عنوان

University teacher-training in change :

Number

TLets428276

Title Proper

University teacher-training in change :

General Material Designation

[Thesis]

First Statement of Responsibility

Avanaki, Hussein Jamshidi

Title Proper by Another Author

the English and Iranian experience : English language teaching in the two systems with ESL/ESP as a case study

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

University of Sheffield

Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.

1998

Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree

Thesis (Ph.D.)

Text preceding or following the note

1998

Text of Note

This study critically examines teacher education in the English system and in Iran so as to compare the two systems with the aim of identifying effective English language teaching strategies that are applicable to the Iranian system. - The reason for examining this topic was the problem that I faced for many years during my teaching in Iranian universities. The main problem was the lack of the use of spoken English by the Iranian university students and graduates. In addition, the context of ESL/ESP in Iranian universities was investigated because little research in Iran has been conducted to explore the influence of oral discourse analysis to improve fluency. The reason is that I believe teacher education, teaching approaches and related issues, such as textbooks and teacher-student relationships, are not separate issues and can be studied as one package. This study includes a critical literature review on methodological elements so as to reach a more practical and effective English language teaching approach in Iran, in particular for the use of English. I was able to identify the central problems of the study, in particular the improvement of speaking skills through, oral discourse analysis. The study has shown how university students can make use of effective strategies through oral discourse analysis introduced to improve their English speaking. The students' needs, the English textbooks, context of situation and the relationships between the students and teachers as well as a critical literature review are studied. Issues such as the need for a more fluent discourse and exchanging views, building on teaching experience, preventing past mistakes, and utilising fully the available resources and the provision of required educational aids are introduced. In this study I shall also present the barriers to innovation and offer suitable solutions. To facilitate the research I employed two types of questionnaires: an English teachers' and students' questionnaire. Twelve interviews were also carried out as a supplementary research instrument to the nine sessions of teaching. The critical literature review, interviews, and the analyses of questionnaires and the teaching sessions supported my initial subjective experience regarding how to resolve the problems of Iranian English Language Teaching. This also resulted in significant improvement of fluency of the participant students. The general discussions, conclusion and recommendations are provided at the end of the study.

Avanaki, Hussein Jamshidi

University of Sheffield

Electronic name

p

[Thesis]

276903

a

Y