Elementary English teachers’ perceptions and use of English learning web sites of the public institutions

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine elementary English teachers’ perceptions of the elementary English learning web sites of the public institutions and their use of them. Seventy-two elementary school teachers responded to the questionnaires about their opinions of English learning web sites under the public and private education systems. Interviews were also conducted with 4 teachers and a researcher who was in charge of web maintenance of a public educational institution. The results showed that teachers made use of the Internet generally actively to get ideas and materials for their English classes. However, they tended to indicate more satisfaction with English learning web sites of the private institutions than those of the public ones. With regard to the sites of the public institutions, the authentic materials which could be easily employed in the English classes were more favored than their design and maintenance. On the basis of the results from the survey and the interviews, the ways to elevate the practical use of public English learning web sites are proposed and some suggestions for the effective use and maintenance of the public web sites are also made.