Use of Journal Articles in English Language Classroom

175 Pages·2017·2.32 MB·English

Journal of NELTA
Volume 22 Number: 1-2 December 2017
Board of Advisors
Professor Abhi Subedi, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Professor Jai Raj Awasthi, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Professor Tim Cauldery, Emeritus, University of Aarhus, Denmark
Professor Selma Sonntag, University of Colorado, USA
Professor Z. N. Patil, The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, India
Professor Zakia Sarwar, Hon. Director, SPELT, Pakistan
A/Professor Ahmar Mahboob, University of Sydney, Australia
Dr. Lilly Yazdanpanah, RMIT University, Australia
Dr. Christine Manara, Atma Jaya Catholic University, Indonesia
A/Professor Motikala Subba Dewan, Tribhuvan University, (President of NELTA, the chair of
the board of advisors)
Board of Editors
Editor-in-Chief
Ram Ashish Giri, PhD, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Deputy Editor-in-Chief
Binod Luitel, PhD, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Editors
Purna Bahadur Kadel, PhD, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Madhu Neupane, PhD Scholar, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
Ashok Raj Khati, MPhil Scholar, Kathmandu University, Nepal
Suman Laudari, PhD Scholar, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
Guest Editor
Professor Z. N. Patil, The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, India
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Nepal English Language Teachers’ Association (NELTA) 6
GPO Box No.: 11110, Kathmandu, Nepal Rs.
Phone: [phone] e
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E-mail: [email protected] ri
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Journal of NELTA has been indexed in:
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Journal of NELTA, Vol 20 No. 1-2, December 2015
Board of Reviewers
Ammar Raj Joshi, PhD, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Anamika Sharma, PhD, Monash University, ELC, Australia
Anand Sharma, PhD, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Annie Guerin, PhD, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
Bal Krishna Sharma, PhD, University of Idaho, USA
Bal Krishna Sharma, Kathmandu University, Nepal
David Perrodin, Eastern Asia University, Thailand
Dianne Molly, PhD, Monash University, ELC, Australia
Ellen Abakah, PhD Scholar, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
Ganga Ram Gautam, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Gopal Prasad Pandey, PhD, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Hai Nguyen, PhD, Monash University, ELC, Australia
Hem Raj Kafle, PhD, Kathmandu University, Nepal
Hemanta Raj Dahal, Siam Technological College, Thailand
Hima Rawal, PhD Scholar, Michigan State University, USA
Jeevan Karki, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Kalyan Chattopadhyay, Calcutta University, India
Kamal Poudel, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Karna Rana, PhD Scholar, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
Karuna Nepal, Pokhara University, Nepal
Khagendra Raj Dhakal, King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Thailand
Laxman Gnawali, PhD, Kathmandu University, Nepal
Mohan Singh Saud, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Navaraj Neupane, PhD, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Oksana King, PhD, Monash University, ELC, Australia
Pingo Zablon, PhD Scholar, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
Pramod Sah, PhD Scholar, University of British Columbia, Canada
Praveen Kumar Yadav, Mahidol University, Thailand
Prem Prasad Poudel, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Prem Phyak, PhD, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Prithvi N. Shrestha, PhD, Open University, United Kingdom
Rishi Ram Rijal, PhD, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Roby Marlina, PhD, RELC University, Singapore
Saraswati Dawadi, PhD Scholar, Open University, United Kingdom
Shurabhi Bharati, The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, India
Shyam Bahadur Pandey, PhD Scholar, Purdue University, USA
Sovia R.J. Singh, Chitkara University, India
Tikaram Poudel, PhD, Kathmandu University, Nepal
Journal of NELTA, Vol 20 No. 1-2, December 2015
© Nepal English Language Teachers’ Association (NELTA)
ISSN: 2091-0487
Editorial (cid:34)
This volume is a new-look issue of the In addition, the advent of ICT and Internet
Journal of NELTA. With a view to meeting has made it possible for ELT practitioners
the growing interest and demands of from all over the world to connect. The
NELTA members, the newly constituted technology has changed the way we
editorial board of NELTA, in consultation interact and share our ideas with
with NELTA leadership, has introduced individuals and organisations located in
some changes in the presentation of the every corner of the globe. Online media has
Journal. The first and foremost change is the enabled us to participate in any
way in which the contents of the Journal professional event no matter where it takes
have been presented. They have been place. With a view to assisting NELTA
organised in five different sections. The members in this regard, the Journal has
first section is comprised of feature articles. included a number of useful ELT related
There are ten articles in this section blogs for them to get involved in, as well as
authored by highly experienced teachers guidance of how to take part in
and teacher educators from home and conversations therein. With a similar
abroad. These articles broadly address four objective, we have introduced the section
major themes of English language teaching: “From the ELT World,” which contains
teachers and teacher education, teaching information on regional and international
methodology, e-learning and media use, conferences. Many of these organisations
and teaching and learning resources. The may have sponsorships for emerging and
findings and implications reported in these early-career professionals. Interested
articles are valuable and worth exploring. NELTA members should contact the
organisations directly. Finally, we have re-
Second, a sizeable number of NELTA introduced the section “Book/material
members look on a regular basis for ideas Reviews,” which offers reviews of recent
and teaching tips that help them in their and relevant books/resources published in
day-to-day teaching. More than theoretical the field of ELT. One covert aim of this
issues, they are interested in ideas that they section is to encourage readers of this
can put in practice without having to do Journal to read and write their own reviews
much preparation. In order to help such of books and other appropriate materials.
teachers, a new section, “Practical
Pedagogic Ideas,” has been introduced. The Journal is also a platform for its readers
Ideas included in this section are ones to interact and respond to the materials
developed by practicing teachers and/or published, and to share their views on them.
teacher educators. We hope that readers get To this effect, we introduce a new feature
inspired to practice these ideas and called “Journal of NELTA Forum,” under
contribute to the Journal by submitting their which opinion article(s) will be published.
own practical teaching ideas. Readers can write their informed response
Journal of NELTA, Vol 20 No. 1-2, December 2015
to the articles, a selection of which will be We hope the changes introduced in the
published in the next issue of the Journal. editorial process help to make the Journal
a complete and quality journal, a journal its
With a view to facilitating the publication readers enjoy and are encouraged to be a
process, we have brought in a change in the part of. We also hope that its authors and
Journal’s editorial panel. The Journal now reviewers feel pride in associating with it.
has an Advisory Board which consists of We take this opportunity to thank the
ELT professionals from around the world. authors for submitting their valuable work
The Advisory Board provides advice on and for maintaining patience during the
matters related to the publication of long review process. We thank our
materials. We are grateful to the members reviewers for taking time out of their busy
for agreeing to serve on the Board. The schedule to review the submissions. Their
Editorial Board will continue to seek their work helps us improve the quality of the
support and advice on how to make the Journal. We also thank Deborah Silver, for
Journal better in the years ahead. The fixing the language anomalies, our guest
Reviewers Panel has also been expanded editor Prof. Z. N. Patil for his guidance and
with more domestic and international Prof. Motikala Subba Dewan, president of
experts to ensure rigorous and quality NELTA, for her support.
review of the materials received. We
welcome our advisors and reviewers. Happy reading!
Similarly, in order to make the editorial
process more transparent and accountable, The Editorial Board
the members of the editorial board are also
now section editors. In addition to the
feature articles and conference
proceedings, they are also responsible for
an allocated section for which they receive,
review and edit submissions.
IV Journal of NELTA, Vol 20 No. 1-2, December 2015
From the Guest Editor’s Desk
Nepal English Language Teachers’ The volume covers a wide range of topics
Association is probably one of the most such as reading, speaking and writing
active and cohesive associations in the skills, communication skills, pedagogical
English language teaching world. NELTA methodology and instructional materials,
international conferences provide a continuous professional development,
platform for syllabus designers, materials native and non-native speaker teachers,
writers, practising teachers and researchers English for general purposes and English
working at primary, secondary and tertiary for specific purposes, face-to-face learning,
levels. I had the privilege of delivering a online educational delivery, and blended
keynote address and a couple of plenary learning, learning strategies, teacher
addresses before the highly motivated, beliefs/ views/ needs and practices, the use
interested and disciplined audiences that of technology in the English language
NELTA conferences have always attracted. teaching classroom, the use of learner’s
Now I feel doubly honoured to serve in the mother tongue as a resource to facilitate the
capacity of the Guest Editor for this year’s teaching of English, the benefits of journal
Journal of NELTA. writing, the use of journal articles as
teaching materials, and cooperative
Reading the articles in this volume was an learning.
intellectually satisfying and professionally
educative experience. A majority of This issue of the Journal of NELTA, like any
contributions to this volume are theoretical other NELTA publication, makes an
papers and research articles which have academically and professionally enriching
used research tools such as classroom reading and is worth having in the
research, observation, questionnaires, bookshelves of institutional as well as
interviews, and journal writing. The individual libraries.
researchers have made use of quantitative
and qualitative data analysis procedures.
Professor Z N Patil
However, we find some practical papers
Guest Editor
and teaching articles as well in this
collection. The journal includes about half
a dozen brief articles which offer practical
tips on the teaching of paragraph writing,
poetry, communication skills, grammar,
and reading. Thus NELTA proves, to use
Shakespeare’s words from Othello, that its
dedicated team and the scholarly gathering
it assembles is not a “bookish theoric” and
that the Journal of NELTA is not “mere
prattle without practice”.
Journal of NELTA, Vol 20 No. 1-2, December 2015 V
VI Journal of NELTA, Vol 20 No. 1-2, December 2015
© Nepal English Language Teachers’ Association (NELTA)
ISSN: 2091-0487
Table of contents
1. Secondary EL teachers’ CPD: Present Practices and Perceived Needs
- Abdul Rouf and Abdul Rashid Mohamed 1
2. Effectiveness of Cooperative Learning for Improving Learners’
Proficiency Level of English Language in Secondary Level
Education in Nepal
- Keshab Kumar Sijali 13
3. Using the First Language (L1) as a Resource in EFL Classrooms:
Nepalese University Teachers’ and Students’ Perspectives
- Pramod Kumar Sah 25
4. The Relationship between Reading Strategy Use and EFL Test Performance
- Saraswati Dawadi 38
5. Should we Bend towards Blending? How?
- Madhu Neupane 52
6. Journal Writing in the EFL Classroom of Nepal
- Gyanendra Yadav 67
7. Teaching ESP at the Tertiary Level in Bangladesh: A General Perspective
- Sharmin Siddique 75
8. Student Teachers’ Views on Grammar and Grammar Teaching, and its
Communication to their Students
- Bal Ram Adhikari 88
9. Exploring ‘New World’ through New Media in ELT classrooms
- Julijana Zlatevska and Suman D C 102
10. Use of Journal Articles in English Language Classroom
- Sagar Poudel 109
Journal of NELTA Forum
Non-native English Speaking Teacher (NNEST) and their Delivery
- Laxmi Bahadur Maharjan 116
Practical Pedagogic Ideas
Teaching Communication Skill: Socializing (Making Small Talk)
- Sangita Sapkota 126
Journal of NELTA, Vol 20 No. 1-2, December 2015 VII
Paragraph Writing: A Process Based Model
- Batuk Lal Tamang 129
Teaching Poem: Exploring Life Skills
- Sarita Dewan 134
Teaching Three Forms of Adjectives
- Jeevan Karki 139
A Learner-Engaging Reading Lesson
- Laxman Gnawali 142
Book/Material Reviews
Making and Using Machinima in the Language Classroom
- Sagun Shrestha 147
Myths and Facts about Successful Learning
- Madhu Neupane 150
Creative English Teachers can Make the World a Better Place
- Motikala Subba Dewan 154
From the ELT Blogs 157
From the ELT World 161
VIII Journal of NELTA, Vol 20 No. 1-2, December 2015
NELTA
© Nepal English Language Teachers’ Association (NELTA)
ISSN: 2091-0487
Secondary EL Teachers’ CPD: Present Practices and
Perceived Needs
Abdul Rouf and Abdul Rashid Mohamed
Abstract
The present paper reports a study that aimed to explore secondary school (SS) English language
(EL) teachers’ present practices of and perceived needs for continuing professional
development (CPD) in Bangladesh. In 21st century worldwide educational settings, ‘change’ is
the only constant trend. Consequently, EL teachers need to be continuously updated in their
professional knowledge base and skills. They must be engaged in effective CPDs to keep
abreast of innovations in language learning and teaching for their own career development
and better learning outcomes for learners. Using a semi-structured questionnaire qualitative
data was collected from 10 secondary EL teachers. The findings show that overall scenario of
SS EL teachers’ CPD is not encouraging. The paper also discusses some implications for
teachers’ professional learning.
Key words: Secondary EL Teachers, CPD, Practices, Needs
Introduction According to Richards (2017), English is
accorded a special position in many parts
In research literature, teachers’ continuing of the world, which necessitates supply of
professional development (CPD) has been a good number of quality English language
defined in various ways. CPD is used as an (EL) teachers; Bangladesh is no exception.
umbrella term to indicate professional Most of the secondary school (SS) EL
growth, learning, and development of teachers in Bangladesh are non-native
teachers. Hayes (2014), for example, English-speaking teachers (NNESTs). They
explicated CPD as a life-long, many-sided need continuous training for keeping
experience that occurs inside or outside the themselves updated in their knowledge
workplace and covers both teachers’ base and skills. In this context, CPD can play
professional and personal life. In a broader an important role in teachers’ professional
sense, CPD refers to diverse educational development (PD). As teaching is not an
experiences connected to an individual’s inert profession, CPD would create
work. Professionals take part in CPD opportunities for them to be engaged in
activities to learn and apply new knowledge reflective practice, to enhance knowledge
and skills that help improve their and skills, and to collaborate with other
performance (Mizell, 2010). teachers (Davidson, Dunlop, Soriano,
Journal of NELTA, Vol 21 No. 1-2, December 2017 1