STRATEGIES IN ORAL ENGLISH INSTRUCTION: A PEDAGOGICAL STUDY OF SOME GHANAIAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

Auteur/ices

  • Emmanuel Appiah Gyasi Department of Linguistics, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA
  • Sefa Owusu Department of Applied Linguistics University of Education, Winneba, Ghana

DOI :

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejel.v9i3.5528

Mots-clés :

oral English, strategies, instructional, pedagogical, mixed methods

Résumé

Research on English language instruction, particularly on oral English, is increasingly growing in Ghana and in many countries where the English language is not only used as an official language but also as a language for the medium of instruction and a subject of study in schools. This can perhaps be attributed to the global demand for and use of the English language despite the many difficulties in its instruction. The current study investigates the instructional strategies teachers of English in selected senior high schools in Ghana employ during oral English instruction. Utilizing a mixed-method approach with a convergent parallel design, the study collected data through questionnaires, interviews, and classroom observations involving 43 English teachers from five senior high schools. The findings reveal a predominant reliance on traditional and direct instructional strategies such as question-and-answer sessions and drills in lieu of more interactive and indirect methods like paired conversations, oral reports, debates, etc. Meanwhile, teachers attribute their instructional choices to large class sizes, teaching environment, instructional resources and the teacher’s pedagogical skills. Based on these findings, The study concludes by advocating for the integration of a diverse range of instructional strategies, especially interactive and experiential strategies, to enhance student engagement and improve oral language competencies both inside and outside the classroom.

 

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Biographies des auteurs

  • Emmanuel Appiah Gyasi, Department of Linguistics, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA

    Emmanuel Appiah Gyasi is a PhD student studying linguistics at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA (This study was conducted prior to his enrolment at UWM). He holds a Master of Philosophy degree in Applied Linguistics and a bachelor's degree in English language Education, both from the University of Education, Winneba, and an exchange program certificate in education from the Europa Universität Flensburg, Germany. His research interests are Phonology, Second Language teaching and Acquisition, Sociophonetics and Pragmatics.

    https://uwm.edu/linguistics/people/gyasi-emmanuel-appiah/

  • Sefa Owusu, Department of Applied Linguistics University of Education, Winneba, Ghana

    Sefa Owusu is a senior lecturer in the Department of Applied Linguistics, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Education, Winneba, a Master of Philosophy degree in Linguistics from the University of Ghana, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana and a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics with Swahili from the University of Ghana. His research interests are Second Language Teaching and Testing, Language Planning and Policy, Linguistic Anthropology, and Phonology. https://www.uew.edu.gh/applied-linguistics/staff/sowusu

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Publiée

2024-08-17

Numéro

Vol. 9 No 3 (2024)

Rubrique

Articles

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