Noor Saber Abd Alkareem Abu-Assab

124 Pages·1761·1.04 MB·English

An-Najah National University
Faculty of Graduate Studies

The Effect of Experiential Learning on
Improving the Performance of EFL Students
as Perceived by Teachers of English in the
Northern Governorates of Palestine

By
Noor Saber Abd Alkareem Abu-Assab

Supervisor
Dr. Ahmed Awad

This Thesis is Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements of the Degree of Master Methods of Teaching
English Language, Faculty of Graduate Studies, An-Najah
National University, Nablus, Palestine.
2015

iii
Dedication
This thesis is dedicated with gratitude to:
Allah the Almighty for giving me the strength and the
health to complete this thesis.
My dear father and my lovely mother who always wished
me continuous progress in my life.
My husband Saa'd for his continuous support and love.
My kids Mohammad, Tuqa, and Sundus who lightened
my life with their love.
My brothers and sisters who always encouraged and
gave me an endless support.
My friends who always wish the best for me.
All people in my life who touch my heart.
Anyone who reads and appreciates this work.
iv
Acknowledgement
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my
supervisor, Dr. Ahmed Awad for his constant guidance,
support, patience, and encouragement he gave through
the completion of this study.
Also my sincere appreciation and thanks go to the
committee members for their valuable notes and
recommendations: Dr. Ziyad Tanni the external
examiner and Dr. Ayman Nazzal the internal examiner.
Thanks also extended to the Faculty of Graduate
Studies at An-Najah National University in general and
to all instructors in the English Department in specific.
Finally, my special thanks go to all teachers who
answered the questionnaire.

vi
Table of Contents
No. Content Page
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Declaration v
Table of Contents vi
List of Tables viii
List of Appendices x
Abstract xi
Chapter One: Introduction and Theoretical
1
Background
Theoretical Background of the Study 2
Statement of the Problem 9
Purpose of the Study 9
Questions of the Study 10
Hypotheses of the Study 11
Significance of the Study 11
Limitations of the Study 12
Definition of Terms 13
Summary 14
Chapter Two: Review of Related Literature 15
Introduction 16
Experiential Learning Theory 18
Why Experiential Learning 20
Characteristics of Experiential Learning 23
Experience and Language Learning 24
Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle 26
Experiential Learning in Authentic Contexts 27
Instructor's and Students' Roles in Experiential
28
Learning
Some Examples of Experiential Learning Activities 31
Assessment of Experiential Learning 34
Criticism of Experiential Learning 35
Related Studies 37
Summary 42
Chapter Three: Methodology and Procedures 43
Introduction 44
Methodology 44
Questions of the Study 44
Hypotheses of the Study 45
Population of the Study 46
vii
No. Content Page
3.6 Sample of the Study 46
3.7 Instrument of the Study 47
3.8 Validity of the Questionnaire 49
3.9 Reliability of the Questionnaire 49
3.10 Validity of the Interview 50
3.11 Procedure of the Study 51
3.12 Variables of the Study 51
3.13 Statistical Analysis 52
3.14 Ethical Issues 53
3.15 Summary 53
Chapter Four: Results 54
Introduction 55
Results Related to the Main Question 55
4.2.1 First Domain: Students' Cognitive Skills 56
4.2.2 Second Domain: Students' Social Skills 59
4.2.3 Third Domain: Students' Motivation for the Material 61
4.2.4 Fourth Domain: Students' Scores in Exams 63
4.2.5 Total Score of All Domains 64
4.3 Results Related to the Sub-Questions 65
4.3.1 Results Related to the First Sub-Question 65
4.3.2 Results Related to the Second Sub-Question 67
4.3.3 Results Related to the Third Sub-Question 71
4.3.4 Results Related to the Fourth Sub-Question 73
Results related to the second tool of the study (the
4.4 75
interview)
4.5 Summary 78
Chapter Five: Discussion of the Results, Conclusion,
79
and Recommendations
Introduction 80
Discussion of the Study Results 80
5.3 Discussion of the Results of the Sub-Questions 84
5.4 Discussion of the Results of the Interview 86
Conclusions 88
Recommendations 89
References 91
Appendices 100
ﺹﺨﻠﻤﻝﺍ ﺏ
viii
List of Tables
No. Table Page
Distribution of the Study Sample due to Gender
Table (1) 46
Variable
Distribution of the Study Sample due to Academic
Table (2) 47
Qualification Variable
Distribution of the Study Sample due to Years of
Table (3) 47
Experience Variable
Distribution of the Study Sample due to Type of
Table (4) 47
school Variable
Table (5) Alpha Formula of Instrument Reliability 50
Means, standard deviation, percentages and the
Table (6) 56
effect degree of students' cognitive skills domain
Means, standard deviation, percentages and the
Table (7) 59
effect degree of students' social skills domain
Means, standard deviation, percentages and the
Table (8) effect degree of students' motivation for the 61
material domain
Means, standard deviation, percentages and the
Table (9) 63
effect degree of students' scores in exams domain
Means, standard deviation, percentages, the effect
degree; and the total score of the effect of
Experiential Learning on improving the
Table (10) 64
performance of EFL students as perceived by
teachers of English in the Northern Governorates
of Palestine
The Independent T-test for the different averages
Table (11) 66
due to the gender
Frequencies, means, and standard deviations of the
effect of Experiential Learning on improving EFL
Table (12) 68
students' performance due to academic
qualification variable
One–Way ANOVA to test the differences of the
effect of Experiential Learning on improving EFL
Table (13) 68
students' performance due to academic
qualification variable
Scheffe post hoc results to determine the
Table (14) differences in domain of students' cognitive skills 69
due to academic qualification
Scheffe post hoc results to determine the
Table (15) differences in domain of students' motivation for 70
the material due to academic qualification
ix
No. Table Page
Scheffe post hoc results to determine the
Table (16) differences in total score due to academic 70
qualification
Frequencies, means, and standard deviations of the
Table (17) effect of Experiential Learning on improving 72
students' performance due to years of experience
One–Way ANOVA to test the differences of the
Table (18) effect of Experiential Learning on improving 72
students' performance due to years of experience
Frequencies, means, and standard deviations of the
Table (19) effect of Experiential Learning on improving 74
students' performance due to type of school
One–Way ANOVA to test the differences of the
Table (20) effect of Experiential Learning on improving EFL 74
students' performance due to type of school
Table (21) Percentages of the Interviews' Responses 75
x
List of Appendices
No. Appendix Page
Appendix (A) Questionnaire 101
Appendix (B) Interview Questions 106
Appendix (C) The Validation Committee for the Questionnaire 107
Appendix (D) Letter sent to the Validation Committee 108
Appendix (E) Permission of An-Najah National University 109