Secondary School Teachers’ Perceptions of the Qualities of Effective EFL Teachers in Saudi Arabia

Authors

  • Ahmad H. Altheyab Curriculum and Instruction Department, College of Education, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7732-3026

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54536/ajet.v2i3.1724

Keywords:

Effective EFL Teachers, Perceptions, Qualities, Secondary School Teachers, Teacher Education

Abstract

This study examined the perceptions of 138 Saudi secondary school male English teachers in Riyadh regarding the qualities of an effective EFL teacher. It aimed to investigate these qualities and explore the relationship between teachers’ experiences and perceptions. A survey research design was used, with data collected through a 5-point Likert-scale questionnaire. Descriptive analysis and an independent t-test were conducted. The findings revealed that effective EFL teachers possess various qualities in personal quality, attitude, pedagogical knowledge, subject matter knowledge, and classroom practice. Teachers considered all these qualities essential. However, no significant relationship was found between teachers’ experience and their perceptions of effective EFL teacher characteristics.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Adewale, O. S. (2013). Teaching personality as a necessary construct for the effectiveness of teaching and learning in schools: An implication for teacher development in the era of globalization. Journal of Education and Human Development, 2(2), 15-23.

Agcam, R., & Babanoglu, M. P. (2016). An Investigation on EFL Teachers’ Attitude toward Teaching Profession. Higher Education Studies, 6(3), 21-31. https://doi.org/10.5539/hes.v6n3p21.

Ahmad, A. M. (2014). Kumaravadivelu’s framework for improving English language teaching in Saudi Arabia: Opportunities and challenges. English Language Teaching, 7(4), 96-110. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/elt.v7n4p96

Ajzen, I. (2001). Nature and operation of attitudes. Annual review of psychology, 52(1), 27-58.

Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (1977). Attitude-behavior relations: A theoretical analysis and review of empirical research. Psychological Bulletin, 84(5), 888-918.

Al Harthy, S. S. H., Jamaluddin, S., & Abedalaziz, N. D. (2013). Teachers’ attitudes and performance: An analysis of effects due to teaching experience. International Interdisciplinary Journal of Education, 2(9), 888-893. http://dx.doi.org/10.12816/0002957

Alhawsawi, S. (2014). Investigating student experiences of learning English as a foreign language in a preparatory programme in a Saudi university (Doctoral dissertation, University of Sussex).

Al-Hazmi, S. (2003). EFL Teacher Preparation Programs in Saudi Arabia: Trends and Challenges. TESOL Quarterly, 37(2), 358-372. https://doi.org/10.2307/3588509

Aliaga, M., & Gunderson, B. (2002). Interactive Statistics. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Al-Johani, H. M. (2009). Finding a way forward: The impact of teachers’ strategies, beliefs, and Knowledge on teaching English as a foreign language in Saudi Arabia (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.

Alkubaidi, M. A. (2014). The relationship between Saudi English major university students’ writing performance and their learning style and strategy use. English Language Teaching, 7(4), 83-95. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/elt.v7n4p83

Al-Maqtri, M., & Thabet, A. (2013). The Qualities of the Good English Teacher as Perceived by Saudi and Yemeni College Students of English. Greener Journal of Educational Research, 3(2), 72-79.

Almutairi, N. H. (2008). The influence of educational and sociocultural factors on the learning styles and strategies of female students in Saudi Arabia (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.

Alrabai, F. (2014). A model of foreign language anxiety in the Saudi EFL context. English Language Teaching, 7(7), 82-101. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/elt.v7n7p82

Al-Seghayer, K. (2014). The actuality, inefficiency, and needs of EFL teacher-preparation programs in Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Applied Linguistics & English Literature, 3(1), 143–151. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.3n.1p.143

Al-Seghayer, K. (2014). The actuality, inefficiency, and needs of EFL teacher-preparation programs in Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Applied Linguistics & English Literature, 3(1), 143–151. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.3n.1p.143

Al-Shumaimeri, Y. A. (2003). A study of Classroom Exposure to oral pedagogic tasks in relation to the motivation and performance of Saudi secondary school learners of English in a context of potential curriculum reform (Doctoral dissertation). University of Leeds, UK.

Alshumaimeri, Y. A. (2019). English Language Teaching in Saudi Arabia: An Introduction. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: King Saud University Press.

AL-Zobiani, I. A. (2020). The Qualities of Effective Teachers as Perceived by Saudi EFL Students and Teachers. English Language Teaching, 13, 32-47.

Alzubi, A. A. (2021). What makes an effective EFL teacher from Saudi preuniversity students’ perspective. Journal of Education, 002205742098870. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022057420988702

Bailey, K., & Damerow, R. (2014). Teaching and Learning English in the Arabic-Speaking World. New York, NY: Routledge.

Banks, T. (2014). Teacher Education Reform in Urban Educator Preparation Programs. Journal of Education and Learning, 4(1), 60-71. doi:10.5539/jel.v.4n1p60

Barker, J. (2006). Contribution of teacher-child relationships to positive school adjustment during elementary school. Journal of School Psychology, 44, 211-229.

Basturkmen, H. (2012). Review of research into the correspondence between language teachers’ stated beliefs and practices. System, 40(2), 282–295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2012.05.001

Becker, W. C. (2001). Teaching reading and language to the disadvantaged—What we have learned from research. Journal of Direct Instruction, 1, 31–52.

Begle, E. G. (1979). Critical variables in mathematics education: findings from a survey of the empirical literature, 1977. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 10(5), 381–382. http://doi.org/10.2307/74845

Bell, T. (2005). Behaviours and attitudes of effective foreign language teachers: Results of a questionnaire study. Foreign Language Annuals, 38(2). http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1944-9720.2005.tb02490.x

Best, A., Tournier, B., & Chimier, C. (2018). Topical questions on teacher management. Paris: IIEP-UNESCO. Retrieved from http://www.iiep.unesco.org/sites/default/files/english_final_topical_questions.pdf

Borg, S. (2006). The distinctive characteristics of foreign language teachers. Language Teaching Research, 10(1), 3-31.

Borg, S. (2006). The distinctive characteristics of foreign language teachers. Language Teaching Research, 10(1), 3-31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/1362168806lr182oa

Borg, S. (2011). The impact of in-service education on language teachers’ beliefs. System, 39(3), 370-380.

Borg, S. (2017). Teachers’ beliefs and classroom practices. In The Routledge handbook of language awareness (pp. 75-91). Routledge.

Brown, H. D. (1994). Principles of language learning and teaching. Prentice Hall, Inc. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632.

Brown, H. D. (2001). Teaching by principles: An interactive approach to language pedagogy (2nd ed.). San Francisco Public University.

Bryant, J., Comisky, P., Crane, J., & Zillman, D. (1980). Relationship between college teachers’ use of humor in the classroom and students’ evaluations of their teachers. Journal of Educational Psychology, 72(4), 511-519.

Campbell, R. J., Kyriakides, L., Muijs, R. D., & Robinson, W. (2004). Effective teaching and values: Some implications for research and teacher appraisal. Oxford Review of Education, 30(4), 451-465.

Center, O. (2016). The Developing Child at Harvard University. From Best Practices to Breakthrough Impacts: A Science-Based Approach to Building a More Promising Future for Young Children and Families. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University.

Cruickshank, D. R., Jenkins, D. B., & Metcalf, K. K. (1995). The act of teaching (p. 409). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Darling-Hammond, L. (2000). Teacher quality and student achievement. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 8(1), 1. http://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.v8n1.2000

Darling-Hammond, L., & Sykes, G. (2003). Wanted, a national teacher supply policy for education: The right way to meet the “highly qualified teacher” challenge. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 11(33). http://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.v11n33.2003

de los Angeles Clemente, M. (2001). Teachers attitudes within a self-directed language learning scheme. System, 29(1), 45-67.

Downs, V. C., Javidi, M., & Nussbaum, J. F. (1988). An analysis of teachers’ verbal communication within the college classroom: Use of humor, self-disclosure, and narratives. Communication Education, 37, 127-141.

Duatepe, A., & Akkuş-Çıkla, O. (2004). The attitudes towards teaching professions of in-service and pre-service primary school teachers. Pedagogika, 61-65.

Education and training evaluation commission. (2020). The professional license for male and female teachers is a quality in performance, a stimulus for development, and an indicator of excellence. Retrieved April 22, 2022, from https://etec.gov.sa/ar/Media/News/Pages/Licensing-Test-for-Teachers.aspx

Fareh, S. (2010). Challenges of teaching English in the Arab world: Why can’t EFL programs deliver as expected? Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2(2), 3600-3604. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.03.55

Farrell, T. S. C., & Ives, J. (2015). Exploring teacher beliefs and classroom practices through reflective practice: A case study. Language Teaching Research, 19(5), 594-610. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168814541722

Freeman, D.L. (2000). Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Gao, M., & Liu, Q. (2013). Personality traits of effective teachers represented in the narratives of American and Chinese preservice teachers: A cross-cultural comparison. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 3(2), 84-95.

Garcia, E. E. (1991). Effective instruction for language minority students: The teacher. Journal of Education, 173(2), 130-141.

Garner, R. (2005). Humor, analogy, and metaphor: HAM it up in teaching. Radical Psychology, 6(2). http://radicalpsychology.icaap.org/content/issue6_2/garner.html

Ghimire, N. B. (2019). Five facets for effective English language teaching. Journal of NELTA Gandaki, 2, 65-73. https://doi.org/10.3126/jong.v2i0.26604

Gorham, J., & Christophel, D. M. (1990). The relationship of teachers’ use of humor in the classroom to immediacy and student learning. Communication Education, 39, 354-368.

Grossman, P., Schoenfeld, A., & Lee, C. (2005). Teaching subject matter. Preparing teachers for a changing world: What teachers should learn and be able to do, 201-231.

Guerriero, S. (2014). Teachers’ pedagogical knowledge and the teaching profession. American Education Research Journal, 47(1), 133-180.

Hashim, H. N., Mohd, N., Shah Alam, S., & Yusoff, N. M. (2014). Relationship between teacher’s personality, monitoring, learning environment, and students’ EFL performance. GEMA Online Journal of Language Studies, 14(1), 101-116. DOI: 10.17576/GEMA-2014-1401-07

Hativa, N., Barak, R., & Simhi, E. (2001). Exemplary university teachers: Knowledge and beliefs regarding effective teaching dimensions and strategies. The journal of higher education, 72(6), 699-729.

Henson, R., & Chambers, S. (2002). Personality types as a predictor of teaching efficacy and classroom control beliefs in emergency certification teachers. https://doi.org/10.54536/ajet.v1i2.530

Issan, S. A. Y., Al-Nabhani, H. Z., Kazem, A. M., & Al-Ani, W. T. (2011). Omani teachers’ attitudes towards teaching as a profession. Indian Journal of Psychology & Education, 1(1), 25-40.

James, D. (2007). A need for humor in online courses. College Teaching, 52(3), 93-94.

Kennedy, M. M. (1998). Education reform and subject matter knowledge. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 35(3), 249-263. http://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1098-2736(199803)35:33.0.CO;2-R

Kher, N., Molstad, S., & Donahue, R. (1999). Using humor in the college classroom to enhance teaching effectiveness in “Dread Courses.” College Student Journal, 33(3), 400-406.

Kitjaroonchai, N. (2013). Primary and lower secondary school teachers’ attitudes toward English language learning: A case study of teachers in Muak lek and Wang muang districts, Saraburi Province. Catalyst, 8(1), 49-68.

Kuzborska, I. (2011). Links between teachers’ beliefs and practices and research on reading. Reading in a Foreign Language, 23(1), 102.

Lamb, M., & Wedell, M. (2013). Inspiring English teachers: a comparative study of learner perceptions of inspirational teaching. ELT Research Papers, 13(3), 1-25.

Lampert, M. (2010). Learning teaching in, from, and for practice: What do we mean? Teacher Education, 61, 21-34.

Lawson, A. E. (1991). What teachers need to know to teach science effectively. In Teaching academic subjects to diverse learners (pp. 31-59). New York: Teachers College Press.

Li, Y., & Oliveira, H. (2015). Research on Classroom Practice. In S. Cho (Ed.), The Proceedings of the 12th International Congress on Mathematical Education. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12688-3_46

Liando, N. (2010). Students vs Teachers perceptions on best teacher characteristics in EFL classrooms. TEFLON Journal, 21(2), 118-136.

Lorenzi, E. A. (1996). Humor in the testing situation. Nurse Educator, 21(1), 12-14.

Lowman, J. (1994). Professors as performers and motivators. College Teaching, 42, 137-141.

Madsen, C. K., Standley, J. M., & Cassidy, J. W. (1989). Demonstration and recognition of high and low contrasts in teacher intensity. Journal of Research in Music Education, 37, 85-92.

Markley, T. (2004). Defining the effective teacher: Current arguments in education. Essays in Education, 11(3), 1-14.

Mayer, J. D. (2007). Asserting the definition of personality. The Online Newsletter for Personality Science, 1, 1-4. Retrieved from http://www.umassmed.personality-arp.org/html/newsletter01/jdm.pdf

McBer, H. (2000). Research into Teacher effectiveness: A Model of Teacher Effectiveness. Research report No. 216. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, St Clements House, 2-16 Colegate, Norwich NR3 1BQ.

McCabe, D. L., Feghali, T., & Abdallah, H. (2008). Academic Dishonesty in the Middle East: Individual and Contextual Factors. Research in Higher Education, 49, 451-467. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-008-9092-9

Minor, L. C., Onwuegbuzie, A. J., Witcher, A. E., & James, T. L. (2002). Preservice teachers’ educational beliefs and their perceptions of characteristics of effective teachers. Journal of Educational Research, 96(2), 116-127.

Monk, D. H. (1994). Subject area preparation of secondary mathematics and science teachers and student achievement. Economics of Education Review, 13(2), 125-145. http://doi.org/10.1016/0272-7757(94)90003-5

Moskovsky, C., & Picard, M. (2018). English as a Foreign Language in Saudi Arabia: New Insights into Learning and Teaching English. New York, NY: Routledge Research in Language Education.

Muijs, D., Kyriakides, L., van der Werf, G., Creemers, B., Timperley, H., & Earl, L. (2014). State of the art: Teacher effectiveness and professional learning. School Effectiveness and School Improvement, 25, 231-256.

Mulholland, J. (2014). Pedagogical Knowledge. In R. Gunstone (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Science Education. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6165-0_204-2

Mullock, B. (2003). What makes a good teacher? The perspectives of postgraduate TESOL students. Prospect, 18(3), 3-24.

Mungasia, J. A., Ouda, J. B., & Otieno, K. (2022). Teachers’ Self-Efficacy and Their Performance Appraisal in Public Secondary Schools. American Journal of Education and Technology, 1(2), 88-94.

Noh, J., & Webb, M. (2015). Teacher learning of subject matter knowledge through an educative curriculum. The Journal of Educational Research, 108(4), 292-305. http://doi.org/10.1080/00220671.2014.886176

OECD. (2009). Creating Effective Teaching and Learning Environments: First Results from TALIS. OECD, Paris. http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264068780-en

Oruç, N. (2011). The perception of teaching as a profession by Turkish trainee teachers: Attitudes towards being a teacher. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 1(4), 83-87.

Osher, D., Kidron, Y., DeCandia, C. J., Kendziora, K., & Weissberg, R. P. (2016). Interventions to promote safe and supportive school climate. In K. R. Wentzel & G. B. Ramani (Eds.), Handbook of social influences in school contexts (pp. 384–404). New York: Routledge.

Osunde, A. U., & Izevbigie, T. I. (2006). An Assessment of Teachers’ Attitude towards Teaching Profession in Midwestern Nigeria. Education, 126(3), 462-467.

Rabab’ah, G. (2005). Communication problems facing Arab learners of English. Grazer Linguistische Studien, 63(Spring), 63-75.

Rajab, H. (2013). Developing speaking and writing skills of L1 Arabic EFL learners through the teaching of IPA phonetic codes. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 3(4), 653-659. http://dx.doi.org/10.4304/tpls.3.4.653-659

Reber, T. (2001). Effective teaching behaviours and attitudes as perceived by foreign language teachers (PhD Thesis, Arizona: The University of Arizona).

Rehman, M. and Alhaisoni, E. (2013). Teaching English in Saudi Arabia: Prospects and Challenges. Academic Research International 4(1), 112-118.

Richards, J. (1998). Beyond Training. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press.

Saafin, S.M. (2005). An Investigation into Arab Students’ Perceptions of Effective EFL Teachers at University Level. An unpublished thesis submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Education, University of Exeter, United Kingdom: Exeter.

Sadler, P. M., Sonnert, G., Coyle, H. P., Cook-Smith, N., & Miller, J. L. (2013). The influence of teachers’ knowledge on student learning in middle school physical science classrooms. American Educational Research Journal, 50(5), 1020–1049. http://doi.org/10.3102/0002831213477680

Schleicher, A. (2016). Teaching excellence through professional learning and policy reform: Lessons from around the world. In International Summit on the teaching profession. Paris: OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264252059-en

Shishavan, H., & Sadeghi, K. (2009). Characteristics of an effective English language teacher as perceived by Iranian teachers and learners of English. English Language Teaching, 2(4), 130-143.

Shoaib, A., & Dornyei, Z. (2005). Learners’ stories: Difference and diversity in language learning (Vol. Affect in life-long learning: Exploring L2 motivation as a dynamic process).

Shulman, L. (1987). Knowledge and teaching: Foundations of the new reform. Harvard Education Review, 57(1), 1–22.

Skott, J. (2014). The promises, problems and prospects of research on teachers’ beliefs. In: H. Fives, & M.G. Gill (Eds.), International handbook of research on teachers’ beliefs (pp. 13–30). London: Routledge.

Smadi, O. M., & Al-Ghazo, A. (2013). Jordanian teachers’ attitudes toward foreign language teaching and their relationship to these teachers’ classroom practices. Journal of Education and Practice, 4(17), 62-86.

Sronge, J. H., Tucker, P. D. & Hindman, J. L. (2004). Handbook for Qualities of Effective Teachers. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum

Thompson, S. (2008). Defining a good teacher simply! Modern English Teacher, 17(1), 5-14.

Uchefuna, M. C. (2001). A Study of Clinical Supervision and Teachers Effectiveness in Umuahia and Abia Educational Zones of Abia State. M.Ed Dissertation, Unpublished, Port Harcourt: University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Ulug, M., Ozden, M. S., & Eryilmaz, A. (2011). The effects of teachers’ attitudes on students’ personality and performance. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 30, 738–742. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.10.144

Uygun, S. (2013). How to become an effective English language teacher. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 3(7), 306-311. doi:10.5901/jesr.2013.v3n7p306

Wang, J., Gibson, A. M., & Slate, J. R. (2007). Effective teachers as viewed by students at a 2 year college: a multistage mixed analysis. Issues in Educational research, 17(2), 272-295.

Wedell, M., & Alshumaimeri, Y. (2014). Putting out the fires: Supervisors’ experiences of introducing primary English in Saudi Arabia. System, 46, 120-130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2014.07.014

Wenglinsky, H. (2000). How teaching matters: bringing the classroom back into discussions of teacher quality. Princeton, NJ: Policy Information Center, Educational Testing Service.

Williams, M., & Burden, R. L. (1997). Psychology for Language Teachers: A Social Constructivist Approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Witcher, A. E., Onwuegbuzie, A. J., & Minor, L. C. (2001). Characteristics of effective teachers: Perceptions of preservice teachers. Research in the Schools, 8(2), 45-57.

Wray, D., Medwell, J., Fox, R., & Poulson, L. (2000). The teaching practices of effective teachers of literacy. Educational Review, 52(1), 75-84.

Zarabian, F., Farajollahi, M., Yousefpour, Z., & Sajadiseresht, A. (2015). The relationship between teachers’ personality types and female high school third graders’ achievement motivation in Mashhad. International Research Journal of Applied and Basic Sciences, 9(6), 815-823.

Zhang, L. (2004). Thinking Styles: University Students Preferred Teaching Styles and Their Conceptions of Effective Teachers. The Journal of Psychology, 138(3), 233-252. http://doi.org/10.3200/jrlp.138.3.233-252.

Downloads

Published

2023-07-01

How to Cite

Altheyab, A. H. (2023). Secondary School Teachers’ Perceptions of the Qualities of Effective EFL Teachers in Saudi Arabia. American Journal of Education and Technology, 2(3), 28–39. https://doi.org/10.54536/ajet.v2i3.1724