Academic summary “A Small-scale Study of Primary School English Language Teachers’ Classroom Activities and Problems”

In the article “A Small-scale Study of Primary School English Language Teachers’ Classroom Activities and Problems”, Arikan (2011) provides information about a study carried on in primary schools in Turkey. The author presents a general overview of the teaching situation of the English language, identify the types of English language teaching activities, and the problems faced by teachers in their everyday teaching situation.

The author states that several studies have already been carried on, generally reflecting the same results. Since English is gaining importance in Turkey, parents consider necessary that their children start learning English in pre-schools institutions. Previous studies also reflect that though teachers feel sufficient in some teaching areas, they do not feel the same as regards the use of material.

The current study shows that English classrooms are teacher-centered, they follow a traditional syllabus, and teachers have to face several problems that do not allow them to teach as desired. Grammar activities, filling the gaps, reading aloud, and repeating after the teacher are, as the author stated, “the leading activities employed in Turkish EFL classrooms” (p.4). This leads to traditional classes in which the learner just is a passive recipients.

The main problems that teachers have to face are the classrooms’ physical condition, and the lack of material and teacher education programs. Teachers claim that having classrooms with many students “lessen quality of their classroom teaching” (p.4), and they also demand access to new technological applications, and print material. Teachers also state the importance of education programs in help them develop effective teaching.

Arikan’s study on English language teaching in primary schools in Turkey, clearly shows there is a need to improve the teaching situation. Government help may aid teachers in solving several problems that they have to face every day, and this will consequently change the way classes are delivered, the role of the teacher, the learners, and the teaching material.

Reference

Arikan, A. (2011). A Small-scale Study of Primary School English Language Teachers’ Classroom Activities and Problems. International Conference on New Trends in Education and their Implications.Akdeniz University.