Pre-service Teachers' reflection on Teaching English for Young Learners Course and their Perspectives towards Meeting the 21st Century Skills at Hebron University

Mohammed Farrah

Abstract


 Pre-service Teachers' reflection on  Teaching English for Young Learners Course and their Perspectives towards Meeting the 21st  Century Skills at Hebron University

Abstract

One of the important issues in learning is quality standards. Recently, many studies discussed the importance of meeting the 21st century skills to ensure the quality of the teaching and learning process. A few studies have used 21st century skills to evaluate their courses. This study looks at the extent to which a Teaching English for Young Learners course offered by the English Department at Hebron University, Palestine, met the 21st century skills. Studies on language courses using the 21st century skills are hardly known, as evidenced in the literature review. This study marks the first time such skills have been used to evaluate a language course. A quantitative research methodology was employed. Data was obtained through a questionnaire. It was completed by 38 students who attended the Teaching English for Young Learners course. 21st century skills were: (a) critical thinking skills; (b) creativity and innovation skills; (c) communication skills; (d) collaboration skills; (e) self-direction skills; (f) global connection; (g) local connections, and (h) the use of information communication technology (ICT). According to the participants, the course met the 21st century skills in varying degrees; the use of information communication technology (ICT) (M=4.62); collaboration skills (M=4.42); communication skills (M=4.38); Critical thinking skills (M=4.22); self-direction skills (M=4.08); Creativity and innovation skills (M=3.98); global connection (M=3.96; and local connections (M=3.85) respectively. The results obtained from the open-ended part of the questionnaire showed that the students felt that the aspects related to 21st century skills were achieved as the course presented for them a unique opportunity for practical application such as group presentations, collaborative activities and microteaching. Additionally, the participants found the course to be an amazing course that contributed to their professional growth. Finally, the participants described the course and its activities as enjoyable practical, useful, delightful interesting creative, meaningful, entertaining, valuable, practical, helpful, joyful, inspiring and informative. This research demonstrated the usefulness of the 21st century skills in measuring the quality of a Teaching English for Young Learners course.

 

دراسة تقييمية لمهارات القرن الحادي والعشرين من خلال مساق اللغة الإنجليزية للأطفال

 

ملخص

تعد مستويات الجودة من القضايا ذات الأهمية فيما يتعلق في مجال التعليم. وفي الآونة الأخيرة تناولت العديد من الدراسات أهمية توفر مهارات القرن الحادي والعشرين وذلك لضمان جودة التعلم والتعليم. والغرض من هذه الدراسة هو النظر في مدى توفر مهارات القرن العشرين في مساق تدريس اللغة الإنجليزية للأطفال المعد من قبل قسم اللغة الانجليزية في جامعة الخليل. ومن خلال استعراض الدراسات السابقة في مجال البحث تبين أن هناك عدداً ضئيلاً جداً، لا يكاد يذكر. ولقد تم استخدام  منهج البحث الكمي في الدراسة. وقد تم الحصول على البيانات الكمية من خلال إعداد استبيان وزع على طلبة المساق البالغ عدهم  38 طالبا وطالبة. واشتمل الاستبيان على مهارات القرن الحادي والعشرين التالية: ا) مهارات التفكير الناقد ب) مهارات الابداع والابتكار ج) مهارات الاتصال د) مهارات التعاون هـ) مهارات التوجيه الذاتي و) مهارات التواصل العالمي ز) مهارات التواصل المحلي ح) مهارات استخدام تكنولوجيا الاتصالات والمعلومات. وبناء على نتائج الاستبيان، فإن المساق طبق مهارات القرن الحادي والعشرين بدرجات متفاوتة: استخدام تكنولوجيا الاتصالات المعلوماتية (م = 4.62) ؛ مهارات التعاون (M = 4.42) ؛ مهارات الاتصال (M = 4.38) ؛ مهارات التفكير الناقد (M = 4.22) ؛ مهارات التوجيه الذاتي (M = 4.08) ؛ مهارات الإبداع والابتكار (M = 3.98) ؛ اتصال عالمي (M = 3.96 ؛ واتصالات محلية (M = 3.85) على التوالي.  وقد أظهرت النتائج التي تم الحصول عليها من خلال الاسئلة المفتوحة من الاستبيان أن الطلاب شعروا بأن الجوانب المتعلقة بمهارات القرن الحادي والعشرين قد تحققت كما تمكنوا من الاستفادة من فرصة التطبيق العملي مثل العروض التقديمية للمجموعات والأنشطة التعاونية، بالإضافة إلى ذلك، وجد المشاركون أن المساق ساهم في نموهم المهني.

 

 


Keywords


21st century skills communication; collaboration; self-direction; (f) global connection; (g) local connections, and (h) the use of (ICT)مهارات القرن الحادي والعشرين، التفكير الناقد، الابداع والابتكار، مهارات الاتصال، التعاون، التوجيه الذاتي، التواصل، تكنو

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.35682/722

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MUTAH UNIVERSITY