English Instruction Research Articles

Non-native English-speaking teachers’ awareness and current practices of glocalized English instruction

Non-native English-speaking teachers’ awareness and current practices of glocalized English instruction

Fostering Early English Education in Saudi Arabia: A Pathway to Achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in Education

English language education has become increasingly vital in non-English-speaking countries, driven by globalization and the demands of the international economy. In Saudi Arabia, enhancing English proficiency is one of the most important aspects of educational reform emphasized by Vision 2030. This study examines the perceptions of 420 kindergarten and elementary school teachers, Saudi Arabia, regarding early English education for young learners aged 4 to 8. Using a structured questionnaire, the study reveals strong support among teachers for early English instruction, with 77% agreeing that every child should master at least one foreign language. Additionally, 86% of respondents believe that English should be introduced in primary school to establish a solid foundation for language mastery. Multiple regression analysis identified significant predictors of teacher support, such as teaching experience, educational qualifications, and regional location. Teachers with more experience and higher qualifications were more supportive of early English education, with greater support seen in urbanized areas. The findings also highlight the significance of English proficiency in the context of economic globalization. A total of 88% of teachers recognize that English is necessary for global communication and competitiveness. The study concludes that teacher perceptions align with the goals of Vision 2030, highlighting the strategic importance of early English education in Saudi Arabia's educational reforms. It further highlights the need for ongoing professional development for teachers and increased parental involvement to ensure the positive implementation of early English programs. These insights are critical for informing educational policies and practices that support Saudi Arabia's broader socio-economic objectives.

ICT USAGE IN TESL EDUCATION: INSIGHTS AND OBSTACLES FACED BY TEACHER-TRAINEES IN KOTA KINABALU

This study explores the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in English language learning among TESL teacher-trainees in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. Since English is a compulsory subject in Malaysian education, the government has been placing increasing focus on ICT use to improve language learning. In the past two decades, much has changed in policy and practice to create more positive perceptions of ICT as a possible solution; but while these shifts may now make sense on paper, several obstacles remain for making changes effectively simply by introducing yet another new technology. The main objectives are to find out TESL teacher-trainees’ perception towards usage of ICT in classroom and obstacles in using ICT faced by TESL teacher-trainees in classroom. Shortage of technological infrastructure, technology access, and trained teachers on the usage of ICT are some challenges. In addition, different perceptions among teacher-trainees indicate issues such as low self-confidence in ICT usage. This paper uses a mixed-methods approach, using both quantitative questionnaires and qualitative interviews to capture the trainee experience. Using a purposive sample of 88 TESL trainees, primarily practicum participants in Sabah, this study employed a mixed-methods approach with quantitative questionnaires and qualitative semi-structured interviews. Fifteen trainees were selected for interviews to provide in-depth insights. The significant finding concludes a strong and positive correlation between teacher perception towards ICT usage in the classroom. Nevertheless, lack of resources, and training may hinder the effectiveness of the ICT. The knowledge gained will help to direct policy and curriculum development-informed teacher training aimed at increasing the use of ICT in English instruction.

Teacher Support and Student Engagement in the Conduct of Blended Learning Instruction for English as A Foreign Language

With the deep integration of information technology and education, blended learning has emerged as a new paradigm in higher education, combining the strengths of both online and offline learning environments. This approach allows English as Foreign Language (EFL) learners, particularly in the Chinese context, to engage in flexible and continuous learning beyond traditional classroom settings, thereby fostering greater student initiative and self-directed learning. Understanding the impact of teacher support on student engagement within this blended learning framework is crucial for optimizing educational outcomes. This study employed a quantitative descriptive comparative and correlational research design to examine the relationship between various forms of teacher support—instructional, emotional, feedback, and interpersonal—and student engagement among 307 Chinese EFL learners in a blended learning environment. The findings reveal that all forms of teacher support were perceived as high, with feedback provision ranking highest. Similarly, student engagement was also rated highly across behavioral, cognitive, emotional, and social domains. The Pearson correlation coefficient between teacher support and student engagement was found to be 0.75, indicating a significant positive relationship. Based on these findings, a program aimed at enhancing teacher support to further improve student engagement in blended learning environments was developed and recommended.

A Study of the Blended Teaching Model for Oral English under the Production-Oriented Approach

Abstract: With the rapid development of the Internet, the blended teaching model has gradually become more and more popular. In response to this trend, this paper explores how to improve college students oral English skills under the blended teaching mode of online and offline. Moreover, Considering that nowadays many students can only understand knowledge but find it difficult to apply knowledge, this research will be guided by the Production-Oriented Approach to explore new ideas for improving students' productive ability. The study selects the first chapter of Book 2 of Fluent Oral English Course (Second Edition) as the teaching content and adopts a blended teaching method, which includes online pre-class warm-ups, a combination of online and offline teaching during class, and online homework submission after class. To be mentioned, the teaching process is structured around the principles of motivation, enabling, and assessment. It is hoped that this research will provide valuable references for future studies on the blended teaching model guided by the Production-Oriented Approach and offer inspiration for enhancing oral English instruction.

The Effectiveness of Baamboozle to Escalate Seventh-Grade Students’ Vocabulary Learning Outcomes

This quantitative study meticulously evaluated the effects of the Baamboozle application on seventh-grade students' vocabulary acquisition, particularly within the context of descriptive text. Utilizing a pre-experimental design, the study implemented a one-group baseline and follow-up tests model to assess the intervention's efficacy. Data was collected using baseline and follow-up tests. The statistical analysis was performed through paired sample T-tests by utilizing SPSS 25. The findings indicated a substantial improvement in students' average vocabulary scores, increasing from 57.25 to 73.00, with a Sig. (2-tailed) value of less than 0.05, confirming statistical significance. The result underscores the value of integrating Baamboozle into English instruction, highlighting its potential to significantly escalate learning outcomes and amplify student engagement. Future research should focus on comparative studies assessing Baamboozle's efficacy relative to other digital learning platforms, such as Duolingo, Busuu, Lingodeer, and similar tools, to further advance and optimize vocabulary teaching strategies.

Leveraging Canva to create a biographical recount text for vocational secondary students in ESP instruction

Integrating technology into English for Specific Purposes (ESP) instruction is essential for adapting to rapid technological advancements, and Canva offers significant potential in this area. However, research on Canva has mainly focused on general English instruction, with limited examination of its application in ESP. This study explores how vocational secondary school teachers used Canva to teach biographical recount texts in an ESP context, along with the rationale behind this choice. A qualitative study was conducted at SMKN 13 Malang, West Java, within the Merchant Nautical Ship Department. Data were collected through classroom observation and interviews with an experienced English teacher. Observations revealed the structured steps of using Canva to teach biographical recount texts, enabling more active students’ participation in class. Canva was chosen for its practical benefits, including students’ familiarity with the platform, ready-to-use templates, and the potential to boost students’ creativity, all of which support its effective use in vocational education.

Is “The Earlier, The Better” for EFL in Saudi Arabia? Insights from Early Grades EFL Teachers at Saudi Primary Schools

In 2021, Saudi state schools introduced mandatory English language instruction starting in the first grade, marking a significant shift in early education. This study explores the perspectives of English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers on the effectiveness of this policy, focusing on students’ overall English proficiency, language acquisition, and cultural skills. It also addresses key challenges teachers face, including the synchronization of learning Standard Arabic with English and adapting curricula for young learners. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, utilizing questionnaires from 86 EFL teachers and follow-up interviews with 14 participants. Through thematic analysis, the study reveals that while teachers generally view early English instruction as beneficial for language development and cultural awareness, challenges such as language interference and age-related learning limitations persist. Teachers emphasized the need for curriculum adjustments, engaging teaching strategies, and enhanced teacher preparation. The findings underscore the need for targeted teacher training and English proficiency reforms to align with broader educational goals.

Digital Storytelling in Listening EYL Context: Students’ Responses

In the contemporary educational landscape, digital storytelling (DST) has surfaced as a promising pedagogical paradigm for facilitating the instruction of English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Nonetheless, its implementation in educational settings has yielded divergent student responses, influencing the efficacy of educational DST as an English language instructional instrument (Baehaki Wahyuni, 2023). This study aims to scrutinize the responses of kindergarten pupils engaged in the DST learning process, with a particular emphasis on nurturing students' listening proficiencies. The investigation was conducted at TK Labschool UPI establishments in Bandung, encompassing a cohort of 10 students aged 5-6 years, employing a qualitative inquiry approach and adopting a case study framework. Data accrual entails classroom observations, while thematic analysis is the methodological scaffold for discerning patterns and discrepancies within the gathered data corpus. The overarching aspiration of this research endeavor is to furnish nuanced insights into the efficacy of DST as a multimodal language acquisition tool in the milieu of kindergarten education. The findings endeavor to elucidate educational practices and enrich the ongoing dialogue of innovative language pedagogical methodologies by augmenting the extant reservoir of knowledge concerning early childhood English language assimilation. The research findings are considered favorable when students exhibit an 80% success rate in behavior and answering questions, indicating a significant response toward achieving the educational objectives.

Incorporating translanguaging in English instruction: teachers’ beliefs, practices, and influencing factors

ABSTRACT The question of whether and to what extent should the learners’ language repertoire (LR) be incorporated into the teaching of English as an additional language has been controversial for decades. The findings reported in this paper are part of a large-scale research project funded by the Israeli Ministry of Education aiming to introduce a new multilingual education policy. This study investigates teachers’ beliefs and reported practices on the use of their learners’ LR in the teaching of English as an additional language. The background and contextual factors associated with teachers’ use of their learners’ LR were examined as well. Utilizing a mixed methods approach, data sources included online questionnaires (N = 253) distributed to EFL teachers, semi-structured interviews (N = 56), and focus groups (N = 5) with teachers and stakeholders (e.g. inspectors, counselors). The findings revealed two contradictory beliefs intertwined with teachers’ reported practices: a monolingual paradigm and a bi/multilingual perspective. Differences in teachers’ beliefs and reported practices were identified as a function of factors related to the teachers’ background, their role, and contextual factors related to the school setting. Implications for language teacher-training programs in contexts where English is taught as an additional language are also discussed.

"I'm not a tech-savvy teacher": An English teacher's journey in applying TPACK in Indonesia

Although research on TPACK in education has been done, limited studies have explored the application of TPACK in the EFL classroom within an Indonesian context. The aim of this research was to narrate the story of an experienced English teacher who encountered challenges in implementing the TPACK framework, and to reveal the advantages of utilizing the TPACK framework in the Indonesian teaching context. The researcher collected data using a set of steps consist semi-structure interviews, observations, and document analysis. An English teacher working in an Indonesian setting was selected to take part in this narrative inquiry. The interview information was examined using thematic analysis. The research discovered that applying the TPACK model was a complicated process hindered by internal and external barriers. On the other hand, using the TPACK framework offers advantages to both students and teachers, including increased motivation, a more engaging and flexible learning environment, and prospects to create multimedia resources. The results offer valuable insights for English teachers in developing nations about integration of TPACK in English instruction.

The thematic organization of consumer safety instructions in English

Abstract This study investigates how the content of consumer safety instructions is organized in Themes and N-Rhemes and connected by thematic progressions. The Themes are chiefly directives or representations of the product and its usage. The goal of safety instructions, on the other hand, i.e. avoiding dangers and their negative outcomes, is mainly represented in the N-Rhemes. Thematic progressions are frequently linear, which reflects the expert/non-expert relationship between the writers and readers, or derived, which reflects the somewhat disjointedness of this text type. There are also many Rheme iterations connecting imperative clauses. In this respect the thematic organization of procedural texts differs significantly from texts where declarative clauses are predominant.

English Instructors' Self-Efficacy Beliefs Regarding 21st-Century Skills and their Implementation and Assessment in the Classroom

This study examines the self-efficacy beliefs of English Language Preparatory Program (EFL) instructors in teaching and assessing 21st-century skills and their integration into English classes. Utilizing a single and relational screening research design, data were collected via an online survey from 98 English language instructors employed at university preparatory schools providing intensive English instruction. The survey, including 72 items on eight dimensions of 21st century skills, employed a 5-point Likert-type scale. The results revealed discrepancies between instructors’ knowledge of these skills and their implementation of them in their classes. Instructors implemented these skills in their classes at a moderate level. Overall, instructors’ competency in integrating and assessing 21st-century skills fell below the standards expected in higher education institutions. These findings offer important implications and provide practical suggestions for improving the implementation and assessment of 21st-century skills.

Learning Chinese as a Second Language: Implications of the Character-Word Dual Function Model

Learning new words is fundamental in both first and second-language reading. There are, however, divided opinions on the best instructional approaches. Two widely used approaches across languages are whole-word focus and word-constituent focus. The appropriateness of each approach has varied historically, even within a single language (e.g., the debate between whole-word instruction and phonics in English). In teaching Chinese, both approaches are applied but to different learner groups. Whole-word instruction predominates in teaching Chinese as a second language (L2), while instruction for Chinese children focuses more on character-level mappings. It may seem reasonable in L2 Chinese instructions to focus on direct mappings between Chinese words and their L1 equivalent words. However, this raises a question: Is whole-word instruction the most efficient approach in L2 Chinese instruction? Based on an analysis of the Chinese writing system, we proposed a Character-Word Dual Function model of Chinese and tested its application of a dual-focus approach on both characters and words in L2 Chinese classroom instruction. Empirical findings support the advantage of this new approach compared to conventional whole-word instruction. We discuss the alignment between our findings and the Unified Computational Model and its implications for word instruction across languages.

Eclecticism as a Key Factor in Successful Business English Instruction

The paper presents the results of a qualitative, longitudinal study in the specific context of postgraduate Business English education, which, despite the high demand for Business English courses and their profitable position in the educational services sector, still tends to be an underdeveloped research area, especially in a non-Anglophone context where Business English is most often taught. The paper's primary objective was to identify the key factors contributing to successful Business English postgraduate instruction and to discuss which aspects of Business English teaching were crucial in the eyes of students and problematic in the view of their teachers. The brief literature review, which is presented in the first section of the paper, concerns the position of Business English as a part of the profitable and challenging area of English for Specific Purposes, the specificity of Business English teaching, and its methodology. The main research methods applied in the longitudinal qualitative case study approach were a semi-structured interview and a student satisfaction survey (used mainly to validate the results of the interviews). The results revealed the most crucial factors with reference to a successful instruction of Business English in postgraduate education, its most important aspect being eclecticism, which is elaborated on in detail in the paper.

PEDAGOGICAL STRATEGIES FOR TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SPECIALIZED LANGUAGE: THE ROLE OF ESP IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

In today's globalized world, English for Specific Purposes (ESP) has emerged as a crucial branch of English language teaching, catering to learners with specific professional and academic needs. This article explores pedagogical strategies for teaching English as a specialized language, focusing on the role of ESP in professional development. It examines how targeted instruction in specific linguistic, communicative, and disciplinary featuresof English fosters career advancement and proficiency in professional contexts. Key challenges, effective methodologies, and the role of technology in enhancing ESP teaching are discussed.

A study of project-based learning to intermediate EFL learners in reading class: enhancing self-regulated learning of post-secondary students in Macao

AbstractThis study explored two new pedagogical conceptions—project-based learning (PBL) and self-regulated learning (SRL), to enhance effective English teaching and learning in Macao, and to prepare EFL learners for life-long learning. PBL makes English instruction engaging and SRL empowers learners to take ownership of their learning process. The combination of these two methodologies can facilitate students to develop into independent and efficient English learners. The study, guided by Zimmerman’s cyclical phase model of SRL and English and Kitsantas’ PBL/SRL model, was action research which aimed to investigate whether PBL could positively influence the development of intermediate EFL learners’ SRL ability at the post-secondary level in Macao. Research instruments included questionnaires, interviews, students’ reflective notes and teacher’s field notes. Both qualitative and quantitative findings indicated improvement in the students’ SRL ability, reflected in three aspects—motivation, metacognition, and behaviors. The students’ motivational beliefs were significantly strengthened, and more self-regulated behaviors were generated. Though the use of metacognitive strategies did not showcase as significant enhancement as the former elements through the study, the experimental group made progress in using some specific strategies, such as evaluating learning outcomes and making study plans. The summary of the study is that PBL was beneficial to the development of SRL. This research endeavor not only contributes to the existing body of knowledge but also serves as a catalyst for educators to advocate policy reforms, fostering the design of learner-centered, flexible, and coherent post-secondary EFL curricula.

Exploring student-centered instructions in English as a foreign language (EFL) learning in Indonesia through trioethnographic reflections

This article examines professional development through the lens of trioethnographic reflections to enhance student-centered teaching practices. Trioethnography, derived from duoethnography, is a qualitative research method where two or more researchers engage in reflective dialogue to explore an issue. We collected data through four reflective conversations, guided by faculty advisors, during our teaching practicum. Our analysis identified three key themes from these dialogues: (1) reexamining our beliefs about student-centered instruction, (2) recognizing sociocultural barriers to this approach, and (3) sharing experiences of relearning teaching methods. These conversations created a safe space to exchange insights and collaboratively build understanding. The findings have significant implications for teachers and teacher education. First, teachers must continually reassess the beliefs and assumptions that underpin their teaching. Second, understanding students more deeply is crucial for effectively implementing student-centered teaching, especially in EFL contexts. Third, preservice teacher education should emphasize the importance of self-reflection and critical examination of teaching beliefs, fostering both personal and professional growth. Lastly, future research should narrow its focus on specific practical issues within student-centered EFL teaching to further enrich the field and improve teaching practices. Collaborative reflection should become a routine part of teacher education programs to better prepare future educators.

EFL TEACHING IN INDONESIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: INSIGHTS INTO GENERATION Z

With an emphasis on the needs of students in Generation Z, this study investigates the English instruction methods used at Elementary School in Indonesia. This study examines the materials and approaches utilized to successfully teach English, which is becoming increasingly important in today's globalized society. To further understand instructional strategies and student involvement, the study incorporates observations from classrooms as well as instructor interviews. The study, which was divided into two stages, featured observations of The teacher's class and an interview with her. The need for more participatory teaching techniques, a lack of resources, and constrained learning time are among the major issues that have been noted. The school uses the Cambridge curriculum, but it also takes Indonesia's Merdeka curriculum into account. It suggests incorporating more interactive exercises, such as games, to maintain students' interest. The results emphasize how crucial it is to modify teaching strategies to fit the demands of contemporary students and provide a welcoming environment where English can be learned successfully.

Impact of English Teaching on Students’ Academic Performance at Higher Secondary School Level

The current study investigated the diverse dimensions of English teaching that influence students' academic performance at the higher secondary level, with a focus on refining teaching methodologies and tackling challenges in English learning experiences. Using a methodical research approach, the study focuses on the critical role that teachers play in English instruction for both students and teachers from government higher secondary schools in the Dir Lower area of KP. The use of a quantitative research strategy, in conjunction with a pilot study and a specially created questionnaire, guarantees the validity of data gathering and analysis. Through the use of SPSS software, data analysis can yield a wealth of information on students' perceptions and experiences with learning English. The results emphasize the value of good teaching strategies, the advantages of integrating technology, and the necessity of continual professional development for teachers. Regression analysis also shows a significant relationship between better academic achievement and improved English teaching methods. The recommendations of the study supported various efforts to enhance vigorous teacher training with improved and latest technology. The study has provided very useful information for the development and improvement of instructional strategies for English teachers at upper secondary schools.