English As A Second Language Teachers Research Articles

ESL Teacher’s Professional Identity in English Language Teaching

The current paper is a small-scale study on the core elements of professional identity (PI) issues among English as a second language (ESL) teachers. The study highlights the significance of professional identity, and the compromise and transformation ESL teachers undergo during their careers. Qualitative exploratory research methodology is applied in the investigation involving five ESL teachers. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted to explore the potential factors that have impacted English teachers’ professional identity. The study revealed the impact of top-down policy implementation, the significance of professionalism, unstructured overseas educational setup, and workplace challenges on the professional identity of English teachers. The findings of the study highlighted several key areas that had a positive as well as a negative impact on the PI of ESL teachers. ESL teachers’ adherence to their individuality and teaching philosophy in spite of facing different challenges, time and teaching experience of ESL teachers, culturally diverse working environment, and teachers’ evaluation system emerged as positive factors in PI development. However, the study also drew special attention to ESL teachers’ PI primarily getting affected by the imposition of a central policy system on ESL teachers, ignoring ESL teachers’ voices without taking their feedback into consideration, lack of awareness to foster positive professional relationships among peers and working in the overseas broken educational system. The study concluded that ESL teachers need their independent professional space to utilize their teaching capabilities and share their experiences to have an influential professional identity. However, due to the small number of participants a larger study would be better in unfolding in detail the causes behind the professional identity crises of ESL teachers.

An Analysis of Student Learning Style in Learning English in Sekolah Indonesia Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Learning style is one way to find out a person's most comfortable way in the learning process being carried out. In the learning process takes place, students have their learning style preferences. Learning styles have four preference models, namely VARK; visual, aural, read/write, and kinesthetic. The VARK can help students' learning style preferences in maximizing their learning style. Thus, the gap in this research is the investigation of learning styles in the English as a Second Language (ESL) context. The purposes of this study were to find out; (1) the learning styles employed by students and (2) the dominant learning style employed by the students in Sekolah Indonesia Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in learning English. This research used a descriptive quantitative research method that deals with the types of learning styles by VARK Neil Fleming. The total participants of the research were 28 students. The findings showed that (1) it was found that in the ESL context, students prefer to use two learning style preferences, namely; unimodal and bimodal, and (2) students predominantly used the kinesthetic learning style. The current findings implied that ESL teachers should provide English learning activities which is able to trigger students to engage directly in the process of teaching and learning in the classroom so that they can use their learning style maximally. Furthermore, the teaching process should emphasize on students—centered learning in order that students will be easier in reaching the objectives of Learning English in ESL context.

FACILITATING THE CONSTRUCTION OF KNOWLEDGE COLLECTIVELY THROUGH DIALOGIC DISCOURSE: TEACHERS’ PERSPECTIVES AND PRACTICES IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING

Dialogic discourse is said to aid the social and cognitive aspects of language learning and acquisition and students’ success in second language learning is therefore largely dependent on the interactional opportunities available. Recognising the potential impact of dialogic discourse in enhancing second language acquisition amongst Malaysian students, the Malaysian Ministry of Education (MOE) provided a large-scale training on dialogic discourse to a group of lower secondary English language teachers. This study explores the perceptions of English as a second language (ESL) teachers on the role of dialogic discourse in affording students’ opportunities for the construction of knowledge and investigates their practices in affording students with the opportunities to construct knowledge collectively through the discourse structure. To understand the role of dialogic discourse in affording students to construct knowledge collectively, five ESL teachers’ dialogic discourse strategies were examined. A qualitative approach was employed, which comprised semi-structured interviews and classroom observations for the data collection. Two of the teachers’ lessons were also examined to illustrate how dialogic discourse created opportunities for the construction of knowledge collectively which supported ESL learning through close discourse analysis of the lesson transcripts. The findings have shown that ESL teachers’ use of dialogic discourse strategies facilitates the construction of knowledge collectively among the students.This study expands our current understanding of how ESL learning occurs through classroom discourse.

Factors Causing ESL Students' Demotivation to Learn English

Despite the importance of English language proficiency in Pakistan, many learners struggle to develop a positive attitude towards English language learning. Thereby, this qualitative research study aims to analyze the factors causing ESL (English as a Second Language) college students' demotivation to learn English. The researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with sixteen students from different colleges in Karachi. The study found that difficult course content, non- interactive teaching styles, using English as the medium of instruction, and teachers' attitudes were the major sources of demotivation among the participants. This study emphasizes the importance of motivation in English language learning among ESL students. These findings have implications for ESL teachers in designing effective interactive language instructions that can help students improve their motivation to learn English.

When literacy ate language: An analysis of a research‐based literacy intervention for designated English Learners

AbstractScripted literacy programs are frequently used with designated English learners (ELs) as an intervention to address below–grade‐level reading comprehension. Most literacy programs lack an explicit focus on oral language, vocabulary in use, and immersive writing, needed areas to improve reading comprehension and English proficiency among designated ELs. Literacy interventions often work in tandem with English as a second language (ESL) instructional delivery or as a substitute and are staffed with personnel trained in reading interventions, but do not necessarily involve the principles of English language development or multilingualism. In this case study, the researchers examine a literacy intervention and how it is interpreted and implemented by elementary reading specialists. Findings demonstrate that reading teachers following the literacy intervention protocol fostered oral language and vocabulary, yet the emphasis was on reading, with very little time focused on writing. Implications point to the need for reading programs to conceptualize their teaching within a framework of English language development and multilingualism, instead of defaulting to reading interventions alone. A mapping in collaboration with general education, ESL, and reading teachers is needed to foster congruence across literacy and language learning. The authors call upon stakeholders implementing literacy programs to conceptualize multilingual language and literacy resources that encompass oral language, vocabulary, and immersive writing.

Factors affecting Malaysian ESL teachers' behavioral intentions for technology use in the post-COVID-19 era.

This study aimed to investigate English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers' technology acceptance levels and to identify the factors affecting their behavioral intentions (BI) with respect to technology use in the post-COVID-19 era. A cross-sectional survey of 361 Malaysian ESL teachers was conducted. Participants were recruited via convenience sampling, and they answered an online survey questionnaire that was designed with reference to past studies. The collected data were analyzed via descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, and multiple regression analyses. The findings revealed that Malaysian ESL teachers generally had a high level of technology acceptance in the post-COVID-19 era. Their BIs had a significant relationship with three factors: performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE), and social influence (SI), of which EE was identified as the most significant factor influencing their BI with respect to technology use in the post-COVID-19 era. Conversely, the presence of facilitating conditions did not have a substantial connection with ESL teachers' behavioral intentions for technology use after the pandemic, despite the fact that there was weak positive relationship with each other. This study provides insights for the field of educational psychology by identifying the current trends in ESL teachers' behavioral intentions in adopting technology in the post-COVID-19-era ESL classrooms. The findings of this study may also support investigations into technology acceptance in ESL teaching, illustrating a growing need to provide adequate educational and technological tools, resources, and facilities to facilitate the delivery of lessons by ESL teachers. Future studies should conduct longitudinal research and investigate more variables from different technology acceptance models.

Global education movement: English as a second language teachers' perceptions of integrating volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity elements in lessons.

Education evolves and progresses globally in a technology-driven world, highlighting the integration of VUCA elements of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity in lessons. Learners are molded to equip themselves with the world and real-life knowledge in their readiness to adapt to the VUCA world. Global education consists of preparing learners for the VUCA world. This study aimed to investigate the current English as a Second Language (ESL) teaching practices and the ESL teachers' incorporation of VUCA elements in ESL lessons. This study was conducted quantitatively using a survey questionnaire. This study was administered to 30 ESL teachers from different secondary schools in a district in Malacca. The results from the questionnaire revealed that the ESL participants had positive perceptions toward the adaptation of VUCA in the current ESL lessons. Most of the ESL teachers agreed that they adapted VUCA elements into the activities during lessons, although some showed uncertainty about their knowledge and understanding of VUCA. From the high agreement levels in the findings, it can be concluded that the ESL teachers agreed that VUCA elements through problem-based, digital-based, collaborative, and challenging activities in English lessons are beneficial to assist students' meaningful and autonomous learning. Based on these findings, implications were made for enhancing ESL teachers' knowledge, understanding, and skills in adapting VUCA in lessons in response to global education demand.

“COVID has Brought Us Closer”: A Proleptic Approach to Understanding ESL Teachers’ Practices in Supporting ELLs In and After the Pandemic

This paper uses “prolepsis,” a process of reaching into the past to inform present and future practices, to understand 12 English-as-a-second language (ESL) teachers’ practices of supporting English language learners (ELLs) through remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020-2021 in British Columbia and to envision some different current and future post-pandemic classroom literacies for diverse learners. Accounts of these ESL teachers’ synthetical moments of teaching and supporting ELLs during the pandemic suggest that they had to navigate “new” areas of teaching, including attending to students’ social-emotional learning (SEL), connecting with ELL parents, teaching and engaging students via technology-supported instruction, and co-teaching with mainstream teachers, on the basis of limited or no pre-pandemic experience. These insights suggest a need to widen the focus on ESL teachers’ knowledge and expertise in applied linguistics and instructional strategies to include classroom literacies in integrating SEL into ESL instruction, adopting interactive, student-driven instructional designs and practices afforded by multimodal technologies, maintaining multiple channels of communication with parents and students, and team-teaching with classroom teachers to provide tailored language support for ELLs.

Classroom Study of Teacher Collaboration for Multilingual Learners: Implications for Teacher Education Programs

ABSTRACT There has been growing evidence suggesting that collaboration between content teachers and English as a second language (ESL) teachers is crucial for multilingual learners’ (MLLs) equitable learning experiences. What is lacking is more nuanced analyses of teacher collaboration in the classroom context. This article reports on the findings of a qualitative case study to address the nuanced contexts through the voices and actions of participant teachers and students. It focuses on the teachers’ roles in supporting MLLs and the elements involved in an effective collaborative partnership through the perspectives of an English language arts teacher and an ESL teacher in a middle school setting. Findings suggest that joint teacher presence can be achieved if both teachers recognize their overall role to support MLLs’ successful language and content learning. Despite the limited time for planning lessons together, the teachers attempted to overcome the challenge by leveraging their professional capital, enacting their agency, and taking a flexible form of collaboration. This study refines existing findings that there is an uneven power structure between content teachers and ESL teachers and provides teacher education programs with suggestions and future directions for effective collaboration for MLLs.

Continuous Professional Development of ESL Teachers

The task of teaching English as a second language (ESL) is complex, with the cognitive processes behind it is still only partly known. This complexity, along with the diverse roles assigned to ESL teachers, brings several challenges ranging from classroom management to parental expectations. Teachers need systematic support to learn more effective practices to deal with daily challenges, which in turn promote the achievements of students. It is indeed the need of the hour to ensure continuous professional development to equip teachers with a conducive attitude, to update their subject and content knowledge and also to hone their pedagogical skills.

Perceptions of Pakistani undergraduates and teachers of collaborative learning approaches in learning English

Many instruments have been developed to investigate the issues that influence the learners in a Collaborative Learning Approach (CLA). However, existing instruments were found inadequate to investigate important areas such as the perceptions of English as a Second Language (ESL) undergraduates in CLA, the perceptions of ESL teachers about their undergraduates in CLA, the challenges faced by ESL undergraduates in CLA, and the perceptions of ESL teachers about the challenges faced by their undergraduates in CLA in learning English. The aim of this research is, therefore, to develop and validate questionnaires for CLA to investigate these areas in learning English. The process involved reviewing the related literature, identifying several questionnaires on CLA in different contexts and then selecting suitable items from there. These items were further adapted to suit the Pakistani ESL context and the aim of this research. Five-point Likert scale questionnaire items were developed. The questionnaires were validated by a panel of three ESL experts to measure the content validity. 60 ESL undergraduates and ten ESL teachers voluntarily participated in the pilot study. Cronbach Alpha was measured to investigate the internal consistency of the questionnaires. A good to excellent Cronbach Alpha reliability was reported for the four questionnaires.

Unravelling professional identity: a narrative exploration of early-career English Second Language teachers in a rural setting

This article delves into the intricate process of how early career English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers construct their professional identities (PI). By qualitatively examining the role of teaching experiences within the ESL classroom, we seek to understand how these educators shape their professional selves. Our study involves four ESL teachers, each with a maximum of three years of teaching experience, all of whom received their education from South African universities. Employing a narrative research design, we provided these teachers with a platform to share their individual stories and experiences during interview-based data collection. The study's findings reveal a noteworthy development in the way these teachers perceive and shape their PI. Through meaningful reflection, the participants began to see themselves primarily as professionals in the field of ESL education. This reflection led us to draw three key conclusions regarding the PI of early career ESL teachers. First, the personal and professional experiences of these educators play a pivotal role in shaping their understanding of professional identity. Second, this conceptualisation holds significant potential to influence their classroom effectiveness and teaching abilities. Lastly, the utilisation of a storytelling approach in our research has proven to be a valuable method for comprehending the PI of early career ESL teachers.

Investigating the Impact of Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) on English as a Second Language (ESL) Instruction in the Classroom

This research study aimed to investigate the impact of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) on English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction in the classroom. The integration of CALL had gained increasing attention in language learning due to its potential to enhance instructional practices and learner outcomes. However, empirical research was needed to examine the specific effects of CALL in the ESL context. The study began with a comprehensive literature review to identify gaps and areas requiring further investigation. Specific research questions were formulated to address these gaps. The research design was determined based on the objectives, utilizing an appropriate methodology such as experimental, quasi-experimental, or mixed methods design. Participants consisted of ESL learners from a specific age group or proficiency level, and a suitable sample size and sampling method were determined. Data collection involved various methods such as surveys, observations, interviews, and pre/post-tests to gather comprehensive data. Ethical considerations were addressed, ensuring informed consent and data privacy. The collected data were analyzed using appropriate statistical or qualitative analysis techniques. The results were interpreted to answer the research questions and contribute to the understanding of the impact of CALL on ESL instruction. Visual representations, such as charts and graphs, were included to enhance the presentation of results. The discussion and conclusion provided an interpretation of the findings and their implications for ESL instruction and the integration of CALL. Comparisons with previous research were made, and the limitations of the study were acknowledged. Recommendations for ESL teachers, curriculum developers, and policymakers were provided based on the study's findings. Finally, suggestions for future research were presented to further explore the potential of CALL in the ESL classroom. The research study aimed to contribute to the field of language learning and provide insights that could inform pedagogical practices and instructional design.

Editing Between the Lines: The Collaborative Writing Process of Two Scholars from Disparate Cultures

Collaborative writing and language learning efforts between two graduate students, one a South Korean art educator and the other a retired ESL(English as a Second Language) teacher from the United States, are explored in this autoethnographic and ethnodrama collaborative piece. The authors give candid accounts of their experiences with understanding one another’s perspectives, sharing beliefs and cultural differences, developing respect for each other, and discovering friendship as they worked together in editing and revising Korean ideas into the Americanized English of academia. The tie that binds their collaborative efforts is the authors’ advocacy for social justice education.

Role of Non-Verbal Communication as a Supplementary Tool to Verbal Communication in ESL Classrooms: A Case Study

The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of non-verbal communication skills in English as a Second Language (ESL) classrooms. These skills are used in teaching as well as learning. Non-verbal signs are of great significance for ESL learners and ESL teachers as they help cover the communication gap in form of gestures, eye-gaze, facial expressions, and body language. According to cognitive scientists, non-verbal signs assist teachers maintain attention level of the students that is important for successful teaching and learning. To achieve this goal, a field study was conducted in Lahore Liverpool Lingua. Two main instruments were used to collect data, namely questionnaire and observations. 100 students both male and female were chosen as samples who were observed to understand the importance of non-verbal communication skills in ESL classrooms. Besides observation of the students, 5 teachers at the same college were chosen to document their observations. These documents were used for content analysis. Apart from the documents, teachers’ opinions were also gathered through close-ended questionnaires. The questionnaire data were analyzed quantitatively. Thus, the collected data were analyzed and interpreted according to the principles of both qualitative and quantitative research. The study reveals the significance of non-verbal communication skills for ESL teachers and ESL students.

Student-Teacher Conferences in an English Pronunciation Course: Goals, Characteristics and Views

Student-teacher conferences are considered an effective pedagogical tool for individualized writing instruction. Yet, little is known about the goals, characteristics and perceptions of student-teacher conferences for individualized English as a second language (ESL) pronunciation instruction. This article presents an exploratory study on student and instructor perceptions of mandatory student-teacher conferences in a semester-long ESL pronunciation course. Data were gathered from 24 college ESL students and five experienced ESL instructors via pre-/post-instruction read-aloud tests, four questionnaires and a focus group discussion. The results indicated pronunciation improvement during the course and participants’ overall satisfaction with the learning outcomes, goals, format and characteristics of the conferences. Participants’ views on benefits, drawbacks, and recommendations for these one-on-one meetings revealed valuable insights for pronunciation instructors.

In-service Middle School Teachers’ Cognition in the Use of Technology in English as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching and Learning Context in Dingxi City, China

Many in-service ESL teachers have low interest in using technology in classrooms on account of complex internal and external factors. Thus, guided by Davis’s (1989) technology acceptance model and Borg’s (2003) language teacher cognition theory, this study, which uses a quantitative descriptive survey, aims to further understand in-service middle school English as a second language (ESL) teachers' cognition in the use of technology in Dingxi city, China. The results show that in-service middle school ESL teachers have general positive cognition toward technology in their classrooms and that these teachers are high-level users of technology. The findings suggest that academic institutions can provide more decent technological support to in-service middle school teachers as this will cater to their needs in ESL teaching and learning.

THE IMPORTANCE AND FACTORS OF ENJOYMENT IN MALAYSIAN ESL CLASSROOM: A MULTISITE CASE STUDY

Affective factors such as emotion and attitudes have long been identified as contributing factors to success and enjoyment in language learning. With the new movement of education in the new norm, a weightage needs to be focused on the affective dimensions among learners. This study aimed to discover the importance and factors of enjoyment in learning English as a Second Language (ESL) among Malaysian secondary school students. This multisite case study took place in five secondary schools in Malaysia. Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was held among five ESL teachers and an open-ended questionnaire was distributed to 65 students in the respective schools. The findings reveal both teachers and students think enjoyment is important in learning ESL as it bridges up engagement in learning, enhances motivation and for the usefulness of learning the language. Furthermore, the study also discovers the factors of enjoyment in learning ESL namely teacher-factor, sense of achievement and relationship with peers. This study provides valuable information on the of the understudy topic of enjoyment in Malaysian ESL classroom.

“ESL teachers are looked down upon”: Understanding the lived experience of a first-year ESL teacher with culturally and linguistically diverse background

Research indicates many new English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers leave the profession within 5 years. However, limited research has focused on these teachers’ experiences and far fewer studies examined those with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds to identify what contributes to the high attrition rate. This narrative study captured the experience of a first-year ESL teacher with CALD backgrounds. Data were collected using a three-step interview approach over the course of 1 year. The data show the protagonist’s identity as an advocate for Emergent Bilinguals (EBs) began during his extended clinical practicum and was further driven by his CALD background, unsupportive colleagues, and the marginalized status of EBs and ESL teachers. Although he overcame numerous challenges, he ultimately left his ESL position due to his unsustainable low salary. The story confirmed current research regarding systematic barriers that may prevent CALD individuals from entering and staying in the ESL teaching field. Possible implications for teacher educators and policy makers are discussed.

Moving toward equity literacy in adult ESL teaching through problematizing curriculum and centering student voices

Inspired by Gorski's (2016, 2019) framework of equity literacy and Gulliver and Thurrell's (2016, p. 57) call for more adult English as a second language (ESL) materials that feature the “uninterrupted voices” of immigrant/refugee students, this article proposes considerations for equity‐minded adult ESL teachers. Specifically, the article explores opportunities to move toward equity literacy in adult ESL classes by problematizing survival ESL curriculum and centering voices of immigrant and refugee adult ESL learners. Written by a full‐time high school teacher and volunteer adult ESL teacher, the author offers other teachers frameworks for promoting equity literacy by critically examining curricular materials and critically centering student experiences.