ESL Teachers Research Articles

New Digital Gamification Perception in STEAM Approach: Secondary ESL Teachers' Perspectives in STEAM-oriented ESL Classrooms

New Digital Gamification Perception in STEAM Approach: Secondary ESL Teachers' Perspectives in STEAM-oriented ESL Classrooms

Towards Teaching Purposive Communication in the World Englishes Context: Perspectives of Philippine ESL Educators

This mixed-method approach of the study explores the learning outcomes, topics, and assessment methods of Purposive Communication instructional materials in the World Englishes context. Also, it determines the suggestions of Purposive Communication lecturers/instructors in integrating the course into World Englishes. Through Google form, 72 respondents took part in the study. They are all language teachers and are currently handling Purposive Communication in the Philippines' Private/Public Higher Education Institution. The results showed that the respondents are aware of World Englishes concepts and are practicing those concepts in their classroom. However, they have suggestions to publishers/authors of Purposive Communication to integrate other varieties of Englishes in each topic. The researcher suggested that other language courses in the Philippines be evaluated to form a holistic paradigm of World Englishes in the Philippine curriculum.

Promoting Multilingual Skills in Children with Autism: Parent and Teacher Perspectives on Teaching ESL

Abstract Research on autistic children who grow up in multilingual environments remains sparse, despite more than half of the global population being multilingual. Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by severe impairments in communication and language skills. Many ASD parents ask specialists for advice about whether their child should study both languages simultaneously in a bilingual environment. The study investigated the challenges faced by teachers and parents in educating children with ASD in learning English as a Second language (ESL). The study sample consisted of nine parents and five teachers of children with ASD who were interviewed using a qualitative approach. According to the findings of the study, teaching English as a Second Language to children with autism spectrum disorders with visual aids, modeling, and repetition has been shown to be an effective method to enhance the language and social abilities of children with autism. While it is difficult to develop teaching strategies that are effective for children with autism spectrum disorders, teachers have found that these children are extremely proficient in acquiring new languages. Additionally, to ensure successful language learning programs for children with ASD, it is essential that educators and parents collaborate in order to make the programs successful. Moreover, this study demonstrates various methods that educators and parents could use in order to assist children in achieving bilingualism. The study recommends that more research is needed to fully comprehend the difficulties that ESL teachers face when they are trying to teach children with ASD how to learn languages.

Use of Digital Tools to Support Productive ESL Skills: Secondary ESL Teachers’ Insights Post COVID-19 Pandemic

Use of Digital Tools to Support Productive ESL Skills: Secondary ESL Teachers’ Insights Post COVID-19 Pandemic

The Needs Analysis of ESL Learners’ Expository Writing Challenges: Perspectives of ESL Teachers

The Needs Analysis of ESL Learners’ Expository Writing Challenges: Perspectives of ESL Teachers

ESL teaching methods and approaches: Essential strategies for encouraging effective language acquisition.

The present study contributes to the field of English as a Second Language education by examining the effectiveness of different teaching methods, including interactive techniques, technology integration, and culturally responsive teaching strategies. By relying on a mixed-methods research methodology that relied on a triangulation of classroom observations, literature review, and ESL teacher surveys, this study identified several strategies that may have a positive impact on language learning. In particular, the results suggested that interactive activities improve student engagement and promote hands-on practical language application, technology use in classrooms ensures inclusivity and supports the diverse needs of learners via multimedia supports, and culturally responsive teaching that integrates students’ social and cultural backgrounds into the learning process increases relevance and motivation. The current paper also addresses the implications of these findings for ESL practitioners and lists potential avenues for further studies that could help advance ESL pedagogy in the future. The results of the study serve as a call to ESL teachers to employ these methods in their classrooms and modify them to fit their specific teaching and learning context to promote the effectiveness of this type of language instruction and inclusivity within classrooms.

Learning Strategies Used by ESL Students in Learning English at Capiz National High School, Philippines

Learning strategies encompass deliberate techniques and methods employed by individuals to optimize their acquisition and comprehension of information or skills. Among the categories of language learning strategies frequently utilized are memory, cognitive, compensatory, metacognitive, affective, and social strategies, all of which serve as valuable tools for enhancing language acquisition efficiency. Consequently, this study aims to assess the utilization level of language learning strategies, determining the extent to which students employ these strategies, and identifying the most and least utilized strategies in learning English. For data collection, this research adopted Oxford's Strategy Inventory Language Learning (SILL) questionnaire version 7.0. Employing quantitative descriptive methods, data were gathered from 42 Capiz National High School ESL students. The findings revealed a tendency among students to utilize strategies in their English learning endeavors, with cognitive strategies being the most frequently employed and affective strategies being the least used. These results underscore the importance for ESL teachers to tailor teaching methods, materials, and activities to align with students' preferred strategies, thereby supporting language learning effectively. Additionally, future studies are recommended to utilize larger and more diverse samples to further explore the relationships between learning strategies and other variables in greater depth.

Enhancing students’ L2 writing skills online: a case study of an introductory English literature course for ESL students

Abstract This research paper is based on a case study of an introductory English literature course that is being offered at a community college in Hong Kong, China. The 2020–2021 cohort was unique as it had the entire course online using Zoom without any face-to-face or hybrid teaching, which was considered the “new normal” of higher education under the pandemic. This study employs narrative inquiry (Barkhuizen, G. (2014). Revisiting narrative frames: An instrument for investigating language teaching and learning. System, 47, 12–27; Clandinin, D. J. (2016). Engaging in narrative inquiry. Routledge), semi-structured interviews, and analysis of student essays to demonstrate that online essay consultations and collaborative writing are useful for enhancing the essay writing skills of second language learners. The paper specifically reports and highlights how individual Zoom essay consultations, together with collaborative writing on Padlet, scaffold and enhance students’ essay writing and critical thinking skills. Essentially, the paper argues that online technologies expand the dimension of literature education and empower it as a form of content-based ESL instruction for long-term use.

Malaysian ESL Teachers’ Language Assessment Literacy Issues in Implementing CEFR-Aligned Classroom-Based Assessment: How to Deal with Them?

Malaysian ESL Teachers’ Language Assessment Literacy Issues in Implementing CEFR-Aligned Classroom-Based Assessment: How to Deal with Them?

Examining Labuan ESL Teachers’ Mastery of TPACK in the Teaching of English

Examining Labuan ESL Teachers’ Mastery of TPACK in the Teaching of English

EFL Teachers’ Attitudes towards Mobile Teaching Affordances: A Mokken Scale Analysis

In contemporary education settings, the expeditious advancement of mobile devices, wireless communications and network infrastructures has emerged as a crucial issue. Although mobile technology capabilities and affordances have attracted considerable attention, there is a lack of a valid scale for evaluating mobile teaching affordances. Therefore, this research sought to develop and validate a 36-item inventory of mobile teaching affordances. To accomplish this objective, 204 EFL teachers in this research utilising the convenience sampling method. The data was analysed using the Mokken scale analysis. The study results indicated that 10 out of 36 items should be deleted to optimise the utilisation of the data. Consequently, the study created a valid and reliable 26-item inventory that could be used to measure mobile teaching affordance in EFL or ESL teaching contexts. The research findings suggested that the newly created scale is an invaluable instrument for evaluating the perspectives of EFL teachers regarding the potential benefits of mobile teaching. Furthermore, it can effectively pinpoint areas where teachers may require further development in their understanding of and proficiency in utilising mobile teaching methods. These revelations can also act as a basis for developing instructional programmes aimed at empowering EFL teachers to seamlessly incorporate mobile devices into their pedagogical approaches, thereby enhancing their overall effectiveness. The study’s findings can be used by teachers, learners and researchers in educational systems.

Correlations Between Motivation and Language Proficiency: A Stimulus Appraisal-Based Study on Indian Undergraduate ESL Learners

understood as a product of the stimulus appraisal system, and writing proficiency in English among undergraduate Indian ESL learners. The principal objective of the study was to analyze the correlation between the undergraduate Indian ESL learner’s motivational sub-checks/constructs, constituted using the stimulus appraisal (SA) theory of affect, and their writing proficiency in English. Additionally, it also attempted to understand the influence of sex and academic disciplines on the correlations. An ESL motivation survey was conducted using a modified version of the Attitude and Motivation Test Battery (Gardner, 1985) on students (N>350) studying in undergraduate programs in the academic disciplines of engineering, humanities, and medical sciences selected using criterion-based sampling, followed by a writing proficiency test in English. It was observed that need/compatibility factors did not significantly correlate with ESL writing proficiency in any of the three subsamples. ESL classroom-related factors within the pleasantness/novelty construct, on the other hand, significantly correlated with ESL writing proficiency. It is hoped that the insights obtained in the study should potentially help design more empirically informed pedagogical methods of ESL teaching.

The Effect of Paper Reading Versus Screen Reading on the Inferential Reading Performance among University ESL Learners

Contemporary ESL education focuses on screen-based reading, specifically in the context of university level learners. Also, a sudden shift from paper bound reading activities to screen-based tasks was inevitable in response to COVID-19 outbreak. In this regard, the case of inferential and advanced level reading among the young ESL learners of developing countries appears researchable because of the general low digital literacy of these learners. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate the effect of reading mode shift from paper to screen on the inferential comprehension performance among Pakistani ESL learners at university level. A total of 426 undergraduate learners were sampled from Bachelor of Science program in a well-known university in the city of Lahore, Pakistan. Inferential reading was conceptualized through Bloom’s higher order thinking skills, that is, Analyzing, Evaluating and Creating skills therefore the reading comprehension test was based on these skills. Adopting sequential test administration, first the paper-based reading test, and later the screen-based reading was given. The obtained data were analyzed using Rendell’s XCALIBRE and SPSS V. 26.0. The logit scale descriptives, learner ability (θ), and mean scores demonstrated that the learners performed significantly higher in the paper test as compared to screen test. Moreover, it was found that the effect of reading mode shift was larger in Creating skill. The findings may have significant implications for reading mode selection, enhancement of digital competence and effect of reading mode shift in developing countries with inadequate IT facilitation and digital literacy among ESL learners.

Learning achievement in purposive communication of ESL college students: A blended learning approach

With the ongoing studies of blended learning in different areas, the study contrasts blended learning with online classes by analyzing pre/post-test scores, grades, and activity scores, indicating blended learning might offer superior outcomes. Additionally, it explores college students’ experiences in a blended learning class, providing insights into its effectiveness and areas for improvement. Participants are engineering students from Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges, Camarines Sur, Philippines, which includes 45 participants for each group (controlled and experimental groups). The study was based on a triangulation approach of integrating Independent Samples T-test and Multiple Regression Analysis for quantitative data and semi-structured interviews for qualitative insights. Accordingly, certain activities were crucial in improving non-verbal communication, persuasive writing, and research skills that led to confidence build-up and improved students’ performances. Narrative descriptions give more enlightening information about boosted confidence and better presentation competence due to better communication skills. Writing skills go a long way in improving students’ academic achievement, and Research and writing practices are essential skills that help students achieve higher grades. Integrating the qualitative narratives and quantitative results adds credibility to the study since it gives a different perspective on the blended learning environment. The recommendations to instructors and instructional designers call for blending unique instruction methods, multimedia content, and individualized feedback options. It is also advised to make pedagogical revisions for less impactful activities and provide customized exercises to build student confidence. Finally, this study illustrates the transformative capabilities of blended learning to enhance ESL teaching practice. The insights deepen pedagogue practices and broadly contribute to ongoing discussions around effective ESL education strategies toward better learning.

UTILISING GOOGLE CLASSROOM TO DEVELOP LINGUISTIC ACCURACY IN WRITING AMONG ESL LEARNERS

In the era of globalisation, the education system in Malaysia has undergone multiple drastic changes from time to time. A different education strategy is essential to impact students' success positively. In the Malaysian education system, Google Classroom replaced VLE-Frog to enhance teaching and learning in Malaysian schools. Technology has gained importance in all stages of education, and Google Classroom is one such tool that is free and has gained popularity quickly. The spread of COVID-19 has affected multiple sectors, including Malaysia's education sector. The decision to close schools during the Movement Control Order (MCO) has caused a severe problem for the learning environment. Therefore, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has taken proactive steps to solve this problem. Most schools carried out online teaching during this period. Teaching and learning recently emphasised online platforms, where Google Classroom is the primary application used in the Malaysian education system. As a teaching aid, Google Classroom can make learning more meaningful and effective. Therefore, this research investigates Google Classroom's effectiveness in developing linguistic accuracy in writing among ESL learners. Findings conclude that Google Classroom is a practical application to enhance linguistic accuracy in writing. Google Classroom is expected to be an essential application for learning English among Malaysian secondary school students. Currently, students have accepted using Google Classroom as a new learning norm. The positive outcomes observed in terms of linguistic accuracy suggest that Google Classroom has the potential to revolutionize the field of ESL education. However, it is essential to acknowledge that effective implementation requires thoughtful pedagogical strategies and ongoing teacher professional development. Additionally, digital access and technological literacy should be considered to ensure equitable educational opportunities for all ESL learners.

The influence of cross-language similarity and transparency on idiom knowledge in non-immersed L2 speakers

Idioms are frequently used by native speakers but pose challenges for L2 learners. In this study, we aimed to identify the key psycholinguistic properties that predict L2 idiom knowledge among non-immersed speakers. A total of 53 Chilean L2 English speakers participated in an online idiom knowledge test, requiring them to recognize the figurative meanings of 99 English idioms and rate their transparency. The results showed that cross-language similarity and transparency, in conjunction with familiarity, significantly predicted L2 idiom knowledge. Conversely, literal plausibility, decomposability, frequency, and predictability did not significantly impact L2 idiom knowledge. Our findings support the Parasitic Hypothesis of vocabulary development and suggest that non-immersed L2 learners heavily rely on their L1 lexical and conceptual networks. The study underscores the importance of semantic transparency and cross-language similarity in L2 idiom acquisition, particularly for learners in non-immersive environments. Our findings advocate for a proficiency-tailored ESL instruction approach. Initially, focus on teaching transparent idioms and those similar to the learners' native language for better comprehension and retention. As proficiency increases, gradually introduce idioms without cross-language parallels to enhance comprehensive linguistic mastery. This approach offers practical insights for language education and applied linguistics.

Application of AI Technologies in Teaching ESL and ESP at Agro-Technical Higher Educational Institutions

Application of AI Technologies in Teaching ESL and ESP at Agro-Technical Higher Educational Institutions

Role Of Communicative Language Teaching Approaches In Strengthening English Language Speaking Skills In ESL Learners

This qualitative study explores ESL teachers' perspectives on the role of communicative language teaching (CLT) approaches in strengthening English language speaking skills among ESL learners. Fifteen ESL teachers from diverse educational backgrounds participated in semi-structured interviews, which were analyzed thematically to identify key themes and patterns. The findings revealed that teachers generally perceive CLT as effective in enhancin[1]g ESL speaking skills, citing the value of communicative activities in promoting authentic language use and fostering fluency and confidence among learners. However, teachers also encountered challenges in implementing CLT methodologies, including large class sizes, limited resources, and time constraints. Nonetheless, they emphasized the importance of adaptation and flexibility in overcoming these challenges and providing meaningful language instruction. The study underscores the dynamic nature of language teaching and the need for ongoing professional development and support for ESL teachers. Suggestions for enhancing language teaching practice include providing professional development opportunities, supporting classroom adaptation, promoting flexibility in instruction, advocating for policy changes, and encouraging reflective practice. By implementing these suggestions, institutions and educators can create supportive learning environments where ESL learners have the opportunity to develop their English language speaking skills authentically and effectively.

Teacher learning in Hong Kong: primary English language teachers’ cognitions about online teaching to survive or thrive during COVID-19

ABSTRACT This study aimed to explore ESL teachers’ perceptions of online teaching during the COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong. A qualitative multiple-case study approach was employed, focusing on the online teaching experiences of three teachers in primary school contexts. Through semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, rich data were collected and analysed. The findings revealed five prominent challenges faced by the teachers, including inadequate infrastructure, limited technical support and training, classroom management issues, teachers’ limited technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPCK) in ELT, students’ unreadiness and lack of parental support. The study also identified three opportunities arising from online teaching, such as changes in teachers’ attitudes and beliefs in technology, opportunities for teacher learning and experimenting with online teaching practice for pedagogical innovations. Despite the significant challenges encountered, the teachers perceived the online teaching experiences as opportunities to enhance their teaching competence with technology. This study has substantial implications, calling for strategic governmental measures to improve online learning in schools, highlighting the need to integrate technology-focused pedagogies into teacher education, revising outdated school curriculums to enhance students’ digital literacy, providing financial support for disadvantaged students, encouraging parental involvement in online learning and fostering collaborative professional learning communities to enhance English teachers’ TPACK.

Panel Discussion as a Teaching Tool in the EFL Classroom

This article seeks to provide a comprehensive review of panel discussions, focusing on the procedures for conducting them and the advantages of incorporating them as a teaching tool in the ESL classroom. Despite the limited existing literature on the use of panel discussions in educational settings, this review aims to shed light on the potential benefits of this approach. Panel discussions offer numerous advantages when employed as a teaching strategy in ESL classrooms, particularly in enhancing students' speaking skills and promoting active engagement. The benefits of utilizing panel discussions in ESL instruction are manifold and warrant further exploration. This teaching method can be particularly beneficial for ESL students as it encourages collaborative learning, fosters critical thinking, and improves communication skills. By engaging in panel discussions, students have the opportunity to express their thoughts, listen to diverse perspectives, and develop their speaking abilities in a supportive environment. Moreover, the Zone of Proximal Development theory proposed by Lev Vygotsky provides a theoretical framework for understanding the effectiveness of panel discussions in the ESL classroom. This theory emphasizes the importance of scaffolding and peer interaction in facilitating learning and cognitive development. By leveraging the Zone of Proximal Development, educators can optimize the use of panel discussions to create a dynamic and interactive learning environment that enhances students' language proficiency and overall academic growth.