A critical review of TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) as an effective method of teaching English in a multi-lingual environment

Abstract

English is listed as the official or second official language in forty five countries. It is the majority language in twenty seven countries. English is spread vastly over the world, resulting in scores of speakers (Kitao, 1996). However, in countries where English is not the dominant language, language schools are available to assist in the acquisition of the language. It is stated that EFL methods are effective and thriving in teaching English to non-native speakers. It is further pointed out that EFL methods rival those used in traditional classes which mainly use teacher-orientated-language whereas TEFL focuses on enhancing student-orientated-language in a classroom (http://teflonline.com). The research’s importance stems from the area of focus and purpose. It is the primary purpose of this paper to examine whether improved possibilities and imperatives of language acquisition to subjects and teachers are offered by TEFL methods. The dissertation derives greater primary importance upon consideration of the effectiveness of TEFL in multi-lingual classrooms. This dissertation will determine whether EFL methods are in fact more effective and efficient in teaching English than other known methods. On another point it should then be possible to improve TEFL methods and take them to further possibilities such as online classes or web-based-training. The dissertation’s aim is to critically review TEFL as an effective method of teaching English in a multi-lingual environment. This is done by incorporating the TEFL teaching methods into an experimental classroom of students from different ethnical backgrounds, age groups and mother tongues – except English. By critiquing the TEFL course content and using contextual and literature reviews, internet research, questionnaires, observations, interviews and formative assessment opportunities, data were gathered on participant perspectives on the following key questions of the research: 1. Do the TEFL teaching techniques differ from those in traditional English classrooms? 2. If this is the case, how do these techniques differ? 3. Do the students benefit from TEFL, or may/can they benefit? 4. And do teachers benefit by using TEFL techniques in the classroom? The Researcher is a qualified TEFL educator and aims to make an in-depth study of EFL techniques and whether it can be effective in a multi-lingual classroom. The study is conducted at the Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft, Aalen (HTW Aalen) and the Educcare day-care centre in Stuttgart, Germany. xvi Three case studies were conducted throughout the course of this research. A total of fifteen months and thirty-six subjects of different ages, ethnicities and genders participated in observational case studies. The remaining nine months were utilised in preparation of the case studies and drafting of the research paper. The conclusions drawn from this research are definitive distinctions in the subjects’ ability to acquire English by means of EFL methods. The EFL methods were widely accepted by the case subjects. The research showed that the subjects enjoyed the student-orientated classroom, because they felt included in the proceedings of the lessons. This was done by the EFL way of encouraging the potential in the students to actively part-take in the lesson by talking freely, known as Student Talking Time (STT). According to questionnaires and interviews the subjects declared that STT gave them the ability to possess control over the speed and strength in which they acquire the new information. The students did not feel like they were only absorbing information provided to them by the teacher, instead they felt like active participants in the learning process. The teacher, on the other hand also benefits from EFL. The first advantage for EFL educators is more freedom in lesson planning. Due to the fact that TEFL focuses on increasing the STT in classrooms, the teacher’s responsibility shifts from a leading to an assisting function. This gives the possibility to the lecturer to have many potential scenarios for one lesson to the contrary of a strict lesson plan. A stringent lesson plan in traditional classes usually does not allow derivation from the original path or derivation is only possible for very experienced teachers (http://teflonline.com). In the EFL classes a standard path is not needed. Instead it is essentially necessary to be prepared for many likely situations as a reaction to the current needs of the classroom. As an additional benefit the positive reaction of the students to the teaching methods increases the teacher’s motivation. The lecturer1 can then pass this positive effect back to the students and provoke more self-confidence in the students when teaching. This overall self-enhancing cycle shows, in conclusion that incorporating EFL teaching methods into a lesson, realises the main objective of every language teacher: to assist students in acquiring the target language. In addition it is the aim of this research that the findings may participate in future development and improvement in educational systems where teaching a second or foreign language to students, whether English or any other foreign language.