Exploring Effective Foreign Language Teaching from the Eyes of Iranian Learners: Reporting a Qualitative Interview Study

Authors

Alireza Omidi Oskouei, University of IsfahanFollow
Azizollah Dabaghi, University of IsfahanFollow
Dariush Nejad Ansari, University of IsfahanFollow

Abstract

This article reports on a qualitative study of the learners’ beliefs about effective foreign language teaching in an Iranian setting. A semi-structured interview covering several fundamental issues in foreign language (FL) pedagogy was conducted with 22 upper-intermediate Iranian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. Qualitative content analysis of the transcript data yielded several interesting and informative themes. Among the most prominent results of the study, mention can be made of learners’ strong penchant for modern, learner-centered approaches to FL teaching such as communicative language teaching (CLT) and task-based language teaching (TBLT). Among the other notable themes were learners’ endorsement of teachers’ high proficiency and pedagogical knowledge, positive teacher personality, the integration of culture teaching in the classes, and sustaining learner interest and motivation. The results have implications for knowledge-based teacher education as well as for practicing and prospective FL teachers.

Keywords

Effective Foreign Language Teaching, Iranian Learners, Semi-Structured Interview, Qualitative Design, Content Analysis

Author Bio(s)

Alireza Omidi Oskouei, is a PhD candidate of applied linguistics in the department of English, faculty of foreign languages, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran. He has experience in teaching various courses in general English, ESP, and English conversation. His primary focus is on teacher education.

Azizollah Dabaghi is an associate professor of applied linguistics in department of English, faculty of foreign languages, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in applied linguistics and translation studies. His main areas of interest are corrective feedback, SLA, psycholinguistics and sociolinguistics. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to: dabaghi@fgn.ui.ac.ir.

Dariush Nejad Ansari is an assistant professor of applied linguistics in department of English, faculty of foreign languages, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran. He does research in SLA, academic writing and writing assessment. He has published numerous articles both nationally and internationally.

Publication Date

10-13-2018

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2018.3429

Recommended APA Citation

Oskouei, A. O., Dabaghi, A., & Nejad Ansari, D. (2018). Exploring Effective Foreign Language Teaching from the Eyes of Iranian Learners: Reporting a Qualitative Interview Study. The Qualitative Report, 23(10), 2453-2473. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2018.3429