oriented students in CLT. A series of activities derived from the song Seasons in the Sun was implemented in the ESL classrooms in a secondary school in Hong Kong. Based on the author’s observations and reflections informed by teachers’ and students’ comments, the students were first motivated, at least instrumentally, by the relevance of the activities to the listening paper in the public exam when they saw the similarities between the classroom tasks and past exam questions. Once the students felt motivated, they were more easily engaged in a variety of CLT activities, which encouraged the use of English for authentic and meaningful communication. This article offers pedagogical implications for ESL/EFL teachers to implement CLT through literature in exam-oriented contexts.

scholarly journals The Impact of EFL Teachers’ Pedagogical Beliefs and Practices: Communicative Language Teaching in A Saudi University Context

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
Ahmed Alghamdi
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Classroom Practice ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Communicative Language Teaching ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
Pedagogical Beliefs ◽  
Beliefs And Practices ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
The Impact

This study aims to explore the pedagogical beliefs of Saudi instructors of English as a foreign language (EFL), and the extent to which they apply the values of the communicative language teaching (CLT) approach in their classroom practice. The study was conducted with 42 Saudi EFL teachers and employed a mixed methods approach. A descriptive analysis of classroom observation data was conducted. The results showed that teachers hold positive views of CLT, but that there are some discrepancies between their beliefs and their implementations of the approach. For example, most of the instructors continued to apply traditional teaching methods (i.e., grammar translation and the audio-lingual approach). The study concludes that it is essential in the Saudi EFL context for teachers to cultivate relations between their beliefs and practices to assure better language learning outcomes. The key contribution of this study lies in disclosing the reasons for the discrepancies between Saudi EFL teachers’ beliefs and practices to help them develop congruence, and in highlighting the pedagogical implementations.  

scholarly journals Communicative Language Teaching: Possible Alternative Approaches to CLT and Teaching Contexts

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 132
Author(s):  
Wafaa Abdullah Alamri
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environment ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Communicative Language Teaching ◽  
Reading And Writing ◽  
Lexical Collocations ◽  
Alternative Approaches ◽  
Collaborative Activities

There are various approaches of language teaching, in which communicative language teaching is the dominant approach worldwide. CLT approach allows language learners to express themselves and their views through collaborative activities undertaken during classes. This descriptive study has discussed CLT, offering both advantages and limitations. The CLT approach has led to major changes in such ways, in which language is taught and learnt. CLT aims to make “commnicative competence” the goal of language teaching and to develop procedures for teaching the four language skills, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It is well known that CLT approach allows language learners to express themselves and their views through collaborative activities, undertaken during classes. CLT, which is applied in schools, universities, colleges, and language institutes in most countries worldwide, stimulates learners’ interests in learning by infusing the learning environment with new types of activities and materials that are both interactive and authentic. CLT is becoming a major language and its being used worldwide. The learners of the language are more focused towards learning the concepts. The emphasize is not towards understanding the language structures and lexical collocations. The main aim of the CLT is to make individuals competent in communication.

scholarly journals THE REFLECTIONS OF PRE-SERVICE EFL TEACHERS ON OVERCOMING FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING ANXIETY (FLTA) DURING TEACHING PRACTICUM

2019 ◽  
pp. 389
Author(s):  
Dilek Tüfekçi Can
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Foreign Language Teaching ◽  
Teaching English ◽  
Teaching Practicum ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Teaching Anxiety

Whereas research on English as a Foreign Language Learning (EFLL) anxiety has been the focus of many researchers, English as a Foreign Language Teaching (EFLT) anxiety as a newly pop-up concept has gained lesser attention than EFLL. Moreover, the research on EFLL commonly focuses on the anxiety provoking factors. Yet again, there has been very limited research on how to overcome anxiety-provoking factors on both research areas. Accordingly, as this study was two of the three segments of a university-based project and the subject of anxiety-provoking factors was the issue of another study, the purpose of this study was firstly to explore how to overcome anxiety-provoking factors among pre-service EFL teachers while teaching English to young language learners at a real classroom setting as a part of teaching practicum. Secondly, this study also attempted to make a holistic classification rather than an atomistic one as it classified the findings of overcoming anxiety provoking factors into subtitles such as cognitive, affective, socio-cultural resolutions and some other official resolutions. In the study, 25 EFL pre-service teachers at Balikesir University were the sample group. The qualitative data was collected through background questionnaires, interviews and reflections. The study concluded that pre-service EFL teachers revealed their reflections on how to overcome anxiety-provoking factors as they experienced Foreign Language Teaching Anxiety (FLTA) whilst practicing teaching English to young language learners during teaching practicum courses. Some practical recommendations were given at the end of the study. 

scholarly journals An Exploration into Teachers’ Perceptions towards the challenges of Teaching Reading Skills using Communicative Language Teaching Approach: Focus on Wolaita Sodo Preparatory School

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Tesfaye Buche Bosha ◽  
Desalegn Youpo Ukute
Keyword(s):  
Reading Skills ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Communicative Language Teaching ◽  
Teaching Approach ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
Teaching Reading ◽  
Preparatory School ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Wolaita Sodo

The main purpose of this study is to explore teachers’ perceptions towards the challenges of teaching reading skill using communicative language teaching approach: focus on Wolaita Sodo Preparatory School. Descriptive research design was employed. The data were collected through semi-structured interview and classroom observations. Six grade eleven EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers of the Wolaita Sodo Preparatory school were selected as of the study using convenience sampling method. The Interview data were tape recorded and transcribed into textual form and the classroom observation data were noted to analyze. The findings of this study disclosed that EFL teachers have a positive perception in towards teaching/reading skills using communicative language teaching approach but students were negatively perceived in learning/reading using Communicative Language Teaching (CLT). Hence, based on the findings, recommendations were made. In concurrence to this, the researcher recommends that the concerned bodies should give due attention to overcome selected problems which hampers teaching/reading skills using communicative language teaching approach particularly mobilizing EFL teachers through continuous capacity building activity is paramount.

scholarly journals Assessments and Accommodations for English Language Learners: A Literature Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Jo Bartlett
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Standardized Tests ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Content Area ◽  
Individual Student ◽  
High Stakes ◽  
Content Area Teachers ◽  
Classroom Assessments

While research in how English language learners (ELLs) use assessment accommodations is lacking, there are some general conclusions that one can draw. First, teachers must know their students’ abilities. This includes knowledge of their English proficiency, knowledge of their first language skills, especially as it pertains to literacy skills, and knowledge of their content area understanding. If teachers are aware of areas of weakness in students’ assessments, they should work to compensate for them by either changing their instruction or providing assessment accommodations. Second, it is important for teachers to recognize the various types of assessment accommodations that are available in their teaching situation. More vitally, teachers must be able to assign assessment accommodations appropriately to their students and know differences between ELL accommodations and Special Education accommodations. If accommodations are applied without regard to individual student differences, it can cause more harm to the assessment procedures and evaluations than benefits. Finally, there is a difference between high-stakes standardized tests and classroom assessments. While content-area teachers may have more freedom in modifying their classroom assessments, standardized tests are usually more constrained in their testing format and accommodations they are allowed to offer. Identifying gaps in research related to assessments for ELLs will benefit the field as content-area teachers continue to increase their work with students of diverse backgrounds.

scholarly journals A Meta-synthesis of Qualitative Research about Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) in Foreign Language Teaching

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arab World English Journal ◽  
Ceyhun YÜKSELİR
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Foreign Language Teaching ◽  
High Stakes ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Mobile Assisted Language Learning

The previous research indicates that technology plays an important role and has a great potential in foreign language teaching. It is also obvious that mobile assisted language learning (MALL) considerably affects learning process among foreign language learners. Thus, this current study aims to present a meta-synthesis of qualitative research results on the MALL published in high stakes academic journals especially in the last decade. Through electronic databases, the results of studies about MALL were identified and included in the study. After collecting the studies about MALL, thematic analysis was used and some of the themes were identified and analyzed in accordance with the data, respectively. It is expected that this study will not only help the target groups such as learners, lecturers and language policy makers to broaden their knowledge about technology in Turkey, but also result in an increased awareness of MALL.

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