Methods and Approaches to Teaching English as a Second and Foreign Language

Please, be so kind and fill out the following questionnaire concerning the methods and approaches to teaching English as a second and foreign language.

The questionnaire includes 16 questions and would take 5 to 10 minutes to complete. Please choose one answer in each of the questions unless instructed differently in the question.

The questionnaire is part of a dissertation project, its goal is to find out which methods and approaches to teaching English are most commonly used by school teachers in the Czech Republic and in the United Kingdom, consequently comparing both.

The survey is completely confidential and anonymous.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete this questionnaire, it is greatly appreciated.

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Where do you teach?

In the Czech Republic.

In the United Kingdom.

How much teaching experience do you have?

0 – 3 years

4 - 9 years

10 and more

Do you translate texts and task instructions in the textbooks with pupils?

Never or very rarely. Pupils are led to understand in target language.

Occasionally.

Often. We translate most of the texts and task instructions for better understanding.

All texts and instructions are being translated into a mother tongue.

Use of pupil´s mother tongue in the classroom.

Instruction is given in the native language of the students.

Mother tongue is used only to explain complex grammar to make it easier for pupils to understand.

Use of the mother tongue is limited from both teacher and students. Target language is preferred by all means.

Use of the mother tongue is not permitted or very limited.

How do you learn about the latest methodology of teaching English as a foreign language? (Tick all the suitable options.)

I follow the latest methodology books and specialized magazines.

I follow specialised web pages focused on modern trends in ELT methodology.

I attend retraining courses.

I have just finished university where I learned about all the modern trends in ELT.

I currently do not follow modern trends in ELT.

If you ticked any of the first three answers, please feel free to share the name of the book / magazine / web page or course you attended.

Do you explicitly explain grammar rules to your students?

Yes, always. I always first explain the piece of language, grammar (i.e. form and use of present simple tense) and then we practice it.

Yes, most of the time I first explain the grammar rule which we practice in exercises.

No, not usually. I let students discover the rules by themselves from given examples.

No, never. Students always discover the rules from texts or exercises containing the target piece of grammar.

Errors versus accuracy.

Errors are an inevitable part of the learning process, they show students are exploring and using the language, they are not corrected.

Errors are an inevitable part of the learning process, they show students are exploring and using the language, they are corrected.

Errors might occur, but they are to be immediately corrected.

Errors must be avoided. Accuracy is all important to avoid creating incorrect habits.

How often do you use group work or pair work activities in the classroom?

I use them as often as possible because more students can speak at the same time and practice communication in the target language.

Group and pair work is used only occasionally.

I do not use group or pair work.

Role of the teacher in the classroom.

I have a dominant role in teaching process. I control and moderate all activities, present new pieces of language, lead examination and practice of a new piece of language. It is mainly me who speaks in the classroom.

I present a new piece of language and mediate activities. Students have space to actively participate in the lesson.

I act as a facilitator and moderator in the teaching-learning process. I let students work independently, ask them to clarify a piece of language to their classmates. I support students to actively participate in the teaching-learning process.

It is students who speak the most in the classroom. I only assist them if needed.

Do you use visual aids (maps, pictures, drawings) when teaching?

Yes, often.

Occasionally.

No, never.

Sequence the following skills according to when you engage them in the teaching-learning process in your classroom (1 for the one you start with, 4 for the skill you approach with your students at last).

Sequence following statements by moving each statement to the column on the left in your desired order.

Reading. Firstly we start with reading texts with my students. I introduce my students to written form of target language to begin with and later on we approach other skills.

Speaking. Students encounter the target language in oral form at the beginning. We mainly talk in the target language and later on we focus on other skills like writing, reading and listening.

Writing. The first skill to be developed with students in my classes is writing and after that other skills.

Listening. My pupils mainly listen to the target language at the beginning and later encounter other skills in the target language.

Classify the following activities according to their prominence in your English lessons. (Match the most frequently used type of activity with number 1 and up to the least frequently used type of activity with number 10.)

Sequence following statements by moving each statement to the column on the left in your desired order.

Reading and analysing texts.

Translation of texts and translation exercises from target language to mother tongue and vice versa.

Grammar drills and activities focused on practicing grammar.

Exercise focused on vocabulary learning.

Speaking and communicative activities.

Pronunciation exercise and activities.

Listening and ear training activities.

Role-playing, dialogy, hraní rolí.

Writing activities.

Learning about English speaking countries and their culture.

The main objective of my ELT (English language teaching) is (Mark the most suitable answer that correspond with your approach to ELT with number one up to the least suitable answer with number 6):

Sequence following statements by moving each statement to the column on the left in your desired order.

The ability to communicate in target language. Good oral proficiency.

The ability to understand and interpret written texts and gain information from them.

Grammar proficiency and extensive knowledge about the structure of the language.

To learn as much vocabulary as possible.

To enable students do well in tests and exams in the target language.

The ability to appreciate and understand texts written in target language.

Based on your experience and opinion, order the following skills according to their importance in language learning process (1 for the most important, 4 for the least important skill).

Sequence following statements by moving each statement to the column on the left in your desired order.

Speaking.

(Reading.

Listening.

Writing.

In the teaching-learning process in my classroom I consider following statements as true and all important (Mark the statement that corresponds with your own approach to ELT the most with number 1 up till statement that is the least truth with number 5).

Sequence following statements by moving each statement to the column on the left in your desired order.

Individual approach to each student. Students feeling comfortable and relaxed. Good and comfortable classroom environment is important.

Choice of a suitable textbook and teaching materials.

Order and good discipline in the classroom are crucial.

Implementation of as many communicative activities as possible so the students can actively use the target language. Students have enough space to express themselves and the teacher´s speaking time in the classroom is minimalized.

Students are maximally physically engaged in the learning process – pupils move around the classroom, engage their body in physical activity to express i.e. activities as running, digging, etc.).

Use of visual and audial aids and pictures, recordings, Cuisenaire rods, maps, etc.

What textbook do you use in the classroom?

Tick all correct answers.

I prepare my own materials.

Please, write down the name of the textbooks you use in the space on the right.

Thank you again for taking the time to complete this questionnaire.

Your help is highly appreciated.

Michaela Liskova

Faculty of Education

Hradec Kralove University

Czech Republic