Analyzing the Role of Culture in TEFL Pedagogy and Its Implications for Language Teaching (Published)
This research investigates the role of culture in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) pedagogy and its implications for language teaching. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating qualitative interviews with educators and focus groups with students to explore how cultural integration impacts learner motivation, engagement, and communicative competence. Educators and students from diverse cultural backgrounds participated in the study. Educators, selected for their experience in TEFL and cultural content integration, were interviewed to understand their perspectives on cultural integration strategies and perceived impacts on students. Meanwhile, student focus groups provided insights into their experiences with culturally integrated lessons and their development of intercultural competence. Qualitative data analysis involved thematic coding of interview transcripts and focus group discussions, while quantitative data from surveys assessed attitudes towards cultural integration and its frequency in teaching practices. Results indicate that while educators vary in their integration approaches—ranging from daily to infrequent—literature, music, and traditional customs are commonly integrated elements. Students overwhelmingly perceive cultural integration positively, noting increased motivation and a deeper understanding of language contexts. Findings highlight the critical role of cultural awareness in enhancing language learning outcomes, fostering intercultural competence, and preparing learners for global communication contexts. Recommendations include enhancing teacher training in cultural competence and expanding resources to support diverse cultural content in TEFL curricula.
Keywords: Culture, Intercultural Competence, Language Teaching, TEFL pedagogy, cultural integration
Is It Enough? Intensive Program for ESL Students (Published)
In most EFL classes, the four language skills are taught to help students learn a language efficiently. When these language abilities are taught using the appropriate method, the linguistic gaps of English language learners may be filled. This study aims to investigate the level of improvement of EFL students after finishing 13-week semi-intensive language courses that concentrated on reading, writing, and conversation skills. A pre-test and a post-test of the same kind were administered to 62 participants, first-year students in the English department at the College of Basic Education, to gauge their language development. The participants were given a questionnaire to fill so as to understand their viewpoints concerning the treatment phase. The results showed that the majority of students improved after concluding the language skills courses. Most participants believed in the importance of reading as the most effective language learning skill and found it quite interesting.
Keywords: EFL, Intensive program, Language Learning, Language Teaching, program assessment
Tense And Aspect In The Era Of Competence-Based English Language Teaching in Cameroon’s Secondary Schools (Published)
This paper seeks to show the significance that should be given to tense and aspect as central grammatical features attached to the verb phrase, on the postulate that if tense and aspect are not mastered by the learners of English, in particular and the languages in general, they never build an acceptable sentence in the target language. Analysing the challenges that a French-speaking learner of English in particular can face with tense and aspect, the hypotheses were verified through two tests for 180 students in four secondary schools in Dschang. It became obvious that the target population had a serious problem with tense and aspect. Now what place should be given to tense and aspect in a new era where knowing the language is pushed to the background but not suppressed, and acting effectively with the language is the new order of the day?
Keywords: Aspect, Competence, Errors, Language Teaching, Secondary School, Tense