English Language Teaching Program Research Articles

English language teacher trainers’ capacity building in sustainable development goals through MOOCs

PurposeThis study makes an enquiry of the existing sustainable development goals (SDGs) knowledge of English language teacher trainers (ELTTs), who remain an overlooked stakeholder in education for sustainable development. Despite the literature on SDG integration into traditional teacher education curriculum, how massive open online courses (MOOCs) can help with capacity building of ELTTs is unclear. This study aims to further explore how the knowledge and capacities of ELTTs on SDGs could be promoted through MOOCs.Design/methodology/approachFor the study’s action research approach, data of 28 ELTTs from higher education institutions in Ankara, Türkiye, were collected for six weeks using a survey, reflective reports and focus group interviews.FindingsELTTs with no previous training experience have a partially fragmented understanding of SDGs. MOOCs proved to be highly practical and cost-effective in building ELTTs’ capacity for building knowledge of and improving motivation to address SDGs in training programs. Further findings are drawn from ELTTs’ reflections on the lack of pedagogical content knowledge and collegial interactions in MOOCs.Originality/valueThere is little to no literature on ELTTs’ existing knowledge of SDGs and whether MOOCs can be used for their capacity building to achieve SDGs. The present findings may encourage higher education institutions to launch professional development programs that will equip ELTTs with the competencies to apply education for sustainable development in in-service English language teaching and teacher training programs.

An analysis of students difficulties in public speaking skill of the sixth semester students of english education study program at muhammadiyah kotabumi university academic year 2021/2022

In general, there are four important skills in English: listening, speaking, reading and writing. All these skills are very important for students to master in order to be able to communicate well. Among these skills, speaking is one of the most important. Because not only do students need to know aspects of the language, but they also need to master other aspects such as: Having high self-confidence, getting rid of fear, getting rid of shyness, getting rid of fear, etc. fear. The problem with this study is the difficulty faced by public speaking students, especially those in the sixth semester of the English Education Program at Muhammadiya University Kotabumi. The purpose of this study was to analyze the difficulties faced by public speaking students, especially those in the 6th semester of the English Language Education Program at Muhammadiya University Kotabumi. The method used in this study is descriptive qualitative research. Thesubjects of this study were sixth semester students of the English Language Education course. Researchers identified six students as study subjects. The tool used in this study is an interview. In this study, the data collection technique used by researchers was the interview technique. The results of this study indicate that there are two aspects to the problems that lead to language impairment in students. Her two sides to the problem are language issues and non-verbal/psychological issues. Language problems include pronunciation, lack of vocabulary, and lack of grammar. Non-verbal/psychological problems consist of lack of self-confidence, fear, embarrassment, and lack of motivation.Keyword : English, Speaking, Difficulties

Postcolonial Bangladesh and neocolonial assimilative literacy practices: the case of private schools and English language programmes

This paper explores the ways in which neocolonial and assimilative literacy practices colonise the psyche of students through private schools and English language teaching programs in Bangladesh. Colonialist education in British India was designed to produce collaborators and not critical thinkers and to create a new breed of Indians who were Brown in the skin but British in the mind. This paper attempts to understand the impact of neocolonial literacy practices in the psychic colonisation of present-day Bangladeshi students. The research involved conducting a critical discourse analysis of pedagogic materials like syllabi, the Norwood Report of 1943 (a key policy document of British colonial educational policy), and seven institutional websites involved with current literacy practices in Bangladesh. This paper shows that schools following British curricula are creating eclectic identities of students whereby they are compelled to contend simultaneously with an embodied ‘superior’ English cultural capital against an ethno-national ‘Brown’ and ‘inferior’ Bangladeshi ethos. Suggesting possibilities for resistance, the paper thus exposes the colonial elements embedded in literacy practices and developing English language proficiency among Bangladeshis.

Should English Language Teaching Undergraduate Programs in Turkey be Restructured? Views of Pre-Service English Language Teachers

English language teachers in Turkey are officially entitled to teach at any level (from kindergarten to university) and any age group; however, it has been repeatedly argued that teaching English to young learners is different from teaching English to teenagers and/or adults as they require diverse skills, competences, qualifications and expertise (Bland, 2019; Enever, 2014; Gungor, 2020; Linse, 2005; Öztürk Aydın, 2019; Rich, 2019). Moving from this line of reasoning, this study, first of all, aims to investigate whether ELT undergraduate programs in Turkey need to be restructured from the perspectives of pre-service English language teachers. Closely related to this aim, this study also intends to identify the degree to which their undergraduate training prepares pre-service English language teachers (PSTs) for the different school levels they are to work at. With these two complementary aims in mind, this study has employed a qualitative research paradigm. 192 senior pre-service English language teachers who take practicum courses and study at the English Language Teaching (ELT) programs of 14 different state and private universities in Turkey have participated in this study. The data for the study has been collected via an online survey form and a focus group interview. The findings show that ELT undergraduate programs prepare PSTs satisfactorily to work at primary and secondary level schools from the perspectives of PSTs. However, PSTs believe that their undergraduate program cannot prepare them as satisfactorily to work at pre-primary school, high school and university levels. Furthermore, almost half of the PSTs agree that ELT undergraduate programs within Education Faculties should be restructured as ‘ELT for young learners’ and ‘ELT for teenagers/adults’.

Public presentation anxiety: studies cases concerning public presentation anxiety of students prospective English teacher

Anxiety with a reasonable intensity can be considered a positive value as motivation. Still, if the power is high and adverse, it can cause harm and can interfere with the physical and psychological state of the student concerned, even his learning achievement. This research is focused on semester II students of the 2023 FKIP Unwir English Language Education Program anxiety during public speaking or presentations. This study used a qualitative approach. The type of research used is a case study. Data collection was carried out by distributing questionnaires to 20 students. The study is presented in the form of a descriptive analysis. The results of this study indicate that the anxiety of students presenting in public is caused by, among others: (1) the innate nature of not being able to speak and being nervous when doing it, (2) lack of confidence, (3) lack of understanding of the material to be presented, (4) fear what was conveyed was wrong, (5) Getting questions that were difficult to answer, (6) Breaking out in cold sweat and tremors, (7) Watched by many people, (8) Brain fog for no reason, (9) There is painful criticism, (10). Fear of being laughed at by friends.

Teacher's Written Feedback in Academic Writing Class: Students' Perceptions

Teacher's written feedback is one crucial thing that influences students' success in writing class. This feedback can benefit students' essays and writing performances in writing class. This study focuses on Academic Writing students' perceptions of teacher's written feedback in Academic Writing class. The purpose of this study is to investigate Academic Writing students' perceptions toward teacher's written feedback for their writing performances in Academic Writing class. This study was conducted in the English Language Education Program (ELEP), the Faculty of Language and Arts, Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana. The participants for this study were 31 students who were taking an Academic Writing course in Semester Gasal, 2022/2023 academic year. This study used questionnaires and semi-structured interviews to gather the data. The result showed that Academic Writing students had varied perceptions of teacher's written feedback from their lecturers. There were three types of students' perceptions of teacher's written feedback which were positive, mixed, and negative. This study hopefully can contribute valuable suggestions for the Academic Writing teacher in giving good written feedback and reveals the fact that teacher's written feedback can enhance students' writing performance.

Learning Strategy of Successful Students in An Online Intermediate Grammar Class

This study aims to investigate the learning strategies of successful students in an online intermediate grammar class. The research participants were all English as Foreign Language (EFL) students, batches 2019 and 2020, 2021, who got an A or AB in intermediate grammar class at the English Language Education Program (ELEP), Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana (UKSW). Open-ended questionnaires and interviews were used as the instruments to collect the data. In the questionnaire, 49 participants were asked to respond to several statements. At the same time, in the interview process, the researcher involved 6 participants to clarify their responses to the questionnaire. The data analysis revealed three grammar learning strategies that could make students successful in their grammar class: (1) determining difficult grammatical structures and trying to learn the difficulty; (2) paying attention to grammatical structures when translating sentences; and (3) taking notes when the teacher explains a new grammatical structure.

CIPPO Model Evaluation on the English Language Training Program At the Indonesian Navy Education Services

This study describes the implementation of the English Language Education and Training program at the Indonesian Navy Education Service for Indonesian Navy personnel. This study applies a descriptive qualitative method using the CIPPO model (Context, Input, Process, Product and Outcome). To get the data, the researchers conducted interviews, observation, documentation, focus group discussions and questionnaires. From the data obtained through interviews, observation, documentation, focus group discussions and CIPPO model questionnaires using a Likert scale (1 to 5) the context aspect shows 3.81, the training has been carried out based on the objectives, educational plans and activity plans. The input aspect shows 3.59, it supports the training process. The process aspect shows 3.82, the training process can run smoothly. The product aspect shows 3.96, the results of the training are satisfactory. The outcome aspect shows 3.95, the training has a good impact on human resources and institutions in the Navy. This research has the novelty that English Education and Training at DISDIKAL really needs an in-depth evaluation of the implementation of Education and Training. So far, the evaluation is still based on reports on the completion of training

Instag(R)ite: integrating visual social media into academic writing instruction

Although a number of studies examined the use of social networking sites (SNSs) in academic writing instruction, these studies mainly revolve around social media centered on microblogging features. Despite living in a visually dominated world, the potential of visual social media such as Instagram whereby the textual, the visual and the social can be integrated to support the development of academic writing skills has remained widely untapped. This case study hence attempts to explore learners’ perceptions of the possible impact of visual social media-supported pedagogy on the learning progress of academic writing through the lens of a multiliteracies pedagogy that integrates rather than isolates the study of linguistic, visual, and sociocultural elements. Forty-nine first-year undergraduates enrolled in an English language teaching (ELT) program participated in the study. Adopting a constant comparative method, students’ journals, responses to open-ended surveys and focus group interviews were qualitatively analyzed. Analysis results revealed that the majority of the participants had positive perceptions of the adopted pedagogy due to the following experiences: (a) active learning at the pre-writing stage–an aspect that received far too little attention in studies focusing on the use of SNSs in academic writing, (b) seeing the familiar unfamiliar (c) interactive learning, and (d) self-regulated learning. The study provides fresh insights for educators seeking for innovative applications in writing classrooms.

RESEARCH ON EFL STUDENTS’ AWARENESS AND PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS THE UTILIZATION OF OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES IN VIETNAM

The adoption of Open Educational Resources (OER) in higher education has been extensively studied worldwide, but there is a lack of research on OER awareness and usage among university students in Vietnam. This study used both quantitative and qualitative approaches to investigate students' awareness of OER and their perceived benefits and challenges when using OER materials. Participants were students in the English Language Teaching Program at UD-UFLS, who were randomly selected to participate in semi-structured interviews through focus groups. The study collected data from 80 questionnaire responses and interview transcripts. Marcus's Theory of Technology Adoption provided a framework for the investigation of OER use. The study identified several benefits of OER utilization, including increased access to materials, cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and autonomy in learning. However, limited knowledge of OER and a lack of support from faculty were identified as barriers to the use of OER among students at UD-UFLS. The results of this study can inform stakeholders about the potential benefits of OER and encourage the promotion of OER in higher education institutions in Vietnam, including UD-UFLS.

Students’ Challenges and Strategies in Extensive Listening Class

This study aims to analyze the students’ challenges in Extensive Listening class and find the strategies that students used to overcome those challenges. The researchers conducted this study to answer the questions of: What are the students’ challenges in Extensive Listening class? And What are the strategies for students to overcome those challenges in Extensive Listening class? This study used qualitative research. The participants of this study were ten students from 2019 and 2020 class year who had taken an Extensive Listening class majoring in English Language Education Program, Faculty of Language and Arts at Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana. In collecting the data, the researchers used online interviews through Zoom Meeting. The results of this study showed the students’ challenges in Extensive Listening class and strategies used to overcome the challenges in Extensive Listening class. The challenges faced by students in the Extensive Listening class were divided into internal and external factors. In the internal factors consisted of only one participant. Meanwhile, external factors consisted of six participants. Besides the challenges, this study also showed the strategies used by students to overcome the challenges and improve their listening skills, and it consisted of 10 strategies.

A Program Evaluation of M.Ed. English Language Education of Tribhuvan University

The purpose of this research was to review English language education program of Tribhuvan University using Stufflebeam’s CIPP model. The paper investigated university teachers’ and students’ perception on current curriculum of MEd in English language education based on CIPP model. Qualitative research approach was adopted to collect the data. Four research participants were purposely selected from Central Department of Education, Tribhuvan University. The study reports that University teachers’ are positive towards context and product process; but unsatisfied with process and input process. And the students’ are positive towards input and product process; but unsatisfied with process and context process. This requires an immediate attention on the part of curriculum designer and policy maker to internalize the strengths and weakness of the curriculum and redesign accordingly.

Exploring Students’ Attribution: Why Did Students Fail in Their Online Basic Grammar Class?

Grammar is one of the crucial components that must be mastered by English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students when they want to learn English. Undoubtedly, many students think grammar is quite challenging to understand and master. In an English Language Education Program at a private university in Central Java, Indonesia, many EFL students failed their Basic Grammar classes. Therefore, this study aims to explore the EFL students’ attributions or reasons for their failure in their Basic Grammar class. The data were gathered through a semi-structured interview with five EFL students who failed their Basic Grammar class. My preliminary results indicate some factors that cause them to fail in their Basic Grammar classes, such as the lack of knowledge, internet connection, and students’ factors. Recommendations for future research are discussed.

Writing effectively for English academic essays: an exploration of tertiary students’ challenges

This study explores EFL students’ challenges in writing an academic essay in their academic writing class. The participants of the study were ten EFL students, especially students from Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan, in the Academic Writing classes at the English Language Education Program, a private university in the academic year of 2020-2021. A semi-structured interview was used as the instrument of data collection to achieve the research goal. The data analysis indicated that the writing challenges were mainly related to developing writing ideas, writing sentences with correct grammar, finding references to support their writing, writing the end-text references of their paper, and understanding the feedback from their lecturer. This study concludes with some empirical evidence that students’ challenges in writing an academic essay are quite influential for their performance to produce good quality in writing an academic essay. This study hopes to provide practical ideas for teachers to help their students enhance their academic essay writing.

Exploring EFL Students’ Speaking Challenges in Their Speaking for Social Purposes

Speaking is a crucial aspect when we learn English. However, speaking activities in class is a challenge for students from different educational backgrounds, such as those from remote areas in Bengkayang, West Kalimantan. This study aims to explore the speaking challenges of Bengkayang students in the Speaking for Social Purposes (SFSP) classes at the English Language Education Program, Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana (UKSW). To collect the data, this study used semi-structured interviews that involved seven students from Bengkayang who had taken SFSP classes. The data analysis indicated some challenges faced by the students, such as a lack of self-confidence, pronunciation errors, and lack of vocabulary. This research also hopes to provide practical tips and tricks for students in overcoming some English speaking difficulties in similar contexts. Recommendations for future research are also discussed. 
 Keywords: EFL students, speaking for social purposes, speaking challenges

Povolání učitel – ceněné, ale nedoceněné: Změny profese začínajících učitelů v České republice

The article focuses on the drop-out of graduates of teacher-training programmes from their teaching profession as a little-explored phenomenon in the field of higher education research. Using selected data from the Absolvent 2018 (Graduate 2018) survey, a comparison was made between the target group (graduates of teachers’ fields of studies) and all other respondents to the survey. The analysis of latent classes, distinguishing graduates on the basis of their declared personal and work-related reasons for leaving the teacher profession, shows a cumulative effect with the remuneration playing a major role. Using logistic regression, the influence of family origin and the nature of the study on the probability of drop-out is investigated as well. Graduates of the full-time form of study leave the profession less often than graduates of combined and distance teachers’ programmes. It is also shown that graduates of the three traditional research-oriented universities (Charles University, Masaryk University, Palacký University Olomouc) do not leave the profession more often than their counterparts from other higher education institutions. Completion of English language teaching programs, as well as mathematics, physics and ICT with a focus on teaching also reduces the probability of leaving the teacher profession.

Transition into Online Education During COVID-19: The Case of Speaking-Based Courses at an English Language Teaching Program in Turkey

During the spring semester in March 2020 and the fall semester in October 2020, tertiary-level education in Turkey underwent two different transitions into online education. This study aimed to examine the two transition periods with a focus on the course design processes of two speaking-based courses taught at a state university. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with two professors, and open-ended questionnaires were administered to students. The findings showed that professors could not tailor the design of the two courses in March as they did not have time, but they gained experience to supplement their course content, remove some activities and prioritize others, and they opted for performance-based assessment in October. This paper concludes that the transition in October needs to be differentiated with the suggested term; semi-planned transition into online education. This transition period is still affected by the crisis; however, time can be allocated to determine the needs and expectation of the stakeholders to better prepare for online education. 
 
 Keywords: Transition into online education, Covid-19, Speaking-based course, English language teaching

Comparing Digital And Manual Translation Proficiencies In English Language Education: An Analysis Of Translation Quality

In this study, we aim to compare the quality of digital and manual translation in English texts for the English Language Education Program. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each translation method can help educators improve their teaching strategies and provide better learning outcomes for students. Thus, the research will be guided t the student using in translation between digital and manual translation in English texts for the English Language Education program and the quality of digital and manual translation. , digital translation tools may not capture the nuances and cultural aspects of language that are essential in language learning and communication (Zarei & Gholami, 2020). Manual translation provides a more accurate and nuanced translation than digital tools, as it takes into account context and cultural nuances (Ferraresi & Bernardini, 2019). This study employs a qualitative approach with a comparative method between two translation techniques digital and manual. Data is collected from an abstract of an article with “Pentingnya Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris di Sekolah Menengah” with the original text Bahasa Indonesia then translate it to English language using digital and manual translation. In general, however, studies comparing digital (machine) translation and manual (human) translation in the field of language education have found that while machine translation tools like Google Translate can be helpful for quick and basic translations, they often lack accuracy and precision, particularly in complex or nuanced language tasks.

Effects of Critical Multicultural Education on Preservice Teachers’ Multicultural Attitudes and Efficacy

The aim of this study is to find out the effects of critical multicultural education (CME) on preservice teachers’ multicultural attitudes and efficacy. In order to investigate the effects of critical multicultural education, a nine-week CME program is designed. The program is based on Banks’ (2015) multicultural education approaches and dimensions. For this study, the multicultural content is integrated into English Language courses of the preservice teachers studying at English Language Teaching (ELT) program. A total of 46 preservice teachers participated for the study and a quasy-experimental design with an experimental and a control group is employed. Before and after the application, Multicultural Efficacy Scale (MES) is administered to all the participants (23 in control and 23 in experimental group). The MES is composed of two subscales; one is multicultural attitudes and the other one is multicultural efficacy. While in the control group the existing language program is applied, the experimental group is provided with critical multicultural education which is integrated into English courses. At the end of 9 weeks, the analysis of pretest and posttest results revealed that there is a significant difference in the multicultural attitudes and multicultural efficacy of experimental group before and after the program. Further, the posttest results showed that there is a significant difference between the experimental and control group in terms of preservice teachers’ multicultural attitudes and efficacy. As a result, CME applied in experimental group had significant and positive effects on preservice teachers’ multicultural attitudes and efficacy. Therefore, in order to increase preservice teachers’ multicultural attitudes and efficacy, CME can be provided for preservice teachers at teacher training programs at the collage and universities.

Curriculum bridging across Chinese and English instructional times in a one-way dual language education program

ABSTRACT In response to the limitations presented by restrictive language separation practices in dual language immersion programs, this study describes a curriculum bridging approach that was undertaken by a group of teachers in a one-way Chinese English Dual Language Education program to promote and build on students’ full linguistic repertoires. The present study was conducted in a public charter school where students were mostly English dominant. Focusing on language allocation decisions at different levels, we examine how teachers bridged instruction for continuity and reinforcement of students’ content and language learning across Chinese and English instructional times. The findings also reveal challenges teachers faced in the planning and implementation processes of curriculum bridging, which unearthed varying teacher assumptions about specific subject matters and pedagogical strategies. Implications for further research and suggestions for practice to more effectively utilize and build on students’ full linguistic repertoires are provided.