About this session
Through the analytical lens of sociocultural theory, this talk will report on a study that investigated the motives and resources that mediated English language learning in the traditional primary classroom where teacher-centred approaches are more prevalent. Drawing on data collected from responses to an open survey (N= 393) and individual interviews (N=23), the study showed that most of primary school children were motivated in their engagement with language learning by social, higher-cognitive, and self-related motives. The study revealed that, despite several constraints to language learning and practice, the EFL primary traditional classroom context could still afford learners with diverse and rich learning resources and opportunities, the usefulness of which depends on teachers’ awareness of children's experiences and individual goals, nurture of positive affect, use of collaborative pedagogical practices, and support for children’s agency in directing their learning. The talk will provide teachers of young learners with practical suggestions on how to make room in their classrooms for listening to children’s voice. This talk aims to help teachers become better informed about children’s learning experiences and ways to build on understanding of these experiences to maximize uptake of affordances for language learning particularly in challenging contexts such as traditional classrooms.
Watch the recording below
About the speaker
Heba has been a teacher of English at UNRWA schools in Gaza since 2015. She is also a part-time lecturer at IUG. Her research interests are pedagogy, TEFL and technology. She has participated in academic events, including Teaching for Success 2019, an International Cross-cultural Symposium at IUG. She has published several papers tackling educational challenges. She has taken part in many pioneering local and international projects e.g. training EFL teachers at Al-Zatarri Camp-Jordan jointly with colleagues from Manchester University, Digital Catalogue, HUP, Elite and others. She won the semi-final stage of Taawon Teacher Award and fellowships from Arizona and Duke Universities.