Orienting EFL Teaching to the Needs and Capabilities of Individual Students: the Case of First Year Teachers in the Department of English at Mouloud Mammeri University of Tizi-Ouzou: Challenges and Solutions

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Date

2021

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Mouloud Mammeri University OF Tizi-Ouzou

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine the various EFL teaching styles of first-year teachers in the Department of English at MMUTO to meet students’ learning styles based on their, diverse needs and interests. Thus, it sets two objectives; the first objective was to find out whether teachers implement the elements of both Differentiated Instruction as well as Learning for All to address students’ needs and interests. The second objective was set to investigate the challenges teachers encounter during the teaching process, as well as to discover the solutions they provided to overcome these challenges in order to make differentiation more efficient. Indeed, this research is based on Tomlinson’s theory of Differentiated Instruction as well as the Ministry of Education Learning for All. To carry out this study, a mixed method approach has been used combining both quantitative and qualitative procedures. Thus, thirty (30) questionnaires were administered to the first-year teachers as well as, a classroom observation to strengthen the effectiveness of the data gathered through the questionnaires. For the interpretation of the data, the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was adopted to analyze the quantitative Content, while Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA) has been used for the investigation of open-ended questions. In fact, the main findings of the questionnaire indicate that teachers consider the elements of DI mostly content in the teaching process taking into account their learners’ needs, interests and capabilities. In addition, teachers confirm the positive impact of differentiating instruction during their teaching, despite the difficulties they face when they display diverse teaching styles. For this sake, some solutions were provided to resolve these difficulties such as active learning and classroom discussion to raise students’ involvement. Moreover, the classroom observation sessions also revealed the effectiveness of the comfortable learning environment on students’ engagement. In addition to the integration of distinct tasks and resources to enhance the teaching-learning process relying on some strategies such as debates and supporting group work

Description

63p. ; Tabl. ; 30cm.+(cd)

Keywords

EFL, Teaching Styles, Learning Styles, Differentiated Instruction, Learning for All, Needs and Interests.

Citation

Language and Communication