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Teaching Large Classes in Chinese High Schools: What Do Teachers Say and Do?

  • Gu Ming

    GU Ming, MA, Lecturer at the Foreign Language Department, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing). His research interests cover ELT methodology, teacher education, action research, English curriculum reform in basic education and teaching English to young learners.

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    and Wang Qiang

    WANG Qiang, MA, MEd, PhD, Director and Professor at the Centre for Foreign Language Education and Teacher Education, School of Foreign Languages and Literature, Beijing Normal University. Her research interests cover English curriculum reform in basic education, language learning theories, ELT methodology, curriculum development, action research, and language teacher education.

Published/Copyright: September 11, 2017
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Abstract

Teaching English to large classes is a common phenomenon in developing countries, and China is no exception. Such an issue has attracted attention of many researchers worldwide over the past two decades. However, such research in China has been relatively rare. This paper reports an investigation into teachers’ perceptions and practices of teaching English to large classes in Chinese schools. The study used both quantitative and qualitative methods to explore teachers’ attitude towards their perceived problems regarding teaching English to large classes, and the strategies they used to cope with large classes. Results show that an overwhelming majority of the Chinese English teachers (92.6%) hold a negative attitude towards teaching English in large classes. Pedagogical issues, management-related difficulties and psychological burden emerged as major obstacles. Despite these problems, teachers were seeking strategies to cope with the problems in their daily practices with more or less success.

About the authors

Gu Ming

GU Ming, MA, Lecturer at the Foreign Language Department, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing). His research interests cover ELT methodology, teacher education, action research, English curriculum reform in basic education and teaching English to young learners.

Wang Qiang

WANG Qiang, MA, MEd, PhD, Director and Professor at the Centre for Foreign Language Education and Teacher Education, School of Foreign Languages and Literature, Beijing Normal University. Her research interests cover English curriculum reform in basic education, language learning theories, ELT methodology, curriculum development, action research, and language teacher education.

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Published Online: 2017-9-11
Published in Print: 2017-6-27

© 2017 FLTRP, Walter de Gruyter, Cultural and Education Section British Embassy

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