Effective teaching of the macro-skills: reflections from Filipino teachers of English

ABSTRACT

The English Language Teacher’s ability to examine his/her own practices and beliefs is always an area of language-teaching research worth exploring because the findings have an impact on classroom practice. However, while research on teaching the macro-skills is a rich area in the discipline, teacher beliefs in this aspect remain underexplored especially in developing countries such as the Philippines. This paper examines beliefs of teacher effectiveness in implementing lessons in the macro-skills among ESL teachers in the Philippines. Using data from reflective logs and interviews of 16 teachers of English in the Philippines, data reveal that the main beliefs among teachers center on learner centeredness, instructional skills in teaching the macro-skills and professional development. This paper argues that among the macro-skills, writing and speaking pose challenges in lesson implementation. In addition, the findings suggest that beliefs in effective teaching of the macro-skills are related to learner centeredness, instructional effectiveness and culture contribute to a nuanced account of teacher belief research in English language teaching in the Philippine context.

KEYWORDS:

• Philippine education
• English language teaching
• teacher beliefs
• teaching the macroskills
• reflective practice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ma. Joahna Mante-Estacio

Ma. Joahna Mante-Estacio teaches English and methodology courses in both undergraduate and graduate levels. She conducts teacher training, writes textbooks and modules and conducts studies on reading, literacy, and teacher education.

Paolo Nino Valdez

Paolo Nino Valdez is a research fellow and associate professor of the Department of English and Applied Linguistics, De La Salle University. His research interests are in the areas of critical pedagogy, discourse analysis and sociolinguistics of globalization.

Dennis Pulido

Dennis Pulido teaches English and research courses in both undergraduate and graduate courses. His research interests are language teaching, discourse analysis, computer-mediated communication, and deconstruction.