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Doing Action Research in English Language Teaching

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Action Research in English Language Teaching: Contributions and Recent Developments

Effects of digital short stories on the development of listening skills: an action research.

Literary texts can be used to improve language learners' skills such as reading, writing, speaking and listening because these texts contain rich vocabulary, complex grammar structures, interesting plot and most importantly imagination of the author. However, using literature for language teaching purposes is a controversial issue among scholars. While some researchers think positively, others have negative views on the subject. Learners' needs and way of using literary texts are the main concerns of literature use in language pedagogy. In this context, the present research aimed to find out whether digital short stories can improve language learners' listening skills. The purpose of this study was to figure out student teachers' perceptions of digital short stories’ implementation into language classrooms. Specifically, the current research aimed to investigate whether digital short stories are useful to develop language learners' listening skills in English. The research is action research in design. The study used pre-test and post-test, a written structured interview to collect data and it included both quantitative and qualitative components. The interview consisted of six open-ended questions. Achievement tests and t-test were used to analyze quantitative data. On the other hand, content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. The data were collected in 2016-2017 academic years, Bayburt University. Participants were prep class students of English language teaching department of Bayburt University. In the treatment process, digital short stories were used for eight weeks, which were written by various famous American authors and voice recorded by various American natives. Additionally, weekly worksheets and handouts were prepared by the researcher. Results showed that digital short stories provide satisfactory content, supports vocabulary learning, improves language learners’ listening skills, helps participants to gain familiarity with complex grammar structures and makes students more familiar with different cultures. Furthermore, participants are satisfied with digital short stories and they think these digital stories are useful to improve their listening skills.

STEM for English Language Teaching

This chapter presents an example of STEM and English language teaching integration. In this study, it was aimed to improve students' English language skills and increase their engagement with the appliance of STEM. In this descriptive study, a way of integrating STEM into the language teaching process was explained with an applied example. The research is of qualitative design with the implementation of action research method. As a result, the implementation improved students' language skills and gave students the chance of using knowledge of other disciplines in English courses while increasing their engagement. Additively, the implementation developed students' 21st century skills. It is thought this study can be an inspiration for English teachers to apply various approaches in their teaching processes. In addition, the study can be accepted as an example of the contribution of STEM to English language teaching process. Moreover, the study is a representation of teacher research, and this research can be assessed as an inspiration for teachers to turn their practices into research.

Action research: an evolving paradigm?

Action research is a relatively recent phenomenon in the field of English language teaching, having emerged in the literature predominantly since the late 1980s. In this article, I discuss the antecedents, definitions, processes, and purposes of action research in the field of English language teaching. Action research is also considered in relation to more established notions of basic and applied research. The current scope and nature of action research studies found in the literature are then analysed. The article concludes with a consideration of some of the challenges to the status of action research as a research methodology and the issues that will need to be addressed if action research by language teachers is to be sustainable.

Teacher engagement in research: Published resources for teacher researchers - Books from regional locations - Gregory Hadley (ed.). Action research in action, Singapore: SEAMEO Regional Language Centre (2003). Pp. iv + 54. ISBN 9971-74-081-8. - Gertrude Tinker Sachs (ed.). Action research in English language teaching. Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong (2002). Pp. vii + 255. ISBN 962-442-227-3. - Books from governmental initiatives - Simon Borg (ed.). Classroom research in English language teaching in Oman. Oman: Ministry of Education, Sultanate of Oman (2006a). Pp. xii + 136. No ISBN. - Simon Borg (ed.). Investigating English language teaching and learning in Oman. Oman: Ministry of Education, Sultanate of Oman (2008). Pp. xiii + 166. ISBN 978-9948-03-769-9. - Kay Gallagher & Khadar Bashir-Ali (eds.). Action research and initial teacher education in the UAE: Perspectives from teacher education at the Higher Colleges of Technology. Abu Dhabi: HCT Press (2007). Pp. 141. ISBN 978-9948-03-554-1. - Anne Warne, Michael O'brien, Zafar Syed & Mary Zuriek (eds.). Action research in English language teaching in the UAE: Perspectives from teacher education at the Higher Colleges of Technology. Abu Dhabi: HCT Press (2006). Pp. 124. ISBN 9948-03-246-2. - Books from international contexts - Simon Borg (ed.). Language teacher research in Europe. Alexandria, VA: TESOL (2006b). Pp. vii + 206. ISBN 978-1931-18-537-0. - Anne Burns & Jill Burton (eds.). Language teacher research in Australia and New Zealand. Alexandria, VA: TESOL (2008). Pp. vii + 249. ISBN 978-1931-18-547-9. - Christine Coombe & Lisa Barlow (eds.). Language teacher research in the Middle East. Alexandria, VA: TESOL (2007). Pp. vii + 209. ISBN 978-1931-18-541-7. - Thomas S. C. Farrell (ed.). Language teacher research in Asia. Alexandria, VA: TESOL (2006). Pp. vii + 209. ISBN 978-1931-18-533-2. - Leketi Makalela (ed.). Language teacher research in Africa. Alexandria, VA: TESOL (2009). Pp. vii + 124. ISBN 978-1931-18- 554-7. - Hedy M. Mcgarrell (ed.). Language teacher research in the Americas. Alexandria, VA: TESOL (2007). Pp. vii + 203. ISBN 978-1931-18-542-4.

Book review: anne burns (2010). doing action research in english language teaching: a guide for practitioners. new york: routledge. 196 pp. $24.95 (paperback). isbn 978-0-415-99145-2, book review: doing action research in english language teaching: a guide for practitioners, action research as a tool for professional development in the k-12 elt classroom.

Professional development in the K-12 English language teaching (ELT) classroom is an evolving entity that focuses on meeting the needs of changing demographics and latest educational trends. As a result, many texts have been published with the intention of providing the necessary skills educators need for success in their classrooms and to instruct a highly heterogeneous English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) student population. Nonetheless, many of these resources focus on specific scenarios and instructional approaches that may not be applicable for all ESOL teachers. In this Perspectives article, I propose the incorporation of action research as a practice for K-12 teachers with the vision of empowering them to take control of their professional development and continue improving their instructional practices. Furthermore, I share three examples of how I have used action research in my own practice and the benefits obtained by my ESOL department, my ESOL students, and myself as a teacher researcher. Le perfectionnement professionnel dans les classes d’anglais du système d’éducation K-12 est une réalité changeante qui cherche à concilier les besoins de l’évolution démographique avec ceux des dernières tendances éducatives. De nombreux textes ont été publiés afin de procurer aux éducatrices et éducateurs les compétences nécessaires à leur réussite en classe, et également dans le but de renseigner une population étudiante hautement hétérogène dans le système d’enseignement de l’anglais à des apprenants étrangers (ESOL). Toutefois, plusieurs de ces sources mettent l’accent sur des scénarios spécifiques et des démarches pédagogiques qui peuvent ne pas convenir à toutes les enseignantes et tous les enseignants ESOL. Dans cet article de Perspectives, je recommande la pratique de la recherche-action aux enseignantes et enseignants du système d’éducation K-12 en vue de leur permettre de s’autonomiser pour prendre en main leur propre perfectionnement professionnel et continuer d’améliorer leurs pratiques pédagogiques. Je donne également trois exemples de la façon dont j’ai recouru à la recherche-action dans ma propre activité et des avantages qu’en ont tirés mon département ESOL, mes étudiantes et étudiants ESOL, et moi-même comme enseignant chercheur.

language teaching

We are delighted to begin our term as editors with a stimulating special-feature article by Anne Burns on action research. While the term ‘action research’ is not new in the wider field of research methodology, it remains a relatively recent phenomenon in the field of language teaching, but one which is increasingly the subject of much debate. Anne Burns takes a critical look at the origins, purpose, scope and impact of action research in the area of English language teaching, and describes both the challenges to its status as a research methodology and the issues which need to be addressed by language teachers if it is to remain a sustainable methodology. In addition to being an authoritative overview of the paradigm, the article provides excellent background for a state-of-the-art article on the development of the language teacher written by Steve Mann, which will appear in the next issue of this journal.

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Doing Action Research in English Language Teaching

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This study aims to investigate a group of language teachers who seek to improve their general English syllabus through action research. Action research offers practitioners possibilities to address syllabus issues through thoughtful inquiry. Because the study requires the researcher to comprehend the subject of study, research techniques allowing participants express their beliefs, and opinions about the syllabus are entirely appropriate. Thus, it is unlikely that other research methods allow action researchers understand the contextual reality as qualitative methods do. Interviews are conducted as they are widely used in action research studies and are suitable techniques to gain insights into the practitioners' collective reflective enquiry. The study shows that action research is a valuable tool to improve a language syllabus, an additional element action research offers to the process of syllabus improvement is that teachers can take responsibility for themselves and their actions thus by improving the syllabus they follow, they are able to emancipate themselves from the controlled situation they can find themselves in.

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Given the easy availability of information due to social media, language teachers need to move beyond their role as mere disseminators of information to that of as an innovator, enabling learners to think critically. To do so, language teachers must make action research an indispensable part of their language teaching armoury. They must realise that the challenges of teaching, be it student disinterest, poor comprehension skills or weak performances can be tackled. One way of doing so is to conduct some research within their own classrooms so as to seek solutions to overcome these challenges. This paper highlights the importance of action research and how it can be conducted. Using two case studies as examples, this paper hopes that these experiences in action research will encourage teachers to conduct their own classroom research in overcoming any issue they face in their respective language classrooms. It is also hoped that this recommendation can enable teachers move beyond thei...

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The capacity of Action Research (AR) in the fields of applied linguistics and language teaching has been praised by some commentators and criticized by others. While AR has been featured in several publications on research methods for applied linguistics, several perceived drawbacks of this approach have hindered its more widespread application and implementation. In order to promote the viability of AR, this paper highlights several benefits and reviews criticisms of both conceptual and practical limitations of this type of research. The paper then suggests practical solutions for overcoming these hurdles so that more teacher-researchers are able to undertake AR projects in their language classrooms. Examples from AR studies conducted by the author serve to exemplify ways in which these solutions can be applied in practice. The paper argues that AR is achievable for any teacher interested in improving their language classrooms and their professional teaching practices.

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Second Handbook of English Language Teaching pp 991–1005 Cite as

Action Research in English Language Teaching: Contributions and Recent Developments

• Anne Burns 2  
• Reference work entry
• First Online: 10 October 2019

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Part of the book series: Springer International Handbooks of Education ((SIHE))

Action research, as part of a more general movement toward “teacher research,” has become increasingly prevalent in the field of English language teaching (ELT) over the last two decades. It can be considered as a form of professional learning for language teachers which takes a socioconstructivist approach in which teachers are seen as agentive actors within their own social contexts. After providing an account of the conceptual features of action research and a brief overview of its origins, this chapter considers how it relates to other forms of research in ELT. It outlines the development of action research within the field of English language teaching. It then considers what various studies have shown about the impact of conducting action research on teachers. The chapter also considers some of the more recent initiatives that have contributed to the spread of this form of research in the field of English language teaching.

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Burns, A. (2019). Action Research in English Language Teaching: Contributions and Recent Developments. In: Gao, X. (eds) Second Handbook of English Language Teaching. Springer International Handbooks of Education. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02899-2_52

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