English Foreign Language Teachers’ Pedagogical Beliefs: Traditional Teaching and Language Socialisation

Abstract

Teachers’ beliefs play a key role in the selection of language teaching methodologies. They affect teachers’ pedagogical practices and behaviors and are, consequently, integral in shaping the language learning classroom environment. This study investigates the beliefs of teachers of English as a Foreign Language in relation to the concepts of traditional teaching method (e.g., Grammar-Translation Method) and language socialisation which emphasises the importance of socialization within social norms of the target community through exposure and interaction. The study uses questionnaire and interview to examine the beliefs of 28 teachers about language teaching methods in a Saudi higher education context. The findings revealed that, despite the fact that teachers continue to believe in traditional teaching methods, they show considerable support for language socialisation in language learning. Therefore, the findings suggest the need for teachers to explore their beliefs on teaching the foreign language and creating teachers’ awareness of teaching methodologies (e.g., awareness of factors associated with language socialisation such as interaction and the focus on meaning rather than form).