English language teaching and learning at government schools in the United Arab Emirates
This thesis presents the findings of a study that investigated the teaching and learning of English in female government schools in the United Arab Emirates. The research was conducted by means of qualitative methods and 61 participants participated in the interviews. The research sample represents the three main parties that are directly concerned with teaching and learning English and they are: schoolteachers, school graduates, and higher education teachers. The investigation reveals three main aspects of English language teaching and learning at school. First, schoolteachers use ineffective grammar-translation methods with some principles from the direct and communicative methods. Second, school graduates have negative perceptions of English language teaching at schools and blame it on their failure to learn the language. Finally, tertiary institutions receive school graduates with poor English. There are a number of factors that affect teachers' performance in the English class. First, the syllabus is prescriptive and there is a heavy emphasis on textbooks and exams. Second, teachers operate according to a given scheme, which prioritizes high success rates in English as a school subject, and de-emphasizes
Mustafa, Ghassoub Sharif Hassan
Teaching methods
English language teaching and learning at government schools in the United Arab Emirates. This thesis presents the findings of a study that investigated the teaching and learning of English in female government schools in the United Arab Emirates. The research was conducted by means of qualitative methods and 61 participants participated in the interviews. The research sample represents the three main parties that are directly concerned with teaching and learning English and they are: schoolteachers, school graduates, and higher education teachers. The investigation reveals three main aspects of English language teaching and learning at school. First, schoolteachers use ineffective grammar-translation methods with some principles from the direct and communicative methods. Second, school graduates have negative perceptions of English language teaching at schools and blame it on their failure to learn the language. Finally, tertiary institutions receive school graduates with poor English. There are a number of factors that affect teachers' performance in the English class. First, the syllabus is prescriptive and there is a heavy emphasis on textbooks and exams. Second, teachers operate according to a given scheme, which prioritizes high success rates in English as a school subject, and de-emphasizes
english_language teach_learning government school united_arab_emirates present finding_study investigate teach_learn english female government school united_arab_emirates conduct mean qualitative_method participant participate interview sample represent three_main party directly concern teach_learn english school graduate high_education teacher investigation reveals three_main aspect english_language teach_learning school first use ineffective grammar translation method principle direct communicative method second school graduate negative perception english_language teaching school blame failure learn_language finally tertiary institution receive school graduate poor english number_factor affect teacher performance english class first syllabus prescriptive heavy emphasis textbooks second teacher operate accord give scheme high success rate english school subject emphasizes