Home⇛International Research Journal of Science, Technology, Education, and Management⇛vol. 3 no. 1 (2023)

Basic level English as foreign language teachers' experience about English medium instruction

Hari Prasad Tiwari

Discipline: Education

 

Abstract:

Medium of Instruction (MoI) used in teaching basic level students plays a significant role in their overall development. It is controversial whether students’ native language or English is more effective for teaching students who study at the basic level. Nonetheless, many community schools are switching their MoI from Nepali, the country's official language, to English. The current descriptive phenomenological research aims to investigate basic level English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers' perspectives on English Medium Instruction (EMI) at the basic level. Nine basic level EFL teachers who have been teaching at different community schools in Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City, Banke district, participated in the research. I used non-random judgmental sampling to select the sample. The data was collected using unstructured interview. The interviews were conducted in face-to-face mode and each of the interviews was audio recorded, transcribed, and then thematized. The outcomes of the research were presented and discussed utilizing descriptive and qualitative data analysis techniques. The results indicated that EMI has been mandated despite the fact that instructors lack the confidence to implement it in the classroom. Based on the results, it can be stated that EMI should be implemented with thorough planning, preparation, and consultation with teachers and other directly and indirectly engaged stakeholders in particular schools.



References:

  1. Al-Bakri, S. (2013). Problematizing English medium instruction in Oman. Journal of Bilingual and Multilingual Teachers of English, 1(2), 55-69.
  2. Borg, S. (2006). The distinctive characteristics of foreign language teachers. Language Teaching Research, 10(1), 3-31.
  3. Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison K. (2000). Research methods in education. (5th ed.). Routledge.
  4. Coleman, J.A. (2006). English-medium teaching in European higher education. Language Teaching, 39 (01), 1-14
  5. Creswell, J.W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative and mixed methods approaches. Sage.
  6. Dafouz, M. & Mar, C.M. (2016). Exploring the impact of English-medium instruction on university student academic achievement: The case of accounting. English for Specific Purposes, 44 (4), 57-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2016.06.001.
  7. Davidson, J. (2000). A phenomenology of fear: Merleau‐Ponty and agoraphobic life‐worlds. Sociology of Health and Illness, 22(5), 640-660. https://doi/epdf/10.1111/1467-9566.00224.
  8. Dearden, J. (2014). English medium instruction: a growing global phenomenon. British Council.
  9. Erliana, S. (2018). Secondary high school English teachers’ perception toward English as a medium instruction. In Proceedings of the Annual Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities (104-110). https://www.researchgate.net/
  10. Ghimire, N.B. (2019). English as a medium of instruction: Students' discernment in Nepal. CERID, TU.
  11. Gim, S.J. (2020). Nepali teacher identity and English mediums education: The impact of the shift to English as a medium of instruction at Nepali public schools on teachers' identity. [Ph.D. dissertation, University of California].
  12. Giri, R.A. (2015) The many faces of English in Nepal, Asian Englishes, 17(2), 94-115. https://doi10.1080/13488678.2015.1003452
  13. Gnawali, L. (2016). Teaching English in under-resourced environments. British Council.
  14. Graddol, D. (1997). The future of English. British Council.
  15. Hayes, D. (Ed.). (2018). English language teaching in Nepal: Research, reflection, and practice. British Council.
  16. Hou, A.Y.C., Morse, R., Chiang, C.L., & Chen, H.J. (2013). Challenges to quality of English medium instruction degree programs in Taiwanese universities and the role of local accreditors: A perspective of non-English speaking Asian countries. Asia Pacific Education Review, 14(3), 359-370.
  17. Jiang, L., Zhang, L.J., & May, S. (2019). Implementing English-medium instruction (EMI) in China: Teachers’ practices and perceptions, and students’ learning motivation and needs. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 22 (2), 107-119.
  18. Jones, L. (2007). The student- centered classroom. Cambridge University Press.
  19. Kandel, P. (2010). Mother tongue based multilingual education. Language Development Center.
  20. Karki, J. (2017). Is English medium instruction working? A case study of Nepalese community schools in Mt. Everest region. British Council.
  21. Khatri, K.K. (2019). Teachers’ attitudes towards English as a medium of instruction. Journal of NELTA Gandaki, 2, 43-54. https://doi.org/10.3126/jong.v2i0.26602
  22. Merriam, S.B. (2009). Qualitative case study research: A guide to design and implementation.  Jossey-Bass.
  23. Metsamuuronen, J. & Illic, J. (2017). Why some low resourced community schools in Nepal perform well in English? British Council.
  24. Miles, M.B. & Huberman, A.M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: an expanded sourcebook.  Sage.
  25. Miller, J. & Glassner, B. (1997). The ‘inside’ and the ‘outside’: Finding realities in interviews. In D. Silverman(ed.), Qualitative research: Theory, method and practice (pp.99-112). Sage.
  26. Nepal Law Commission. (2015). The constitution of Nepal. Member of Parliament.
  27. Ojha, L.P. (2016). Shifting the Medium of instruction to English in community schools: Policies, practices, and challenges in Nepal. British Council.
  28. Pecorari, D., Shaw, P., Irvine, A., & Malmström, H. (2011). English for academic purposes at Swedish universities: Teachers’ objectives and practices. Ibérica, 22, 55-78.
  29. Phyak, P. (2016). Local-global tension in the ideological construction of English language education policy in Nepal. In Kirkpatrick (Ed.), English Language Education Policy in Asia (pp.199-217). Springer http://scholar.google.com
  30. Ranabhat, K., Tiwari, M., Dhungana, G.P., & Shrestha, R. (2017). The spread of English as a medium of instruction in Nepal's community schools. British Council.
  31. Sapkota, A. (2018). Research methodology in English education. Pinnacle publication.
  32. Strauss, A. & Corbin, J. (1998). Basics of qualitative research techniques. Sage publications.
  33. UNESCO (2008). Improving the quality of mother tongue-based literacy and learning. UNESCO Kathmandu office.
  34. Wilkinson, R. (2013). English-medium instruction at a Dutch university: Challenges and pitfalls. In A. Doiz, D. Lasagabaster, & J. M. Sierra (Eds.), English-medium instruction at universities: Global challenges (pp. 3-24). Multilingual Matters.

Tools


Copyright © 2024  KITE Digital Educational Solutions |  Exclusively distributed by CE-Logic