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Analysis of the English Language Needs of Grade 12 Learners in Lebanon

Year 2023, Volume: 7 Issue: 3, 558 - 601, 30.12.2023
https://doi.org/10.54535/rep.1366873

Abstract

This research investigates the language needs of Grade 12 English Second Language Learners (ESL) in Lebanese public schools, aiming to identify gaps between the curriculum and student requirements. Employing a qualitative case study approach, using document analysis, interviews, and questionnaires, the study reveals critical shortcomings within the Lebanese English curriculum. Findings indicate widespread dissatisfaction among both teachers and students with the curriculum, highlighting significant gaps and inconsistencies between ministry objectives and practical implementation. The curriculum fails to resonate with students' real-life experiences, resulting in disinterest and boredom. Outdated teaching methodologies, a disparity between public and private schools, and an emphasis on exam-oriented learning limit students' exposure to effective learning techniques. Recommendations include increasing English lesson frequency, assessing students' reading levels, incorporating diverse reading strategies, providing more reading materials, and integrating technology into teaching. Suggestions also advocate for authentic materials exposure to enhance language skills. Both teachers and students emphasize the urgent need for an updated curriculum emphasizing real-world application, critical thinking, and interactive learning. Addressing these concerns is crucial to delivering a more effective English language education aligning with students' contemporary needs and preparing them for future academic and practical endeavors.

References

  • Aljaafıl, E., & Beyhan, Ö. (2021). Examination of the 1997 Curriculum in Lebanon. Research on Education and Psychology, 5(1), 83-101.
  • Bean, J. C., & Melzer, D. (2021). Engaging ideas: The professor's guide to integrating writing, critical thinking, and active learning in the classroom. John Wiley & Sons.
  • Bowen, G. A. (2009). Document analysis as a qualitative research method. Qualitative Research Journal, 9(2), 27–40. https://doi.org/10.3316/qrj0902027
  • Briana, J. C. D., & Mutia, M. L. D. (2019). An English language needs analysis of information technology students. In Linguistic Society of the Philippines National Conference and General Meeting. doi (Vol. 10)
  • Celce-Murcia, M., Brinton, D. M., Goodwin, J. M., & Griner, B. (2010). Teaching pronunciation hardback with audio CDs (2): A course book and reference guide. Cambridge University Press.
  • Demirel, Ö. (2020). Egitimde program gelistirme: Kuramdan uygulamaya “Curriculum Development: From Theory to Practice”. Ankara: Pegem Academy Publications.
  • Esseili, F. (2014). English language teaching in Lebanese schools: Trends and challenges. Teaching and learning English in the Arabic-speaking world, 117-130.
  • Frayha, N. (2009). The negative face of the Lebanese education system. Lebanon Renaissance, 1-5.
  • Gay, L. R., Mills, G. E., ve Airasian, P. W. (2011). Educational research: Competencies for analysis and applications. Pearson Higher Ed.
  • Gibson, W., & Brown, A. (2009). Working with qualitative data. Sage.
  • Goh, C. C. (2000). A cognitive perspective on language learners' listening comprehension problems. System, 28(1), 55-75.
  • Hinkel, E. (2006). Current perspectives on teaching the four skills. Tesol Quarterly, 40(1), 109-131.
  • Jansen, JD ve Reddy, V. (2020). Educational Program Analysis a reference guide. https://bit.ly/3K1XxB1 Date Retreived: 20 Ocak 2023
  • Kılıç, A., Aydın, M., Ökmen, B., & Şahin, Ş. (2019). Kuramdan Uygulamaya İhtiyaç Belirleme (1st ed.). Pegem Akademi.
  • Matusky, R. (2018). Needs assessment vs. needs analysis — What’s the difference? Medium. https://bit.ly/40P9KQp Retrieved on 5 May 2021
  • Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sports. (1997). English Language Curriculum - First Foreign Language. Center for Educational Research and Development.
  • Nahas, C. (2009, April). Financing and political economy of higher education in Lebanon. In Economic Research Forum (Vol. 41, No. 1, pp. 69-95).
  • Nation, I. (2001). Learning Vocabulary in Another Language (Cambridge Applied Linguistics). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139524759
  • OECD. (2018). Lebanon Student Performance (PISA 2018). https://bit.ly/3KprxIQ Retrieved on 13 March 2022
  • Oral, B., & Yazar, T. (2017). Eğitimde program geliştirme ve değerlendirme “Curriculum Development and Assessment”. Ankara, Pegem Akademi.
  • Schmitt, N. (2008). Instructed second language vocabulary learning. Language teaching research, 12(3), 329-363.
  • Shaaban, K. A. (1997). Bilingual education in Lebanon. In Bilingual Education (pp. 251-259). Springer, Dordrecht.
  • Shaaban, K. A. (2013). Disparity between ideals and reality in curriculum construction: The case of the Lebanese English language curriculum. Creative Education, 4(12), 28.
  • Shaaban, K., & Ghaith, G. (1997). An integrated approach to foreign language learning in Lebanon. Language, Culture and Curriculum, 10(3), 200-207.
  • Shuayb, M. (2016). Education for social cohesion attempts in Lebanon: Reflections on the 1994 and 2010 education reforms. Education as Change, 20(3), 225-242.
  • Sönmez, V. (2001). Öğretmen el kitabı “Teachers’ Handbook”. Ankara: Anı Yayıncılık.
  • Sönmez, V., ve Alacapınar, F. G. (2013). Örneklendirilmiş bilimsel araştırma yöntemleri “Examplefied Scientific Research Methods”. Anı Yayıncılık.
  • TESOL International Association. (2006). Prek-12 English language proficiency standards. Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages.
  • Williams, J. M., & Bizup, J. (2014). Lessons in clarity and grace. Pearson.
Year 2023, Volume: 7 Issue: 3, 558 - 601, 30.12.2023
https://doi.org/10.54535/rep.1366873

Abstract

References

  • Aljaafıl, E., & Beyhan, Ö. (2021). Examination of the 1997 Curriculum in Lebanon. Research on Education and Psychology, 5(1), 83-101.
  • Bean, J. C., & Melzer, D. (2021). Engaging ideas: The professor's guide to integrating writing, critical thinking, and active learning in the classroom. John Wiley & Sons.
  • Bowen, G. A. (2009). Document analysis as a qualitative research method. Qualitative Research Journal, 9(2), 27–40. https://doi.org/10.3316/qrj0902027
  • Briana, J. C. D., & Mutia, M. L. D. (2019). An English language needs analysis of information technology students. In Linguistic Society of the Philippines National Conference and General Meeting. doi (Vol. 10)
  • Celce-Murcia, M., Brinton, D. M., Goodwin, J. M., & Griner, B. (2010). Teaching pronunciation hardback with audio CDs (2): A course book and reference guide. Cambridge University Press.
  • Demirel, Ö. (2020). Egitimde program gelistirme: Kuramdan uygulamaya “Curriculum Development: From Theory to Practice”. Ankara: Pegem Academy Publications.
  • Esseili, F. (2014). English language teaching in Lebanese schools: Trends and challenges. Teaching and learning English in the Arabic-speaking world, 117-130.
  • Frayha, N. (2009). The negative face of the Lebanese education system. Lebanon Renaissance, 1-5.
  • Gay, L. R., Mills, G. E., ve Airasian, P. W. (2011). Educational research: Competencies for analysis and applications. Pearson Higher Ed.
  • Gibson, W., & Brown, A. (2009). Working with qualitative data. Sage.
  • Goh, C. C. (2000). A cognitive perspective on language learners' listening comprehension problems. System, 28(1), 55-75.
  • Hinkel, E. (2006). Current perspectives on teaching the four skills. Tesol Quarterly, 40(1), 109-131.
  • Jansen, JD ve Reddy, V. (2020). Educational Program Analysis a reference guide. https://bit.ly/3K1XxB1 Date Retreived: 20 Ocak 2023
  • Kılıç, A., Aydın, M., Ökmen, B., & Şahin, Ş. (2019). Kuramdan Uygulamaya İhtiyaç Belirleme (1st ed.). Pegem Akademi.
  • Matusky, R. (2018). Needs assessment vs. needs analysis — What’s the difference? Medium. https://bit.ly/40P9KQp Retrieved on 5 May 2021
  • Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sports. (1997). English Language Curriculum - First Foreign Language. Center for Educational Research and Development.
  • Nahas, C. (2009, April). Financing and political economy of higher education in Lebanon. In Economic Research Forum (Vol. 41, No. 1, pp. 69-95).
  • Nation, I. (2001). Learning Vocabulary in Another Language (Cambridge Applied Linguistics). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139524759
  • OECD. (2018). Lebanon Student Performance (PISA 2018). https://bit.ly/3KprxIQ Retrieved on 13 March 2022
  • Oral, B., & Yazar, T. (2017). Eğitimde program geliştirme ve değerlendirme “Curriculum Development and Assessment”. Ankara, Pegem Akademi.
  • Schmitt, N. (2008). Instructed second language vocabulary learning. Language teaching research, 12(3), 329-363.
  • Shaaban, K. A. (1997). Bilingual education in Lebanon. In Bilingual Education (pp. 251-259). Springer, Dordrecht.
  • Shaaban, K. A. (2013). Disparity between ideals and reality in curriculum construction: The case of the Lebanese English language curriculum. Creative Education, 4(12), 28.
  • Shaaban, K., & Ghaith, G. (1997). An integrated approach to foreign language learning in Lebanon. Language, Culture and Curriculum, 10(3), 200-207.
  • Shuayb, M. (2016). Education for social cohesion attempts in Lebanon: Reflections on the 1994 and 2010 education reforms. Education as Change, 20(3), 225-242.
  • Sönmez, V. (2001). Öğretmen el kitabı “Teachers’ Handbook”. Ankara: Anı Yayıncılık.
  • Sönmez, V., ve Alacapınar, F. G. (2013). Örneklendirilmiş bilimsel araştırma yöntemleri “Examplefied Scientific Research Methods”. Anı Yayıncılık.
  • TESOL International Association. (2006). Prek-12 English language proficiency standards. Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages.
  • Williams, J. M., & Bizup, J. (2014). Lessons in clarity and grace. Pearson.
There are 29 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Curriculum Development in Education
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Eslam Aljaafil 0000-0001-8631-3152

Ömer Beyhan 0000-0002-3811-0307

Early Pub Date December 29, 2023
Publication Date December 30, 2023
Published in Issue Year 2023 Volume: 7 Issue: 3

Cite

APA Aljaafil, E., & Beyhan, Ö. (2023). Analysis of the English Language Needs of Grade 12 Learners in Lebanon. Research on Education and Psychology, 7(3), 558-601. https://doi.org/10.54535/rep.1366873

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