Metalinguistic knowledge of female language teachers and student teachers in an English Language department in Saudi Arabia : level, nature and self-perceptions
This study focuses on the metalinguistic knowledge (MLK) of experienced Saudi teachers (ETs) and fourth year student teachers (STs) who had graduated or would graduate from a particular University in Saudi Arabia. The main aim of the study was to investigate the overall level of the participantsâ MLK (including their knowledge of grammar rules and metalinguistic terms), the more specific nature of the participantsâ MLK, and their perceptions of their own MLK. Moreover, the study aimed to reveal any significant differences between the two groups. The study drew on a mixed methods research approach. The quantitative data involved an MLK test and questionnaires, and the qualitative data comprised semi-structured interviews, observations and role-playing. The ET group significantly outscored the ST group on the test, demonstrating a higher level of MLK. The study showed that, for both groups, a good level of MLK at sentence level did not guarantee an ability to apply it to more complex grammar items in text. It also revealed that both groupsâ receptive knowledge of rules was better that than their productive knowledge. Moreover, the teachers in both groups lacked an understanding of phrases and clauses and
Almarshedi, Raniyah Mohammad
Metalinguistic knowledge of female language teachers and student teachers in an English Language department in Saudi Arabia : level, nature and self-perceptions. This study focuses on the metalinguistic knowledge (MLK) of experienced Saudi teachers (ETs) and fourth year student teachers (STs) who had graduated or would graduate from a particular University in Saudi Arabia. The main aim of the study was to investigate the overall level of the participantsâ MLK (including their knowledge of grammar rules and metalinguistic terms), the more specific nature of the participantsâ MLK, and their perceptions of their own MLK. Moreover, the study aimed to reveal any significant differences between the two groups. The study drew on a mixed methods research approach. The quantitative data involved an MLK test and questionnaires, and the qualitative data comprised semi-structured interviews, observations and role-playing. The ET group significantly outscored the ST group on the test, demonstrating a higher level of MLK. The study showed that, for both groups, a good level of MLK at sentence level did not guarantee an ability to apply it to more complex grammar items in text. It also revealed that both groupsâ receptive knowledge of rules was better that than their productive knowledge. Moreover, the teachers in both groups lacked an understanding of phrases and clauses and
metalinguistic knowledge female language_teacher student_teacher english_language department saudi_arabia level nature self perceptions study_focus metalinguistic knowledge experience saudi teacher student_teacher sts graduate would graduate particular university saudi_arabia main_aim study_investigate overall level participant include knowledge grammar_rule metalinguistic term specific_nature participant perception moreover_study aim reveal_significant difference_two group study_draw mixed_method approach quantitative_data involve test questionnaire qualitative_data comprise semi_structured interview_observation role_playing group significantly group test demonstrate high_level study_show group good level sentence_level guarantee ability apply complex grammar item text also_reveal group receptive knowledge rule well productive knowledge moreover teacher group lack phrase clause