This document reports on a study that compared the perceptions of effective teacher behaviors between graduates from two English teacher preparation programs in Turkey: the English Language and Literature (ELL) department and the English Language Teaching (ELT) department. The study administered a questionnaire to ELL and ELT pre-service teachers and conducted independent samples t-tests to analyze differences between the groups. Interviews were also conducted with select participants. The results found no significant differences between the groups' perceptions of most categories, except for error correction, where perceptions differed significantly.
A Comparative Study of American English File and New Headway English CourseAJHSSR Journal
ABSTRACT: Textbooks play an essential role in the language learning process. The difficulty is that among a wide range of textbooks in the market,there are a lot ofoptions which make the process of book selection even harder. Therefore, book evaluation is a vital process, and it has great impact on the process of learning and teaching. In order to evaluate ELT textbooks, theorists and writers have offered different kinds of evaluative frameworks based on a number of principles and criteria. To this end, two EFL textbooks namely New Headway English Courseand American English File which are commonly taught in language institutes in Iranwere selected for evaluation by seeking the teachers’ viewpoints on the effectiveness of the two textbooks. Twenty ELT teachers helped the researcher rate the evaluative checklists. A modified version of [1] teacher textbook evaluation form was used to collect data.The results indicated that the differences between the two textbooks were not significant in four features including practical considerations, layout and design, activities, and skills, but they proved to be different in some other features including language type as well as subject and content.
Efforts to Improve Students' Ability to Write Text in the Form of Procedures ...M. Ifaldi Sidik
This study aims to obtain information and find out about Efforts to
Improve Students' Ability to Write Text in the Form of Procedure
through the Make a Match Learning Model in Class IX.4 of SMP
Negeri 1 Batang Anai. This type of research is classroom action
research with research subjects being grade IX.4 students of SMP
Negeri 1 Batang Anai with a total of 32 students. This study consisted
of two cycles, where the first cycle was carried out at meetings 1 and
2 and the second cycle was carried out at meetings 3 and 4. Each cycle
consisted of four stages of research, namely planning, implementing
actions, observing and reflecting. To obtain research data three
instruments were used, namely observation sheets, field notes, and
test sheets, which were analyzed qualitatively using percentages.
Based on the results of the study showed that the learning activities
of class IX.4 students using the make a match learning model
increased from initial conditions, cycle I and cycle II
An Evaluation of the New Interchange SeriesAJHSSR Journal
ABSTRACT: In language teaching and learning, textbooks can play a very important role. As Riazi (2002)
stated,textbooks are the second effective factor in every classroom after the teacher. Therefore, choosing an
appropriate textbook for a class has been one of the most essential tasks for teachers and curriculum planners.
Thus, it is clear that evaluating a textbook is of great importance in order to achieve the desired objectives.In
this paper, Littlejohn‟s framework (1998) is employed in this attempt with the aim of evaluating the New
Interchange Serieswritten by Richards, Hull and Proctor (2006). This framework evaluates theselected textbook
regardless of how it is used in the classroom. In sum, the analysis indicated that the New Interchange
Seriesdon‟temploy learners or the teachers as a source for its content; rather, they pay attention mainly on pair
works and meaning. They also encourage students to use the language, andmore importantly they usually
require them to talk and discuss rather than to be a listener.However, there were some parts, including
retrieving, repetition and written extended discourse, that need to be taken into better consideration.
A Comparative Study of American English File and New Headway English CourseAJHSSR Journal
ABSTRACT: Textbooks play an essential role in the language learning process. The difficulty is that among a wide range of textbooks in the market,there are a lot ofoptions which make the process of book selection even harder. Therefore, book evaluation is a vital process, and it has great impact on the process of learning and teaching. In order to evaluate ELT textbooks, theorists and writers have offered different kinds of evaluative frameworks based on a number of principles and criteria. To this end, two EFL textbooks namely New Headway English Courseand American English File which are commonly taught in language institutes in Iranwere selected for evaluation by seeking the teachers’ viewpoints on the effectiveness of the two textbooks. Twenty ELT teachers helped the researcher rate the evaluative checklists. A modified version of [1] teacher textbook evaluation form was used to collect data.The results indicated that the differences between the two textbooks were not significant in four features including practical considerations, layout and design, activities, and skills, but they proved to be different in some other features including language type as well as subject and content.
Efforts to Improve Students' Ability to Write Text in the Form of Procedures ...M. Ifaldi Sidik
This study aims to obtain information and find out about Efforts to
Improve Students' Ability to Write Text in the Form of Procedure
through the Make a Match Learning Model in Class IX.4 of SMP
Negeri 1 Batang Anai. This type of research is classroom action
research with research subjects being grade IX.4 students of SMP
Negeri 1 Batang Anai with a total of 32 students. This study consisted
of two cycles, where the first cycle was carried out at meetings 1 and
2 and the second cycle was carried out at meetings 3 and 4. Each cycle
consisted of four stages of research, namely planning, implementing
actions, observing and reflecting. To obtain research data three
instruments were used, namely observation sheets, field notes, and
test sheets, which were analyzed qualitatively using percentages.
Based on the results of the study showed that the learning activities
of class IX.4 students using the make a match learning model
increased from initial conditions, cycle I and cycle II
An Evaluation of the New Interchange SeriesAJHSSR Journal
ABSTRACT: In language teaching and learning, textbooks can play a very important role. As Riazi (2002)
stated,textbooks are the second effective factor in every classroom after the teacher. Therefore, choosing an
appropriate textbook for a class has been one of the most essential tasks for teachers and curriculum planners.
Thus, it is clear that evaluating a textbook is of great importance in order to achieve the desired objectives.In
this paper, Littlejohn‟s framework (1998) is employed in this attempt with the aim of evaluating the New
Interchange Serieswritten by Richards, Hull and Proctor (2006). This framework evaluates theselected textbook
regardless of how it is used in the classroom. In sum, the analysis indicated that the New Interchange
Seriesdon‟temploy learners or the teachers as a source for its content; rather, they pay attention mainly on pair
works and meaning. They also encourage students to use the language, andmore importantly they usually
require them to talk and discuss rather than to be a listener.However, there were some parts, including
retrieving, repetition and written extended discourse, that need to be taken into better consideration.
This is an experimental study based on exploring the effectiveness of task based language teaching (TBLT) in improving graduate students’ descriptive writing as well as their perception of task based language teaching. The accessible population taken in this study is 410 students enrolled in Graduation at Khawja Fareed Govt. Post Graduate College Rahim Yar Khan. 60 male students have been administered a TOEFL structure test to bring homogeneity. They have been divided into two equal groups randomly. Thus two groups were formed one the treatment group and the other control one. Experimental and control class data were collected through written tests and questionnaires. Written pre and post tests were administered to both classes. Questionnaires were given to the students in experimental group after each of 12 treatment tasks. Data from written pre and post-test and questionnaires were analysed quantitatively. Percentage analysis was run to observe improvement between the groups. Test results revealed highly significant difference in favour of the treatment group. The study also demonstrated treatment groups’ general perception of task based language teaching positively. Findings of this study are inspiring for the teachers to adopt task based language teaching to improve students’ descriptive writing.
What Does Effective Writing Instruction Look Like? Practices of Exemplary Wr...TDWolsey
Abstract
Recent research indicates that pre-service teachers receive insufficient instruction in the teaching of writing (Graham, et al., 2014). A study of 50 U.S. teachers in preparation found that only about 25% had a writing-intensive methods course in their program (Myers, et al., 2016). Using constructivist grounded theory, researchers investigated the modes and methods of 18 teacher educators across the U.S., the content of writing methods courses, how they structured learning experiences for new teachers, and the theoretical and practical models of writing that were employed.Data were gathered through collection of course syllabi and interviews with writing faculty. Data were analyzed through open coding for themes. The research team triangulated the data for reliability and did member checks to refine the themes. Findings showed that exemplary writing instructors viewed writing as a tool of power for social justice. They sought to develop teacher candidates who saw themselves as writers by employing a process writing approach across a variety of genres, taught in writing methods classes. The implications and the applications to k-12 classrooms will be discussed in the session.
A Study of the Effects of Competitive Team-Based Learning and Structured Academic Controversy on the Language Proficiency of Iranian EFL College Seniors
Seyed Mohammad Hassan Hosseini, PhD (TESOL)
E-mail: mhhosseini73@yahoo.com
• This article was published at the International Journal of Adult Vocational Education and Technology, 3 (2012): 54-69.
See http://beyondelt.blogfa.com
The aims of this study are firstly to find out whether tasks that are designed based on the students’ learning style specification are compatible with students’ language achievements, and secondly to find out factors that might affect the language achievements and the learning styles. The research was undertaken in 6 private tertiary educations involving first year students who learn English as a compulsory subject at these institutions. A 40-item questionnaire adapted from Yufrizal (2007) was distrubuted to 380 students resulting students with four learning styles: communicative, concrete, authority oriented and analytic. One group repeated measures design was carried out in this research. The students are taught and tested in four different assignment adjusted to their learning styles. The results show that there is a congruency between students’ learning style and their designed tasks. Students with communicative learning style were more dominant in conversation and students with analytic learning style were more dominant in tasks that required language analytical skill. Furthermore, gender seemed to be an important factor that contribute to the students’ language achievement and learning styles.
This study attempted to examine the effects of flipped classroom instruction on Iranian EFL learners’ writing skill. To fulfill the objective of the study, 48 Iranian upper-intermediate participants were selected through administrating the Oxford Quick Placement Test (OQPT). Then, they were divided into two groups; one experimental group and one control group. Then, both groups were pretested by a writing test. After that, the researcher put the participants of the experimental group in a flipped classroom. The flipped classroom was equipped with Internet, computer and projector and participants in this classroom were allowed to bring their Smartphones to the classroom and use them during learning. The control group was exposed to traditional instruction in the class. This procedure continued till the last session. The results of independent samples t-test and one-way ANCOCA revealed that the experimental group outperformed the control group on the post-test. In addition, the results showed that there was a significant difference between the performances of the experimental group and the control group on the post-test.
A special feature of class interaction discourse relates to typical elements of context. The elements of the context include the participants, the background, the topic, the nature of the message, and the message tone. Teachers are more dominant to organize the course of teaching and learning activities, such as topic selection, topic development, and control of conversation topics or learning topics. Teachers determine the direction of a conversation or turntaking, ie when an opportunity is given to students to speak and when to take the rotation-said. The characteristics of learning conversations are (1) the participants are teachers and students, (2) the conversation is done during the teaching and learning activities, (3) the conversation has a purpose, and the topic is related to the learning objectives. In addition teachers also have certain rights that usually appear in the teacher-centered classroom. These rights include (a) participating in all interactions, (b) initiating interactions, (c) determining the time to participate, (d) determining who is given the opportunity to interact, (e) determining who gets a turn more than once, and (f) closing the interaction. The mechanism of teacher-student turntaking in classroom learning activities can be done by (1) getting opportunities (2) stealing opportunities, (3) seizing opportunities, (4) replacing, and (5) continuing.
Exploring ESL Teacher Beliefs and Classroom Practices of CLT: A Case StudyMohammad Mosiur Rahman
This paper presents a case study that investigated and compared the stated beliefs
and observed classroom practices relating to Communicative Language Teaching
(CLT) of two ESL teachers. The findings of the study revealed that both the
teachers hold similar complex beliefs that mostly contradict the philosophy of
CLT. The practices were not in line with their stated belief or CLT principles
either. The findings also indicate that teachers indeed possess a set of complex
beliefs that are not always realized in their classroom practices for a variety of
potential reasons: some of these might be directly related to the context of
teaching. Additionally, this study found that by articulating and reflecting on his
beliefs, the teacher became more aware of the meaning and impact of these beliefs on his classroom practices. Some implications of future studies have also discussed.
This is an experimental study based on exploring the effectiveness of task based language teaching (TBLT) in improving graduate students’ descriptive writing as well as their perception of task based language teaching. The accessible population taken in this study is 410 students enrolled in Graduation at Khawja Fareed Govt. Post Graduate College Rahim Yar Khan. 60 male students have been administered a TOEFL structure test to bring homogeneity. They have been divided into two equal groups randomly. Thus two groups were formed one the treatment group and the other control one. Experimental and control class data were collected through written tests and questionnaires. Written pre and post tests were administered to both classes. Questionnaires were given to the students in experimental group after each of 12 treatment tasks. Data from written pre and post-test and questionnaires were analysed quantitatively. Percentage analysis was run to observe improvement between the groups. Test results revealed highly significant difference in favour of the treatment group. The study also demonstrated treatment groups’ general perception of task based language teaching positively. Findings of this study are inspiring for the teachers to adopt task based language teaching to improve students’ descriptive writing.
What Does Effective Writing Instruction Look Like? Practices of Exemplary Wr...TDWolsey
Abstract
Recent research indicates that pre-service teachers receive insufficient instruction in the teaching of writing (Graham, et al., 2014). A study of 50 U.S. teachers in preparation found that only about 25% had a writing-intensive methods course in their program (Myers, et al., 2016). Using constructivist grounded theory, researchers investigated the modes and methods of 18 teacher educators across the U.S., the content of writing methods courses, how they structured learning experiences for new teachers, and the theoretical and practical models of writing that were employed.Data were gathered through collection of course syllabi and interviews with writing faculty. Data were analyzed through open coding for themes. The research team triangulated the data for reliability and did member checks to refine the themes. Findings showed that exemplary writing instructors viewed writing as a tool of power for social justice. They sought to develop teacher candidates who saw themselves as writers by employing a process writing approach across a variety of genres, taught in writing methods classes. The implications and the applications to k-12 classrooms will be discussed in the session.
A Study of the Effects of Competitive Team-Based Learning and Structured Academic Controversy on the Language Proficiency of Iranian EFL College Seniors
Seyed Mohammad Hassan Hosseini, PhD (TESOL)
E-mail: mhhosseini73@yahoo.com
• This article was published at the International Journal of Adult Vocational Education and Technology, 3 (2012): 54-69.
See http://beyondelt.blogfa.com
The aims of this study are firstly to find out whether tasks that are designed based on the students’ learning style specification are compatible with students’ language achievements, and secondly to find out factors that might affect the language achievements and the learning styles. The research was undertaken in 6 private tertiary educations involving first year students who learn English as a compulsory subject at these institutions. A 40-item questionnaire adapted from Yufrizal (2007) was distrubuted to 380 students resulting students with four learning styles: communicative, concrete, authority oriented and analytic. One group repeated measures design was carried out in this research. The students are taught and tested in four different assignment adjusted to their learning styles. The results show that there is a congruency between students’ learning style and their designed tasks. Students with communicative learning style were more dominant in conversation and students with analytic learning style were more dominant in tasks that required language analytical skill. Furthermore, gender seemed to be an important factor that contribute to the students’ language achievement and learning styles.
This study attempted to examine the effects of flipped classroom instruction on Iranian EFL learners’ writing skill. To fulfill the objective of the study, 48 Iranian upper-intermediate participants were selected through administrating the Oxford Quick Placement Test (OQPT). Then, they were divided into two groups; one experimental group and one control group. Then, both groups were pretested by a writing test. After that, the researcher put the participants of the experimental group in a flipped classroom. The flipped classroom was equipped with Internet, computer and projector and participants in this classroom were allowed to bring their Smartphones to the classroom and use them during learning. The control group was exposed to traditional instruction in the class. This procedure continued till the last session. The results of independent samples t-test and one-way ANCOCA revealed that the experimental group outperformed the control group on the post-test. In addition, the results showed that there was a significant difference between the performances of the experimental group and the control group on the post-test.
A special feature of class interaction discourse relates to typical elements of context. The elements of the context include the participants, the background, the topic, the nature of the message, and the message tone. Teachers are more dominant to organize the course of teaching and learning activities, such as topic selection, topic development, and control of conversation topics or learning topics. Teachers determine the direction of a conversation or turntaking, ie when an opportunity is given to students to speak and when to take the rotation-said. The characteristics of learning conversations are (1) the participants are teachers and students, (2) the conversation is done during the teaching and learning activities, (3) the conversation has a purpose, and the topic is related to the learning objectives. In addition teachers also have certain rights that usually appear in the teacher-centered classroom. These rights include (a) participating in all interactions, (b) initiating interactions, (c) determining the time to participate, (d) determining who is given the opportunity to interact, (e) determining who gets a turn more than once, and (f) closing the interaction. The mechanism of teacher-student turntaking in classroom learning activities can be done by (1) getting opportunities (2) stealing opportunities, (3) seizing opportunities, (4) replacing, and (5) continuing.
Exploring ESL Teacher Beliefs and Classroom Practices of CLT: A Case StudyMohammad Mosiur Rahman
This paper presents a case study that investigated and compared the stated beliefs
and observed classroom practices relating to Communicative Language Teaching
(CLT) of two ESL teachers. The findings of the study revealed that both the
teachers hold similar complex beliefs that mostly contradict the philosophy of
CLT. The practices were not in line with their stated belief or CLT principles
either. The findings also indicate that teachers indeed possess a set of complex
beliefs that are not always realized in their classroom practices for a variety of
potential reasons: some of these might be directly related to the context of
teaching. Additionally, this study found that by articulating and reflecting on his
beliefs, the teacher became more aware of the meaning and impact of these beliefs on his classroom practices. Some implications of future studies have also discussed.
Effects of Team Teaching on Students’ Academic Achievement In English Languag...iosrjce
:This study examined the effects of Team Teaching Approach (TTA) on the achievement of students in
English language comprehension and how the effects vary across gender. The study employed non randomized
pretest-posttest control group quasi experimental design. Intact classes were therefore assigned to the
experimental and control groups. The population consisted of 5,171 senior secondary two students made up of
2,407 males and 2,764 females in Onitsha education zone of Anambra State. A total of 189 students (97 males
and 92 females) randomly selected from four public secondary schools constituted the sample. Two of the
schools selected were used as experimental group while the other two were used as the control group. Two
research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. Data were collected with one comprehension
passage. Data generated were analysed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions
while Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test the hypotheses. The major findings showed that the
students taught English language comprehension with team teaching approach achieved significantly higher
than those of the control group who were taught with single teacher teaching approach. The female students in
TTA group achieved significantly higher than their male counterparts Based on the finding of this study, it was
recommended that team teaching approach should be adopted as a more effective approach to teaching and
learning English language comprehension in public secondary schools to enhance academic achievement of
students in the subject.
The Mismatch between EAP Teachers’ Beliefs and Classroom Practices toward For...AJHSSR Journal
ABSTRACT: Beliefs are formed through personal experiences and the interactions that individuals are involved in daily life (Hsieh, 2002). These beliefs can be transformed into attitudes, which in turn affect intentions, and decisions are formed through the intentions that lead to the action (Bauch,1984). The match or mismatch between instructors’ beliefs and practices, between instructors’ cognitions and their authentic practices in the classroom are two main fields of the teaching process (Clark & Peterson, 1986). However, teachers may not always apply what they believe in the classroom. This study aims to reveal the discrepancy between what they believe theoretically and what they do in the classroom. To this end, three instruments were used in this study: (1) classroom observations, (2) semi-structured interviews, and (3) a questionnaire. The
Examining the Impact of Training and Nativeness on Teacher’s self-efficacy in...SubmissionResearchpa
The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of training and 'nativeness' on teacher's self-efficacy in teaching English as a second language. A questionnaire was used and administered to 281 foreign teachers in Nasseria, Iraq. The teacher’s sense of efficacy scale (TSES) was employed to measure a teacher's self-efficacy. Using MANOVA, we tested the impact of teachers’ training and 'nativeness' on a teacher’s self-efficacy. The analysis showed that trained teachers have higher self-efficacy than untrained teachers and further that professional development enhances self-efficacy. The study established that being a native speaker does not necessarily influence a teacher's self-efficacy and goes to support the hypothesis that target language proficiency should not be associated with being a language teacher. Ultimately, policymakers and educational administrators should concentrate on the professional development of language teachers and disband the native/non-native dichotomy by Lina Lafta Jassim 2020. Examining the Impact of Training and Nativeness on Teacher’s self-efficacy in teaching English. International Journal on Integrated Education. 3, 8 (Aug. 2020), 53-69. DOI:https://doi.org/10.31149/ijie.v3i8.537 https://journals.researchparks.org/index.php/IJIE/article/view/537/513 https://journals.researchparks.org/index.php/IJIE/article/view/537
Examining the Impact of Training and Nativeness on Teacher’s self-efficacy in...SubmissionResearchpa
The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of training and 'nativeness' on teacher's self-efficacy in teaching English as a second language. A questionnaire was used and administered to 281 foreign teachers in Nasseria, Iraq. The teacher’s sense of efficacy scale (TSES) was employed to measure a teacher's self-efficacy. Using MANOVA, we tested the impact of teachers’ training and 'nativeness' on a teacher’s self-efficacy. The analysis showed that trained teachers have higher self-efficacy than untrained teachers and further that professional development enhances self-efficacy. The study established that being a native speaker does not necessarily influence a teacher's self-efficacy and goes to support the hypothesis that target language proficiency should not be associated with being a language teacher. Ultimately, policymakers and educational administrators should concentrate on the professional development of language teachers and disband the native/non-native dichotomy by Lina Lafta Jassim 2020. Examining the Impact of Training and Nativeness on Teacher’s self-efficacy in teaching English. International Journal on Integrated Education. 3, 8 (Aug. 2020), 81-97. DOI:https://doi.org/10.31149/ijie.v3i8.540 https://journals.researchparks.org/index.php/IJIE/article/view/540/516 https://journals.researchparks.org/index.php/IJIE/article/view/540
The article attempts to examine the importance of balancing linguistic competence and teaching performance in learning and teaching English as a foreign language. It explains, how important is for English of a foreign language has good knowledge of grammar and vocabulary (linguistic competence) as well as strategies or methods (performance) to help students in their classroom. To reach this goal, it is suggested that EFL teachers should be continuously in professional development training to develop these skills.
A comparison between elt and ell graduates with regard to their perceptions of effective teacher behaviours
1. Journal of Education and Practice www.iiste.org
ISSN 2222-1735 (Paper) ISSN 2222-288X (Online)
Vol.5, No.3, 2014
8
A Comparison between ELT and ELL Graduates with regard to
Their Perceptions of Effective Teacher Behaviours
Fadime Yalcin Arslan (Corresponding author)
School of Foreign Languages, University of Gaziantep, 27310, Gaziantep, Turkey
Abstract
It is mostly agreed that learning is a life-long process and teachers are mostly required to be equipped with
sufficient and recent knowledge in their own fields (Torf and Sessions, 2008; Atay, 2006). In Turkey there are
two departments graduating teachers of English. One of them is English Language and Literature (ELL)
department, in which student teachers are exposed to all professional development (PD) courses during the last
one and a half year and they have no chance to digest and practice these courses. The other department is English
Language Teaching Department (ELT), in which all PD courses were spread to all four years of education,
during which student teachers have the chance to digest and practice them. The purpose of this study is to
investigate whether there is a significant difference between English Language Teaching department pre-service
teachers’ and English Language and Literature department pre-service teachers’ perceptions of effective teacher
behaviours. For data collection, a questionnaire prepared by Brown (2009) was used. It was administered to 22
ELL and 22 ELT pre-service teachers. Firstly data were analyzed quantitatively in order to see whether there is a
significant difference between two groups of teachers. Later, an interview, consisting of significant items, was
made with 4 participants from each group in order to confirm the findings gathered from quantitative analysis. It
is considered that the findings may present some significant differences between two groups of teachers. It is
considered that the results of the study may indicate there is a significant difference between these two groups of
teachers’ attitudes about PD.
Key words: teachers’ perceptions, effective teacher
1. Introduction
Foreign language teachers and students may have different perspectives related to effective teaching. The
intersections and differences between the two perspectives may affect language learning and teaching processes
(Brown, 2009). Effective teaching has been identified in different ways by researchers. For instance, Ramsden
(1992, cited in Chireshe, 2011, p.265) defines effective teaching saying, “effective lecturing is lecturing that
creates an environment in which deep learning outcomes for students are made possible, where high quality
student learning is promoted and where superficial approaches to learning are discouraged”. Additionally,
Bastick (1995, cited in Chireshe, 2011, p.265) identifies effective teaching as “increasing student achievement
and course satisfaction”. Similarly, Devlin (2003, cited in Chireshe, 2011, p.265) views it as “lecturing that is
well organized and presented clearly and enthusiastically with variation and student involvement”. When these
descriptions are taken into consideration, it is observed that effective teaching is influenced by many factors such
as learner needs and beliefs; teacher needs and beliefs, and environmental factors. Chireshe (2011) illustrates
some characteristics of effective teachers from various studies (e.g.) as: friendliness, fairness, and preparedness,
being knowledgeable, respecting students, motivating students and good lesson delivery.
Many studies have been carried out in the literature to find out the characteristics of the effective teachers, some
of which are going to be summarized in the current study. One of them is Chireshe, (2011) who aimed to find out
university students’ perceptions about effective and ineffective lecturers. The findings of the study indicated that
an effective lecturer is one who is knowledgeable in the subject area, organized, punctual, delivers well-prepared
lectures, gives clear explanations, gives out handouts, and involves students in the learning/teaching process.
Similarly, Barnes and Lock (2013) inquired into effective foreign language teachers’ qualities. The findings of
the study revealed that students appreciate teachers who lower classroom anxiety, especially while students are
trying to produce target language forms. It was also discovered that teachers should be patient, friendly and
attentive as well as developing personal relationships with their students. The researchers also focused on the
importance of investigating students’ perceptions. They believed that if teachers and students have disparate
notions, students may lack confidence in teachers’ ability and this may lead to loss of motivation resulting in
ineffective learning (Dörnyei, 2001).
Bulut and Üğüten (2003) also contributed to the field and compared students’ and teachers’ perceptions about
English Language Teaching activities. They tried to investigate whether the perceptions of students match with
those of their teachers. The results indicated that the perceptions of the instructors did not always match those of
the students.
2. Journal of Education and Practice www.iiste.org
ISSN 2222-1735 (Paper) ISSN 2222-288X (Online)
Vol.5, No.3, 2014
9
A similar study was conducted by Brosh (2009) in the Israeli context. In the study, the author tried to identify the
characteristics of the effective language teacher as perceived by both language teachers and students. The results
displayed various characteristics associated with the effective language teacher such as the teacher’s command
of the target language, his or her ability to organize, explain and clarify; his or her ability to arouse and sustain
interest and motivation.
Yaman (2004) approached teacher thinking from a constructivist perspective. Teachers’ personal theories
through repertory grid were used to observe teachers in classes and to see their behavioral changes between the
beginning and the end of the study. Using this tool, she was able to visualize the consistency between teachers’
behavioral change and conceptual change.
Clark and Walsh (2002) discussed the elements needed by an effective teacher. Their model emphasizes two
aspects of effective teaching tools. The first aspect relates to the domains of effective teaching that receive most
of the attention in teacher education and evaluation, such as content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and
pedagogical content knowledge. The second aspect that the authors dwell on concerns personal knowledge and
knowledge of context. Through literature and their research Clark and Walsh (2002) classified the components
of effective teacher into four categories: content (discipline) knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and skills, and
knowledge of context and personal knowledge. They emphasized that teachers’ knowledge does not exist in
isolation; they are part of a greater shared knowledge and practice and have a continuing dialogue with it. They
attempted to locate teachers’ knowledge within the physical, social, intellectual and emotional environment that
a teacher inhabits. Thus, “the pedagogical knowledge is bound to the community of practice that the teacher
contributes to. The teacher's knowledge of context exists in a continual dialogue with the actual context:
classroom, school and community. The teacher's personal knowledge is bound into their relationship with those
they relate to, both emotionally and socially”. (p.6)
Another researcher who contributed to the field was Rosenberg (2002). In the study, the author aimed to
investigate six teacher trainers’ assessments of effective teaching in relation to each other and the reasons and
justifications they gave for their judgments. The results demonstrated that each teacher has his/her “own system
of belief with hierarchically organized ideas when it comes to judging what effective teaching is” (p.33).
Brown (2009) also conducted a study, which forms the foundation for the scientific design of our research, in
order to identify and compare students’ and teachers’ ideals of effective teacher behaviors. The results revealed
that there are some differences between teachers’ and students’ perceptions. Although teachers valued
communicative approaches and meaningful information exchange over grammar, their students did not, or at
least appeared not to, value it so much.
As stated above, studies on teachers’ perceptions have been approached from multiple perspectives. They tried to
analyze teachers’ perceptions in different contexts and they compared teachers’ or students’ perceptions. In
relation to these studies, the present study also aims to analyze teachers’ perceptions but from a different
perspective, which is to compare two departments, which train English teachers in Turkey.
One of these departments is English Language and Literature (ELL) department, in which the objective is to give
students a basic understanding of the literature as well as specialized courses in the field. In this department,
students are required to take a certificate including all methodology courses in order to become teachers of
English. This certificate is provided to students after graduation upon the completion of a certificate program that
takes 2 semesters.
The other one is English Language Teaching (ELT) department, which introduces the students to major
theoretical and practical issues in language teaching. In the program, students are required to take all
methodology courses besides other courses required by the program in order to become fully qualified teachers
of English in primary and secondary schools and in higher education institutes in Turkey as well.
The present study contributes to the field by investigating whether there is a significant difference between ELT
and ELL graduate pre-service teachers’ perceptions of effective language teacher behaviors. The detection of a
possible difference between the two groups will have pedagogic and curricular implications regarding the
construction of the language teacher education system in Turkey.
2. Method
2.1. Procedure
In order to describe whether there is a significant difference between ELT and ELL in-service teachers’
perceptions of effective teacher behaviours, Brown’s (2009) study was adapted. The questionnaire prepared by
Brown (2009) was given to ELL pre-service teachers and ELT pre-service teachers. Independent samples t-
tests were conducted so as to find out whether there is any statistically significant difference between two groups
of participants. Later, an interview was conducted with 8 of the participants, which accounts to four participants
in each group, in order to support the results obtained from the quantitative analysis.
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2.2. Participants
The participants for this study were 40 pre-service teachers, who were senior students at two different public
universities in Turkey. 20 of them were ELL students and 20 of them were ELT students. All the participants
were nearly between 21-22 years old.
2.3. The tool
The instrument used in the current study was a questionnaire used by Brown (2009). The author used this
instrument in order to compare both teachers’ and students’ perspectives on L2 teaching practices directly and to
do so in such a way as to allow for individual teacher comparisons (Appendix-A). The questionnaire consists of
seven sub-categories and a total of 24 items. The categories are a) grammar teaching; b) error correction; c)
target language use; d) culture; e) computer-based technology; f) communicative language teaching strategies;
and g) assessment. Appendix B contains a concordance table placing each item on the questionnaire into an
overarching category.
In order to compare students’ and teachers’ perceptions on a large scale, Brown (2009) used a likert-type, closed
response format. Unlike that of Brown’s, the current study, aims to support the data gathered from the
participants with some qualitative data. The rationale behind the use of qualitative data is that likert-type scales
might ignore personal construct theories of the individuals. Therefore, it was thought the analysis of qualitative
data might tell us more about teachers’ perceptions.
2.4. Procedure
The participants were administered the 24-item, likert-type questionnaire in the same week, but on different
days. A week later, the researcher did an interview with four participants from each group in order to support the
results obtained through the questionnaire.
3. Data Collection and Analysis
Data were collected through the “effective teacher questionnaire” by Brown (2009) and an interview.
Independent-samples t-tests were conducted so as to analyse the results obtained from questionnaire
quantitatively. Firstly, the results of the questionnaire were analysed in general; then, they were analysed through
the sub-categories. Finally, in order to support the quantitative data, an interview was conducted and analysed
qualitatively.
3.1. Quantitative analysis of the questionnaire
In order to analyse the data quantitatively, each sub-category was computed and analysed separately.
3.1.1. Analysis for grammar teaching
In order to analyse ELL and ELT teachers’ perceptions of grammar teaching in terms of effective teacher
behaviours, an independent samples t-test was conducted and the results are presented in Table 1.
Table 1. T-test Results for teachers’ perceptions of grammar teaching
DEPARTMENTS N X̄ Sd df t p
ELL 20 8.55 1.57
39 -.276 .32
ELT 21 8.56 1.11
As it is seen in Table 1, ELL teachers’ mean score is 8.55 and ELT teachers’ mean score is 8.56. They are very
close to each other. In addition, the significant value is 0.32 (p<.32). Therefore, it can be said that there is no
significant difference between ELL and ELT teachers’ perceptions of grammar teaching. It can be inferred that
two groups of teachers have the same perceptions about teaching grammar.
3.1.2. Analysis for error correction
ELL and ELT teachers’ perceptions of error correction was analysed with the help of an independent samples t-
test, the results of which are presented in Table 2.
Table 2. T-test results of teachers’ perceptions of error correction
DEPARTMENTS N X̄ Sd df t p
ELL 21 5.33 .91
40 2.85 .00
ELT 21 6.19 1.03
As can be observed in Table 2, ELL teachers’ mean score is 5.33 and ELT teachers’ mean score is 6.19. The
significance value is .00 (p<.00), which clearly indicates that there is a significant difference between ELL and
ELT teachers’ perceptions of error correction. It demonstrates the fact that they have different perception of
error correction.
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3.1.3. Analysis for target language use
ELL and ELT teachers’ perceptions of Target Language Use (TLU) were analysed with an independent samples
t-test and the results are shown in Table 3.
Table 3. T-test results of teachers’ perceptions of TLU
DEPARTMENTS N X̄ Sd df t p
ELL 20 14.20 1.90
40 1.12 .891
ELT 22 13.54 1.87
Table 3 shows that ELL teachers’ mean score is 14.20, while ELT teachers’ mean score is 13.54. The
significance value is .891 (p<.891). Therefore, it can be said that there is no statistically significant difference
between ELL and ELT teachers’ perceptions of TLU.
3.1.4. Analysis for culture
In order to compare ELL and ELT teachers’ perceptions of the role of culture, another independent samples t-test
was conducted and the results are presented in Table 4.
Table 4. T-test results of teachers’ perceptions of culture
DEPARTMENTS N X̄ Sd df t p
ELL 21 4.79 .94
40 -1.22 .1
ELT 21 5.19 1.28
Table 4 illustrates that ELL teachers’ mean score is 4.79 and ELT teachers’ mean score is 5.19. The significance
value is .100 (p<.1). Therefore, it can be said that there is no statistically significant difference between ELL and
ELT teachers’ perceptions of culture.
3.1.5. Analysis for computer-based technology
ELL and ELT teachers’ perceptions of Computer-Based Technology (CBT) were analysed using an independent
samples t-test and the results are shown in Table 5.
Table 5. T-test results of teachers’ perceptions of CBT
DEPARTMENTS N X̄ Sd df t p
ELL 22 1.50 .109
42 .546 .421
ELT 22 1.59 .125
Table 5 shows that ELL teachers’ mean score for CBT is 1.50 and ELT teachers’ mean score is 1.59. The
significance value is .421 (p<.421). Therefore, it can be said that there is no significant difference between ELL
and ELT teachers’ perceptions of CBT.
3.1.6. Analysis for Communicative Language Teaching Strategies
To compare ELL and ELT teachers’ perceptions of communicative language teaching strategies (CLTS), an
independent samples t-test was conducted and the results are presented in Table 6.
Table 6. T-test Results of teachers’ perceptions of CLTS in terms of effective teacher behaviours
DEPARTMENTS N X̄ Sd df t p
ELL 22 15.09 2.42
39 .536 .705
ELT 19 15.47 2.09
Table 6 indicates that there is no significant difference between ELL and ELT teachers’ perceptions of CLTS.
Since ELL teachers’ mean score is 15.09 and ELT teachers’ mean score is 15.47.The significant value is .705
(p<.705).
3.1.7. Analysis for assessment
In order to compare ELL and ELT teachers’ perceptions of assessment, independent samples t-test was
conducted and the results were shown in Table 7.
Table 7. T-test Results of teachers’ perceptions of assessment
DEPARTMENTS N X̄ Sd df t p
ELL 20 8.40 1.78
37 -1 .904 .146
ELT 19 9.36 1.34
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As it is observed in Table 4, ELL teachers’ mean score is 8.40 and ELT teachers’ mean score is 9.36. The
significance value is .146 (p<.146). Therefore, it can be said that there is no significant difference between ELL
and ELT teachers’ perceptions of assessment.
3.2. Analysis of the items
Teachers’ responses to all the items were analysed through independent samples t-tests with the purpose of
identifying whether there are statistically significant differences between the two groups of teachers in terms of
individual items (See Appendix C). Based on the item analysis, it was determined that there are a few significant
differences between the two groups of teachers.
The first one of these differences was about statement 7. ELL and ELT pre-service teachers have differing
perceptions about whether affective language teachers should use mother tongue in the foreign language
classroom.
Another significant difference was obtained related to the item about culture. The participants from the two
groups differed significantly in their perceptions of being knowledgeable about the culture(s) of those who speak
the language as their mother tongue (p>.009). This can be related to their departmental courses because in ELL
departments the focus is on the literature and culture, while in ELT departments the focus is on learning and
teaching the language.
The other significant difference was in terms of statement 15, which states that effective foreign language
teachers should not use predominantly small group or pair work to complete activities in the class (p>.098).
Their perceptions differed in that aspect.
There is a statistically significant difference in terms of statement 21. The statement is about whether effective
language teachers should use predominantly real-life materials in teaching the language and the culture rather
than the textbook (p>.010).
3.3. Qualitative analysis of the data
In order to confirm the results obtained using quantitative data, an interview including questions about the items
for which significant differences were obtained was conducted with the participants.
The first question was about statement 7, which was related to the use of mother tongue in foreign language
classrooms. The responses obtained from ELL graduate teachers were more positive about the use of mother
tongue. The comments about the use of mother tongue did not differ according to the proficiency levels of
students. For example one of the participants commented that:
(1) “If we use our mother tongue in the classroom, the learners will feel more relaxed”.
(2) “We should use it to some extent but not always”.
However, ELT graduate pre-service teachers mostly focused on the use of mother tongue especially in beginner
level classes. To illustrate:
(3) “At the beginning ‘yes’; the teacher can use the mother tongue for explanations”.
(4) “We have to use it at all levels to some extent, especially at the beginning. However, at advanced
levels we should try to use it as little as we can”.
The second question was related to item 9, which was being knowledgeable about the culture of those who use
the language as a mother tongue. ELL graduate pre-service teachers more dominantly focused the importance of
learning the culture of the language community. Some sample sentences from the interviews are as follows:
(5) “Culture is a part of language. If you don’t know about the culture, you may not teach or learn the language”.
(6) “Culture is a dispensable part of language. Cultural features should be known by the teachers.”
ELT department pre-service teachers agreed the importance of it but not as much as ELL ones. For example;
(7) “Language and culture affect each other, so we should learn about it”.
(8) “Since learning about culture enriches our language, we should learn about it”.
The third question was about statement 15, which stated that effective foreign language teachers should not use
predominantly small group or pair work to complete activities in the class. Both groups of teachers agreed with
this statement. ELL pre-service teachers only mentioned that they are necessary in order to make students
participate in the activities and involve all the class members in the activities. However, ELT pre-service
teachers emphasized the importance of these activities better. They focused on the importance of interaction in
language learning, the importance of collaboration during the activities. They also added the drawbacks such as
the fact that shy students may not participate in the lesson actively during these activities.
The responses to whether effective language teacher should use predominantly real-life materials in teaching
both the language and the culture rather than the textbook indicated that both groups are aware of the
importance of using real-life materials.
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In terms of error correction, ELL pre-service teachers emphasized that errors should be corrected explicitly.
However, ELT pre-service teachers stated that it depends on the type of the error and where it is made in the
writing or speaking. They added that speaking in daily life is spontaneous, so we can make errors.
4. Conclusion
When all the findings in the quantitative analysis for the sub-categories are considered, it is seen that there is not
much difference between ELL and ELT graduate pre-service teachers. Their perceptions differ only in terms of
error correction. They approached error correction during teaching from different aspects. It may be due to the
content of courses taken during BA. ELT courses mostly emphasize the process of teaching and learning while
ELL courses mostly focus on literature, language and culture.
From the differences in the item analysis, it can be interpreted that ELL students may have pedagogical
knowledge about teaching language. However, they are not as knowledgeable as ELT students. What they have
in their minds is more superficial. ELT students give more satisfying responses when it comes to teaching and
learning. This judgment is supported by the results gathered through qualitative procedures. When the responses
were analysed, it was understood that ELT students could support their ideas with more specific details while
ELL students give more general responses. This finding may lead us to conclude that the ELT graduates are
more conscious about the process of learning and teaching languages as opposed to ELL graduates.
Through the findings of the current study it can be inferred that there is a slight difference between ELL and
ELT departments’ pre-service teachers’ perception about effective teacher behaviours. In view of this fact,
professional development (PD) stands as a key issue on the agenda of the teacher education programs.
Apparently, there is a need for a long-lasting PD. This can be done either by In-service Teacher Education
planning, which does not work efficiently in the Turkish education system, or PD as a constructivist approach
can be included in the initial teacher education programs so that a more constructivist teacher as a self-agent can
be educated to meet the need.
References
Atay, D. ( 2006). Teachers' Professional Development: Partnerships in Research. Journal TESL-EJ.
Brosh, H.(2009). Perceived characterisitics of the effective language teacher. Foreign language
annals,29(2),125-136.
Brown.A. (2009).Students’ and teachers’ perceptions of effective language teaching: a comparison of ideals.The
modern language journal,93, 46-60.
Bulut, T.& Üğüten, S. (2003). The importance of student perceptions in language teaching. Çukurova
üniversitesi sosyal bilimler enstitüsü dergisi,(11)11,90-99.
Chireshe, R. (2011). Effective and Ineffective lecturers: University students’ perspective in Zimbabwe.
Antropologist, 13(4), 265-269.
Clark, J.C.&Walsh,J. (2002). Elements of a model of effective teachers. Paper presented at Australian
association for research in education conference. Coldstream, Vic., 1-11.
Devlin, M. (2003). Effective Lecturing: A Guide for Sessional Staff at Swinburne University of Technology. In
Chireshe, R. (2011). Effective and Ineffective lecturers: University students’ perspective in Zimbabwe.
Antropologist, 13(4), 265-269.
Dörnyei, Z. (2001). Teaching and researching motivation. London: Longman.
Ramsden, P. (1992). Learning to Teach in Higher Education. In Chireshe, R. (2011). Effective and Ineffective
lecturers: University students’ perspective in Zimbabwe. Antropologist, 13(4), 265-269.
Rossenberg,C (2002). Exploring CertTESOL tutors’ beliefs on effective teaching. ELTED Journal,(7), 23-43.
Torff, B. & Sessions, D. (2008). Factors associated with teachers' attitudes about professional development.
Teacher Education Quarterly.(35), 123-134.
Yaman, Ş.( 2004). A Research Tool In Investigating ELT Teachers’ Thinking: The Repertory Grid Observation
Tool (checklist & Notes). Çukurova üniversitesi sosyal bilimler enstitüsü dergisi,13(2), 219-231.
APPENDIX A
Instructions: Please reflect on your personal beliefs regarding what characterizes effective foreign language
teaching. Carefully read each statement and indicate to what extent you agree or disagree by circling the
statement that bestdescribes your opinion. There are no right or wrong answers, just those that are right for you.
Your sincere, personalresponses will guarantee the success of the study. Thank you.
Fadime YALÇIN
Gaziantep University
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Effective foreign language teachers should Strongly
agree
Agree Disagree Strongly
Disagree
1) frequently use computer-based technologies (Internet,
CD–ROM, email) in teaching the language.
2) base at least some part of students’ grades on completion
of assigned group tasks.
3)devote as much time to the teaching of culture as to the
teaching of language.
4) require students to use the language outside of class with
other speakers of the language (e.g., Internet, email,
clubs, community events, etc.).
5) not correct students immediately after they make a
mistake in speaking.
6) allow students to respond to test questions in listening
and reading via English rather than the foreign language
7) not use English in the foreign language classroom
8) only correct students indirectly when they produce oral
errors instead of directly (e.g., correctly repeating backto
them rather than directly stating that they are incorrect).
9) be as knowledgeable about the culture(s) of those who
speak the language as the language itself.
10) not grade language production (i.e., speaking and
writing) primarily for grammatical accuracy.
11) teach the language primarily by having students
complete specific tasks (e.g., finding out prices of rooms
and rates at a hotel) rather than grammar-focused exercises.
12) have students respond to commands physically in the
foreign language (e.g., “stand up,” “pick up your book,”etc.)
13) address errors by immediately providing explanations as
to why students’ responses are incorrect.
14) require students to speak in the foreign language
beginning the first day of class.
15) not use predominantly small groups or pair work to
complete activities in class.
16) mostly use activities that practice specific grammar
points rather than activities whose goal is merely to
exchange information.
17) ask students to begin speaking the foreign language only
when they feel they are ready to.
18) not present a particular grammar point without
illustrating how the structure is used in a specific, real-
world context.
19) speak the foreign language with native-like control of
both grammar and accent
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20) teach grammar by giving examples of grammatical
structures before explaining the grammar rules.
21) use predominantly real-life materials (e.g., music,
pictures, foods, clothing) in teaching both the language and
the culture rather than the textbook.
22) not simplify or alter how they speak so that students can
understand every word being said.
23) base at least some part of students’ grades on their
ability to interact with classmates successfully in the foreign
language.
24) use activities where students have to find out unknown
information from classmates using the foreign language.
APPENDIX B
General Categories of Questionnaire Items Item Number
Grammar Teaching 10, 16, 18, 20
Error Correction 5, 8, 13
Target Language Use 7, 14, 17, 19, 22, 23
Culture 3,9,21
Computer-Based Technology 1
Communicative Language Teaching Strategies 11; 12; 2, 4, 15, 21, 23, 24
Assessment 2, 6, 10, 23