This study investigated the effectiveness of Google Classroom as a tool to improve grammar acquis... more This study investigated the effectiveness of Google Classroom as a tool to improve grammar acquisition of Omani EFL learners. It analyzed students’ responses to structured and unstructured Google Classroom frameworks, to examine how each framework impacts performance. Perceptions concerning the use of Google Classroom, and the challenges encountered when using the platform were also identified. The sample of the study included two groups (structured (61) and unstructured (54), n= 115) from grade 11 students from one of the schools in Muscat Governorate in the academic year 2020-2021. Two instruments were used to collect data: a grammar achievement test (pre- post-test) and a questionnaire. The results of the study revealed a statistically significant improvement in students’ grammar performance, in favor of the structured Google Classroom group. All students were highly positive about using Google Classroom, finding it useful, enjoyable and easy. In the light of these findings, impl...
International Journal of English Language and Literature Studies
Graduates from Omani schools are currently struggling at higher education institutions (HEIs) and... more Graduates from Omani schools are currently struggling at higher education institutions (HEIs) and in the labor market, mainly due to their lack of oral English communication skills, a 21st century skill that is in high demand. It is common knowledge that the rate of unemployment has increased and that the number of college students enrolling in English general foundation programs (GFP) is high. This study aimed at examining the perspectives of different stakeholders, such as secondary students, secondary English language teachers, curriculum officers, GFP academics and selected representatives from the business sector. The current study adopted a mixed-method research design to collect and analyze the data. Firstly, questionnaires were distributed to secondary students, teachers and curriculum officers and, then interviews with academics and business/ industry officials were conducted. The results revealed that the students and teachers were satisfied with the curriculum, while the ...
... Title: An analysis of vocabulary teaching in Yemeni TEFL. Authors: Al-Mekhlafi, MohammedAbdo.... more ... Title: An analysis of vocabulary teaching in Yemeni TEFL. Authors: Al-Mekhlafi, MohammedAbdo. Other Contribitors: Ball State University. Dept. of English. Date of Object: 1992. Abstract: Creative ProjectsThere is no abstract available for this creative project. ...
Globally, teachers need to expand their knowledge of other peoples and cultures. As a case in poi... more Globally, teachers need to expand their knowledge of other peoples and cultures. As a case in point, Oman is challenged by a problem of separation between national and expatriate populations. Expatriate students attend either international or expatriate community schools, whereas Omani children can only attend government schools or Arabic/English private schools. The teacher education program at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) in Oman was able to implement a service learning project that helped students cross cultural boundaries while improving their own English language skills. Using a mixed-method approach in data analysis, this study discusses the experiences of thirty EFL student teachers involved in the experiment. Expatriate teachers and principals had expressed a need for their students to learn more about Omani culture. In response, student teachers prepared 45 cultural kits that included written reports, presentations and artefacts, which they presented to classes. Not only ...
English Review: Journal of English Education, 2019
The development of critical thinking is closely related to the questions asked by teachers as the... more The development of critical thinking is closely related to the questions asked by teachers as the teachers higher-order questions are cognitively demanding to promote students critical thinking. The purposes of this study are to investigate how critical thinking was implemented in EFL teachers questions in the classroom and the challenges faced by EFL teachers in integrating critical thinking questions. In addition, this study also investigated students reasons for non-response to particular questions asked by teachers. Applying mixed-method research design, the data were collected from classroom observation, interview, questionnaire and documentations. The research participants were two English teachers and 229 number of students of year 8. The results showed that the most dominant questions asked by the two English teachers were in Lower-order questions (78,8%), while the Higher-order questions were only (21,2%) questions. Second, the challenges faced by teachers were students int...
The present study explored the extent to which action research is practiced by English language t... more The present study explored the extent to which action research is practiced by English language teachers and the factors that affect action research implementation in the Omani ELT context. Additionally, it sought to identify different solutions that could be implemented to strengthen action research practices from the point of view of English language teachers. Data was collected through a questionnaire that was distributed among 366 English language teachers, followed by semi-structured interviews with 8 English language teachers who were actively engaged in conducting action research. There was a low level of practice of action research among English language teachers in the Omani public schools. The study also showed that insufficient time, heavy workload, lack of colleagues’ assistance and support, and lack of motivation were the main factors that hindered action research practices in the Omani ELT context. Participants suggested that providing training, support and incentives ...
The present study aimed to examine the impact of Virtual Writing Tutor (VWT) software on the acad... more The present study aimed to examine the impact of Virtual Writing Tutor (VWT) software on the academic writing skills of Year 1 Omani EFL students in the College of Applied Science, (CAS)-Sohar and their attitudes towards using VWT software to enhance their academic writing skills. The sample consisted of 35 students in the control group and 35 in the experimental group (Total N= 70) who were enrolled in the English for Academic Purposes (ENAP1002) course at CAS-Sohar. The data collection tools included pre-test and post-test for the two groups, and attitude scale for the experimental group. The findings of the study showed a positive large effect size (Cohen’s d = 0.88) of VWT on writing skills. In addition, Year 1 students in the experimental group enjoyed using the VWT software and found it beneficial and helpful in checking the accuracy of their essays including spelling, punctuation, grammar and vocabulary. In light of the research findings, implications and recommendations for ...
Malaysian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2021
University students tend to have poor sleeping pattern, especially those who took professional co... more University students tend to have poor sleeping pattern, especially those who took professional courses. Poor sleep quality may affect one’s mental and physical well- being and quality of life (QoL). Thus, this study aims to determine the sleep quality of pharmacy students, factors associated with it, and their QoL. A cross-sectional study was conducted using questionnaires involving undergraduate pharmacy students in Universiti Sains Malaysia. The Pittsburgh Sleeping Quality Index (PSQI) was used to determine the sleep quality, while QoL was determined using Short Form-36 Survey (SF-36). Poor sleepers were defined as having a PSQI score of ≥ 5. Independent t-test and Chi-square test were used to compare between variables. A total of 256 respondents completed the questionnaires. Majority (n = 215, 84%) of the respondents were poor sleepers. Results showed a nearly 3-fold increase in the risk of being a poor sleeper among those taking more than 20 credit units (odds ratio [OR] 2.73; 9...
This paper recognises that all new approaches and methods of language teaching may have sound the... more This paper recognises that all new approaches and methods of language teaching may have sound theoretical justifications, but the adoption of these in most classrooms, especially in the third world countries, is problematic in some way or other. Curriculum developers and policy makers are often carried away by the new proposals and are eager to subscribe to them probably because questioning the assumptions underlying these proposals coming from theoreticians from developed countries might amount to being labelled „old fashioned‟ or „resistant to change‟. Implementing learner -centred methods in an ESL/EFL context is one such proposal. The paper attempts to present some of the problems and challenges an ESL/EFL teacher may face in trying to adopt learner-centred methods in his/her teaching. It argues that unless these are identified, discussed and addressed, teaching and learning in such a context will not be as effective as one would like or expect to be. The issues and concerns rai...
This study investigated the perceived knowledge and actual practice of Communicative Language Tea... more This study investigated the perceived knowledge and actual practice of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) among post basic education teachers in Omani schools, along with the influence of gender and length of teaching experience years on teachers’ practice of this approach. It also explored the different challenges faced by teachers when implementing CLT. A total of 122 EFL Omani teachers took part in this study. The respondents completed the following: (1) a twenty-five item questionnaire concerning CLT principles; and (2) a questionnaire regarding the challenges of CLT. The results revealed that Omani EFL teachers have a high degree of awareness of the principles of CLT. However, they practice this approach at a moderate level, while their gender and length of teaching experiences have little impact on their actual practice of this approach. The findings further indicated that the implementation of CLT in Omani classrooms is hindered by: (1) teachers’ lack of training in CLT; (...
Journal of Applied Linguistics and Language Research, 2017
With the use of a questionnaire administered to 93 EFL students and 47 teachers, the present stud... more With the use of a questionnaire administered to 93 EFL students and 47 teachers, the present study investigates the perceptions of Omani college level EFL students towards their most preferred classroom activities and their teachers’ perceptions of these preferences. Eight types of class activities were investigated with a total of 48 items. These were: reading, writing, listening, speaking, testing, feedback, participation and other activities. The study is also set to explore the effect of two main variables on students’ classroom preferences, namely the effect of student gender and students’ proficiency level. Results of the study showed a wide agreement between students and teachers where they differed significantly in only 14 classroom activities out of 48 activities. As for the effect of gender, the results revealed that the means scored by female students in all types of classroom activities were a little higher than means scored by male students, however, this difference wa...
Service-learning, a major reform in higher education, is considered essential for developing citi... more Service-learning, a major reform in higher education, is considered essential for developing citizenship for the 21st century. This paper reports a study aimed at investigating the problems and challenges faced when implementing service-learning in pre-service education of teachers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and carried out in the Sultanate of Oman. The study also investigated the strategies that could possibly be used to overcome the challenges. A two-part questionnaire was designed and administered to a sample of 65 respondents comprising EFL instructors, pre-service student-teachers, administrators and administrative support staff. The first part of the questionnaire included 26 items covering 5 dimensions of challenges and the second consisted of 14 dimensions that covered a total of 77 strategies for overcoming the challenges identified. In general, the challenges were perceived to present serious problems in implementing service-learning; there were no significant ...
This study investigated the effectiveness of Google Classroom as a tool to improve grammar acquis... more This study investigated the effectiveness of Google Classroom as a tool to improve grammar acquisition of Omani EFL learners. It analyzed students’ responses to structured and unstructured Google Classroom frameworks, to examine how each framework impacts performance. Perceptions concerning the use of Google Classroom, and the challenges encountered when using the platform were also identified. The sample of the study included two groups (structured (61) and unstructured (54), n= 115) from grade 11 students from one of the schools in Muscat Governorate in the academic year 2020-2021. Two instruments were used to collect data: a grammar achievement test (pre- post-test) and a questionnaire. The results of the study revealed a statistically significant improvement in students’ grammar performance, in favor of the structured Google Classroom group. All students were highly positive about using Google Classroom, finding it useful, enjoyable and easy. In the light of these findings, impl...
International Journal of English Language and Literature Studies
Graduates from Omani schools are currently struggling at higher education institutions (HEIs) and... more Graduates from Omani schools are currently struggling at higher education institutions (HEIs) and in the labor market, mainly due to their lack of oral English communication skills, a 21st century skill that is in high demand. It is common knowledge that the rate of unemployment has increased and that the number of college students enrolling in English general foundation programs (GFP) is high. This study aimed at examining the perspectives of different stakeholders, such as secondary students, secondary English language teachers, curriculum officers, GFP academics and selected representatives from the business sector. The current study adopted a mixed-method research design to collect and analyze the data. Firstly, questionnaires were distributed to secondary students, teachers and curriculum officers and, then interviews with academics and business/ industry officials were conducted. The results revealed that the students and teachers were satisfied with the curriculum, while the ...
... Title: An analysis of vocabulary teaching in Yemeni TEFL. Authors: Al-Mekhlafi, MohammedAbdo.... more ... Title: An analysis of vocabulary teaching in Yemeni TEFL. Authors: Al-Mekhlafi, MohammedAbdo. Other Contribitors: Ball State University. Dept. of English. Date of Object: 1992. Abstract: Creative ProjectsThere is no abstract available for this creative project. ...
Globally, teachers need to expand their knowledge of other peoples and cultures. As a case in poi... more Globally, teachers need to expand their knowledge of other peoples and cultures. As a case in point, Oman is challenged by a problem of separation between national and expatriate populations. Expatriate students attend either international or expatriate community schools, whereas Omani children can only attend government schools or Arabic/English private schools. The teacher education program at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) in Oman was able to implement a service learning project that helped students cross cultural boundaries while improving their own English language skills. Using a mixed-method approach in data analysis, this study discusses the experiences of thirty EFL student teachers involved in the experiment. Expatriate teachers and principals had expressed a need for their students to learn more about Omani culture. In response, student teachers prepared 45 cultural kits that included written reports, presentations and artefacts, which they presented to classes. Not only ...
English Review: Journal of English Education, 2019
The development of critical thinking is closely related to the questions asked by teachers as the... more The development of critical thinking is closely related to the questions asked by teachers as the teachers higher-order questions are cognitively demanding to promote students critical thinking. The purposes of this study are to investigate how critical thinking was implemented in EFL teachers questions in the classroom and the challenges faced by EFL teachers in integrating critical thinking questions. In addition, this study also investigated students reasons for non-response to particular questions asked by teachers. Applying mixed-method research design, the data were collected from classroom observation, interview, questionnaire and documentations. The research participants were two English teachers and 229 number of students of year 8. The results showed that the most dominant questions asked by the two English teachers were in Lower-order questions (78,8%), while the Higher-order questions were only (21,2%) questions. Second, the challenges faced by teachers were students int...
The present study explored the extent to which action research is practiced by English language t... more The present study explored the extent to which action research is practiced by English language teachers and the factors that affect action research implementation in the Omani ELT context. Additionally, it sought to identify different solutions that could be implemented to strengthen action research practices from the point of view of English language teachers. Data was collected through a questionnaire that was distributed among 366 English language teachers, followed by semi-structured interviews with 8 English language teachers who were actively engaged in conducting action research. There was a low level of practice of action research among English language teachers in the Omani public schools. The study also showed that insufficient time, heavy workload, lack of colleagues’ assistance and support, and lack of motivation were the main factors that hindered action research practices in the Omani ELT context. Participants suggested that providing training, support and incentives ...
The present study aimed to examine the impact of Virtual Writing Tutor (VWT) software on the acad... more The present study aimed to examine the impact of Virtual Writing Tutor (VWT) software on the academic writing skills of Year 1 Omani EFL students in the College of Applied Science, (CAS)-Sohar and their attitudes towards using VWT software to enhance their academic writing skills. The sample consisted of 35 students in the control group and 35 in the experimental group (Total N= 70) who were enrolled in the English for Academic Purposes (ENAP1002) course at CAS-Sohar. The data collection tools included pre-test and post-test for the two groups, and attitude scale for the experimental group. The findings of the study showed a positive large effect size (Cohen’s d = 0.88) of VWT on writing skills. In addition, Year 1 students in the experimental group enjoyed using the VWT software and found it beneficial and helpful in checking the accuracy of their essays including spelling, punctuation, grammar and vocabulary. In light of the research findings, implications and recommendations for ...
Malaysian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2021
University students tend to have poor sleeping pattern, especially those who took professional co... more University students tend to have poor sleeping pattern, especially those who took professional courses. Poor sleep quality may affect one’s mental and physical well- being and quality of life (QoL). Thus, this study aims to determine the sleep quality of pharmacy students, factors associated with it, and their QoL. A cross-sectional study was conducted using questionnaires involving undergraduate pharmacy students in Universiti Sains Malaysia. The Pittsburgh Sleeping Quality Index (PSQI) was used to determine the sleep quality, while QoL was determined using Short Form-36 Survey (SF-36). Poor sleepers were defined as having a PSQI score of ≥ 5. Independent t-test and Chi-square test were used to compare between variables. A total of 256 respondents completed the questionnaires. Majority (n = 215, 84%) of the respondents were poor sleepers. Results showed a nearly 3-fold increase in the risk of being a poor sleeper among those taking more than 20 credit units (odds ratio [OR] 2.73; 9...
This paper recognises that all new approaches and methods of language teaching may have sound the... more This paper recognises that all new approaches and methods of language teaching may have sound theoretical justifications, but the adoption of these in most classrooms, especially in the third world countries, is problematic in some way or other. Curriculum developers and policy makers are often carried away by the new proposals and are eager to subscribe to them probably because questioning the assumptions underlying these proposals coming from theoreticians from developed countries might amount to being labelled „old fashioned‟ or „resistant to change‟. Implementing learner -centred methods in an ESL/EFL context is one such proposal. The paper attempts to present some of the problems and challenges an ESL/EFL teacher may face in trying to adopt learner-centred methods in his/her teaching. It argues that unless these are identified, discussed and addressed, teaching and learning in such a context will not be as effective as one would like or expect to be. The issues and concerns rai...
This study investigated the perceived knowledge and actual practice of Communicative Language Tea... more This study investigated the perceived knowledge and actual practice of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) among post basic education teachers in Omani schools, along with the influence of gender and length of teaching experience years on teachers’ practice of this approach. It also explored the different challenges faced by teachers when implementing CLT. A total of 122 EFL Omani teachers took part in this study. The respondents completed the following: (1) a twenty-five item questionnaire concerning CLT principles; and (2) a questionnaire regarding the challenges of CLT. The results revealed that Omani EFL teachers have a high degree of awareness of the principles of CLT. However, they practice this approach at a moderate level, while their gender and length of teaching experiences have little impact on their actual practice of this approach. The findings further indicated that the implementation of CLT in Omani classrooms is hindered by: (1) teachers’ lack of training in CLT; (...
Journal of Applied Linguistics and Language Research, 2017
With the use of a questionnaire administered to 93 EFL students and 47 teachers, the present stud... more With the use of a questionnaire administered to 93 EFL students and 47 teachers, the present study investigates the perceptions of Omani college level EFL students towards their most preferred classroom activities and their teachers’ perceptions of these preferences. Eight types of class activities were investigated with a total of 48 items. These were: reading, writing, listening, speaking, testing, feedback, participation and other activities. The study is also set to explore the effect of two main variables on students’ classroom preferences, namely the effect of student gender and students’ proficiency level. Results of the study showed a wide agreement between students and teachers where they differed significantly in only 14 classroom activities out of 48 activities. As for the effect of gender, the results revealed that the means scored by female students in all types of classroom activities were a little higher than means scored by male students, however, this difference wa...
Service-learning, a major reform in higher education, is considered essential for developing citi... more Service-learning, a major reform in higher education, is considered essential for developing citizenship for the 21st century. This paper reports a study aimed at investigating the problems and challenges faced when implementing service-learning in pre-service education of teachers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and carried out in the Sultanate of Oman. The study also investigated the strategies that could possibly be used to overcome the challenges. A two-part questionnaire was designed and administered to a sample of 65 respondents comprising EFL instructors, pre-service student-teachers, administrators and administrative support staff. The first part of the questionnaire included 26 items covering 5 dimensions of challenges and the second consisted of 14 dimensions that covered a total of 77 strategies for overcoming the challenges identified. In general, the challenges were perceived to present serious problems in implementing service-learning; there were no significant ...
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