Evaluation of the Intensive English Language Teaching Program for the 5th Grade according to Teachers' Views

Abstract

Language policies of countries have focused especially on the teaching and learning of English, the universal language of communication because of the increase in international exchange of information. In this context, one of the changes which were made in the field of foreign language teaching in recent years in Turkey is that the intensive foreign language education, put into practice in the 2017-2018 academic years, is implemented in the 5th grades of the determined pilot schools. The aim of the study is to evaluate the intensive English language teaching program for the 5th grade (IELTP) according to the teachers’ views. The research is conducted in the phenomenological pattern, one of the qualitative research methods. In the 2018-2019 academic years, the data were collected by interviewing with 26 volunteer English teachers from seven different districts of İstanbul. Descriptive and content analysis methods were used to analyse the data. As a result, most of the teachers generally have expressed positive opinions about the intensive English language course for the 5th grade and its curriculum. The instructional activities, methods, and techniques; tools and materials; measurement tools, methods and activities used by the teachers in their lessons are in line with the ones suggested in the curriculum. However, some teachers have indicated that they face with some problems such as being the subjects in the curriculum intense, above the students’ level, and focusing on the grammar; abundance of the number of objectives; the lack of materials.Keywords: