The Reduction of Academic Hours and its Impact on English Language Learning

Abstract

The mastery of different languages allows the opening to new cultures, so it is necessary that students are able to communicate from an early age in at least one other language in addition to their mother tongue. The aim of this study is to evaluate the reduction of English language teaching hours and its impact on English language learning in an educational unit in the Canton of Jama, Province of Manabí, in the school year 2023-2024. The methodology used in this research is qualitative-quantitative, descriptive, using interview techniques with 8 English teachers and a structured survey with 54 students of eighth and ninth grade of higher basic education.The analysis of the qualitative data provided by the interview was transcribed verbally and the survey responses were tabulated and analyzed quantitatively using descriptive techniques, such as frequencies and percentages Results: The reflection presented, analyzes three current situations and the perceived impact on the teaching of English, the impact of teaching related to the reduction of hours due to the change in the curriculum, the lack of official guidelines by the Ministry of Education, Conclusion: This study shows that the reduction of English language teaching hours has had a negative impact on English language learning, since students in secondary schools have not had English teachers from second to seventh grade and therefore need more class time to adapt to the knowledge of another language.