scholarly journals Peer Feedback Practice in EFL Tertiary Writing Classes

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ha Thi Nguyen

<p>Peer feedback plays a pivotal role in stimulating students’ participation in L2 writing, which has the potential to develop students’ writing skills. The concept of metacognition has also been examined to facilitate learner writers in their learning process. As such, this study drawing upon the concept of metacognition explores the implementation of peer feedback in English as a foreign language (EFL) tertiary writing classes in Vietnam and based on the findings develops a peer feedback approach to enhance the learners’ metacognition. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with sixteen English majors and classroom observations in two English writing classes at a university in Vietnam. Content analysis of the data revealed that peer feedback was informally implemented in two EFL writing classes under study, which might suggest that few opportunities for the students to develop their metacognition could be provided in this current feedback approach. The findings also demonstrated the learners’ expectations for changes in peer feedback practice in their writing classes. Thus, the study suggested a jigsaw peer feedback approach which met the participants’ desires and simultaneously afforded the learners a number of opportunities to improve their metacognition in EFL writing contexts, especially in Vietnam. This study helps to extend the literature in peer feedback approach in L2 writing which is underpinned by the concept of metacognition and offers both pedagogical and theoretical implications in English language teaching (ELT).<strong></strong></p>

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdelhak Bouslama ◽  
Fawzia Bouhass Benaissi

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.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusop Boonsuk ◽  
Eric A. Ambele

Since English is extensively used among linguacultural users to access life opportunities, it has become a requisite foreign language in the Thai educational system. To prepare Thai learners for this new changing role of English and reduce English Language Teaching dependency on the native English variety, this study aimed to explore English lecturers’ voices in Thai universities on existing English as a Foreign Language (EFL) pedagogies at the Thai tertiary level with the research question: how do English lecturers in Thai universities perceive EFL in Thai universities? Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 25 Thai EFL university lecturers selected from ten different universities in Thailand and analyzed using content analysis. The finding reveals that EFL-oriented pedagogy plays a dominant role in English language teaching (ELT) education in Thai classrooms, illustrating three main salient themes from the study: (1) EFL pedagogies; (2) EFL materials; and (3) EFL curriculums. The result shows that the pedagogy is less responsive in the changing roles of English use and its widespread worldwide, especially among diverse linguacultural interlocutors. Hence, English university lecturers should reconsider, adjust, and made more practical glocal changes in English language teaching for the purpose of language teaching, language planning and predicting language change.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. Syeda Naureen Mumtaz ◽  
◽  
Dr.Uzma Quraishi ◽  

The study was attempted to explore as to what extent English language teaching in Pakistan has been able to develop language skills among the target learners. The researcher intended to evaluate the limit to which the textbook helps in generating competence of all four integrated skills, especially as laid down in the standards of the National Curriculum (2006). The purpose of this study was to create pragmatic awareness among learners, teachers and educational professionals, working in the field of English as Foreign Language. By method , it was a qualitative study, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were the tools used to elicit the data. The participants of this research were selected from public sector schools and organizations including, teachers, policymakers, curriculum developers, subject specialists, and students to examine the effectiveness of grade VIII’s English language textbook on students’ performance . For data analysis themes were developed, coded and summarized in a descriptive mode. The findings of this study reflected that the relevant textbook does not cater to the target learners’ future academic and professional language needs. As a solution to the problems while teaching and learning English as foreign language in Pakistan; this study also offered a model to be followed by the policy makers and practitioners in order to make the existing English language textbook more effectives in terms of foreign language teaching and learning and language skill development.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aydin Aliyev

The purpose of this study is to find out the effectiveness of integrating into teaching English writing movies whichare supported by online technologies. Using movies in English classes has become the interest of many teachersand educators, as films are believed to be very effective, appealing and motivating authentic materials. Filmicapproach somehow creates a natural English language teaching (ELT) environment in the classroom and makesthe instruction of English enjoyable, particularly in terms of learners. Mixing motion pictures and onlinetechnologies both of which have a very crucial role in students’ life, would be fun and innovative. This studyfocused on teaching writing through the use of films and contemporary educational technologies amongundergraduate learners. The action research was designed at Qafqaz University in Azerbaijan among 32intermediate level students in the School of Languages. The learners were divided into experiment and controlgroups which were almost at the same English proficiency levels. The research involved a questionnaireconsisting of 10 questions with participation of 32 learners. The study is expected to be helpful for Englishteachers in terms of employing movies and online technologies effectively in writing classes, not to mention it islikely be a helpful material for further researchers in this field.


Author(s):  
Dwi Sloria Suharti ◽  
Eka Ugi Sutikno

Nowadays generally, technology encompasses all aspects of modern life and particularly, the writing by using English language. The challenges of learning English writing in Indonesia are plenty as English is perceived as a Foreign Language. This paper aims to reveal tertiary level students’ perception and attitude towards their technology aptitude: usage models, noticed benefits of and challenges to employ technology in learning English as Foreign Language (EFL) writing. This is a qualitative research, a case study, and used a self-structured questionnaire and interview to collect the data. Two participant lecturer observers and one hundred and sixty-seven students in a private college in Tangerang were purposively selected thirty students for questionnaire and interview. The data were carried out to reveal the lecturers and students’ perspective of assistive technology in EFL writing. The results revealed that assistive technology such as Webbing/Blogs, Computer software, Social Mediaapps, YouTubechannel, smart phone and tablet apps are found to be used by EFL learners to learn EFL Writing. Yet, most of the students had constraint at bad Internet connection. The outcome of this study offers thinkable instructional suggestions for students’ EFL Writing and creates base for further studies in this area.Keywords: Students’ EFL Writing, Learning EFL Writing, Assistive Technology


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-141
Author(s):  
Yusop Boonsuk ◽  
Eric A. Ambele

Since English is extensively used among linguacultural users to access life opportunities, it has become a requisite foreign language in the Thai educational system. To prepare Thai learners for this new changing role of English and reduce English Language Teaching dependency on the native English variety, this study aimed to explore English lecturers’ voices in Thai universities on existing English as a Foreign Language (EFL) pedagogies at the Thai tertiary level with the research question: how do English lecturers in Thai universities perceive EFL in Thai universities? Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 25 Thai EFL university lecturers selected from ten different universities in Thailand and analyzed using content analysis. The finding reveals that EFL-oriented pedagogy plays a dominant role in English language teaching (ELT) education in Thai classrooms, illustrating three main salient themes from the study: (1) EFL pedagogies; (2) EFL materials; and (3) EFL curriculums. The result shows that the pedagogy is less responsive in the changing roles of English use and its widespread worldwide, especially among diverse linguacultural interlocutors. Hence, English university lecturers should reconsider, adjust, and made more practical glocal changes in English language teaching for the purpose of language teaching, language planning and predicting language change.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nada Bin Dahmash

Synchronous and asynchronous classes were implemented by universities around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL) engaged in multiple practices when attending English writing classes in both modes. However, the practices they engaged in and the benefits they perceived were reportedly of limited benefit. This study asks: What are the practices of students that emerge during synchronous and asynchronous English writing classes? What are the benefits of synchronous and asynchronous English writing classes from the student’s perspective? Group and one-to-one interviews were conducted with twelve students majoring in computer science and information technology at a Saudi university. Thematic analysis revealed that students engage in practices including using the split view on iPads, opening additional windows to search for information, searching using smartphone apps, and writing notes and highlighting key concepts when attending English writing classes regardless of learning mode. It also revealed that synchronous classes offered students real-time communication and provided immediate feedback, while asynchronous classes allowed students to navigate the challenges of distance learning, complementing the synchronous English writing classes and providing students with a sense of security. This paper concludes by advising language teachers to record synchronous classes, raise students’ awareness of the benefits of attending both types of classes and encourage students to apply practices reported by previous students to maximize their English language learning.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-108
Author(s):  
Nada Bin Dahmash

Synchronous and asynchronous classes were implemented by universities around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL) engaged in multiple practices when attending English writing classes in both modes. However, the practices they engaged in and the benefits they perceived were reportedly of limited benefit. This study asks: What are the practices of students that emerge during synchronous and asynchronous English writing classes? What are the benefits of synchronous and asynchronous English writing classes from the student’s perspective? Group and one-to-one interviews were conducted with twelve students majoring in computer science and information technology at a Saudi university. Thematic analysis revealed that students engage in practices including using the split view on iPads, opening additional windows to search for information, searching using smartphone apps, and writing notes and highlighting key concepts when attending English writing classes regardless of learning mode. It also revealed that synchronous classes offered students real-time communication and provided immediate feedback, while asynchronous classes allowed students to navigate the challenges of distance learning, complementing the synchronous English writing classes and providing students with a sense of security. This paper concludes by advising language teachers to record synchronous classes, raise students’ awareness of the benefits of attending both types of classes and encourage students to apply practices reported by previous students to maximize their English language learning.


Author(s):  
Ebtesam Esgaiar ◽  
Scott Foster

The limited English language skills among Libyan learners threatens their ability to interact with the international environment. Therefore, improvement in the provision of foreign language programmes is imperative, and can be carried out using different methods such as evaluation to critically examine a programme in order to improve its effectiveness. This study aims to evaluate the current English language teaching (ELT) provision provided by the English department in the faculties of education at Zawia University in Libya. It seeks to establish whether the current English language programme has ever been validated or updated. Moreover, this study will design a framework that will enhance the quality of the English language provision at Zawia University by indicating the strengths and weaknesses of the current English language programme. This study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods to collect the data, which were gathered through a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. The evaluation of the current English as a foreign language programme at Zawia University revealed a number of inadequacies in terms of programme delivery, teaching resources, the balance of language skills taught and students work assessment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatma Kaya ◽  
Zeynep Yaprak

The question of how critical-thinking skills could be integrated into English as a Foreign Language (EFL) pedagogy has been one of the main concerns in the field of language teaching and learning as they have a great potential to increase the quality of learning and teaching. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether training based on peer feedback, including critical feedback, contributes to participants’ peer feedback and critical feedback performances. The participants, who were undergraduate English Language Teaching (ELT) students (n = 40), were exposed to an 8-week training program in which several feedback criteria, including critical ones, were introduced to them. Data obtained from the participants’ pre-test and post-test peer feedback performances and semi-structured interviews were analyzed by using SPSS and content analysis, respectively. The results revealed that the training improved performance in providing peer feedback, including critical peer feedback. Finally, learners reported satisfaction with the training program, although some challenges were encountered in the process.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document