The matrix of ELT (English Language Teaching): students’ perceptions about qualities of an effective teacher

Abstract

Research about the characteristics of effective teachers in general is abundantly available in the literature. However, there has been a dearth of linguistic studies conducted to examine the perception of students about the unique qualities of an effective English teacher in a foreign language context. This study examined the qualities of an effective English teacher as perceived by 72 BA in English and 42 MA in Teaching English as Foreign Language (TEFL) students at Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia using an interview and a questionnaire developed from CELTAS Syllabus and Assessment Guideline. The questionnaire data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, whereas the interview data were thematically analyzed. While the results revealed both congruent perceptions and differing concerns, the majority of the participants valued the linguistic quality of English teacher the most; they also held a belief that an effective English language teacher should have a multifariously instilled quality with the balanced combinations of the three categories. The data also showed a statistically significant difference between MA and BA students regarding their perceptions about the best qualities of an effective English teacher. Drawn from the results of this study, implications for teacher education policy and future research were presented.

Keywords:

• Effective
• teacher qualities
• socio-affective
• content
• pedagogical
• knowledge

REVIEWING EDITOR:

• Arif H Kabir
• Institute of Education and Research
• University of Dhaka
• Bangladesh

SUBJECTS:

• Language & Linguistics
• Language Teaching & Learning
• Literature

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yenus Nurie Bogale

Yenus Nurie Bogale is an associate professor at Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia. His research interests include Instructional Scaffolding, Language Education, and Research Supervision.

Bantalem Derseh Wale

Bantalem Derseh Wale is an assistant professor at Injibara University, Ethiopia. His research interests include Educational Technology, Inquiry-Based Learning, Critical Thinking, Artificial Intelligence, and Language and Linguistics.