Teachers’ Engagement in an Omani University Foundation Programme Salama Abdul Aziz Ahmed Al-Ruqaishi PhD University of York Education November 2017 Abstract: This study is about teachers’ engagement in a University Foundation Programme in Oman. In particular, the study probes the learning-teaching beliefs that both teachers and students hold inside the classroom in an Omani context. These students are in their first university year and come from a range of settings in Oman, so these learning beliefs could result from learning styles in the school being different to those in a university. The students were not used to be taught English as a second language in schools and they are not used to be taught by native speakers of the language. These changes in students’ learning environment could influence teacher engagement inside the classroom. This study used both quantitative and qualitative methods to answer the research questions. The Engaged Teacher Scale (ETS) and the Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI) were both used in this study. The Engaged Teacher Scale was in teachers’ questionnaire, students’ questionnaire and in the form of a closed diary every two weeks. The Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI) had two versions, one for teachers and one for students. Semi-structured interviews were conducted for both teachers and students to give reasons for their responses in the questionnaires and diaries. Analysis of variance showed a main effect of Students’ Level on their Social Engagement with their teachers. Teachers’ data also shows that Pre-Foundation (A) teachers were more socially engaged with their students which agree with the students’ data, but Social Engagement was not significant with Teachers’ data. Results from Teachers’ Diaries also indicated that participants did rate the three Emotional Engagement differently and that these differences were statically significant. This showed the importance of Teachers’ Emotional Engagement when the decreasing significance of Emotional Engagement can decrease all components of Teachers’ Engagement. 2 Table of Contents Abstract: ..................................................................................................................................... 2 Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................ 3 List of Figures ............................................................................................................................. 8 List of Tables ............................................................................................................................ 10 Author’s declaration .................................................................................................................. 11 Dedication................................................................................................................................. 12 Chapter 1: Introduction .......................................................................................................... 13 1.1 Scope and Importance of the Study ...................................................................................... 13 1.2 The Education System in Oman ........................................................................................... 14 1.2.1 English Language Teaching in Oman ............................................................................ 15 1.2.1.1 Higher Education in Oman ..................................................................................... 15 1.2.1.2 Education Reform .................................................................................................. 15 1.2.1.3 Education Reform and Reality ................................................................................ 16 1.2.1.4 Teachers’ Role in the Educational Reform .............................................................. 19 1.3 Place of study ...................................................................................................................... 21 1.4 Placement Test ................................................................................................................... 21 1.5 Aims of Intensive English Language Programme (IELP) ..................................................... 22 1.6 Courses of Intensive English Language Programme (IELP) ................................................. 22 1.7 Students’ Psychological Difficulties in Learning English ..................................................... 24 1.8 Students’ Behaviour in the Classroom ................................................................................. 25 1.9 Teachers’ Behaviour in the Classroom ................................................................................. 25 1.10 Theoritical Framework of The Reasearch ........................................................................... 27 Chapter 2: Literature Review ................................................................................................. 28 2.1 The Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) Model......................................................................... 28 2.2 JD-R and Work Engagement ............................................................................................... 30 2.3 Work Engagement ............................................................................................................... 31 3 2.3.1 Factors Affecting Work Engagement ............................................................................ 32 2.3.2 Negative and Positive Sides of Work Engagement ........................................................ 34 2.4 Teacher Engagement ........................................................................................................... 34 2.4.1Factors Influencing Teacher Engagement ....................................................................... 35 2.5 Teachers’ Emotions & Emotional Intelligence ..................................................................... 36 2.5.1 Culture and Emotions ................................................................................................... 38 2.5.2 Factors Influencing Emotions ....................................................................................... 39 2.6 Personality .......................................................................................................................... 39 2.6.1 The Big Five Theoritical Framework ............................................................................ 40 2.6.2 Personality and Job Performance .................................................................................. 40 2.6.3 Teachers’ Personality .................................................................................................... 41 2.7 Teacher-Student Interpersonal Relationships ....................................................................... 41 2.7.1 Factors Influencing Teacher-Student Interpersonal Relationship.................................... 41 2.7.2 Elements of Teacher-Student Interpersonal Relationship ............................................... 42 2.7.3 Model of Interpersonal Teacher Behaviour (MITB) ................................................... 43 2.8 Cultural Communication ..................................................................................................... 45 2.8.1 Cultural Communication in Education .......................................................................... 46 2.8.2 Some Suggestions to Resolve Teacher–students’ Cultural Communication Conflict ...... 47 Chapter 3: Research Methodology ......................................................................................... 49 3.1 Research Paradigms ............................................................................................................ 49 3.2 Mixed Methods Design ....................................................................................................... 49 3.2.1 Reasons for Using a Mixed Methods Design ................................................................. 49 3.2.2 Arguments against a Mixed Methods Design ................................................................ 51 3.2.3 Things to be Considered before Using a Mixed Methods Design ................................... 52 3.3 Diary Study ......................................................................................................................... 53 3.3.1 Advantages of Using Diary Studies ............................................................................... 54 3.3.2 Disadvantages of Using Diary Studies........................................................................... 54 3.3.3 Analysing Diary Studies ............................................................................................... 54 3.4 Using Analysis of Variance (One-Way ANOVA) ................................................................ 55 3.5 Scales .................................................................................................................................. 55 3.5.1 Scales Used in the Study ............................................................................................... 56 3.5.1.1 Engaged Teachers Scale (ETS)............................................................................... 56 4 3.5.1.2 Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI) ........................................................... 56 3.6 Interviews ........................................................................................................................... 57 3.6.1 Things to be considered before Conducting Interviews .................................................. 57 3.6.2 Stages of Conducting Interviews ................................................................................... 58 3.6.3 Interviews in this Research ........................................................................................... 58 3.6.3.1 Semi-Structured Interview...................................................................................... 58 3.7 Ethical Issues ...................................................................................................................... 59 3.8 Validity and Consistency of Research .................................................................................. 60 3.9 Pilot Study .......................................................................................................................... 61 3.9.1 Participants ................................................................................................................... 61 3.9.2 Procedure ..................................................................................................................... 62 3.9.3 Translation ................................................................................................................... 63 3.10 Research Questions ........................................................................................................... 63 Chapter 4: Quantitative Findings ........................................................................................... 65 4.1 Scales Used in the Main Study............................................................................................. 65 4.1.1 Engaged Teachers Scale (ETS) ..................................................................................... 65 4.1.2 Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI) .................................................................. 65 4.2 Translation .......................................................................................................................... 66 4.3 Quantitative Data................................................................................................................. 67 4.3.1 Cronbach’s Alpha of Teachers’ Questionnaire .............................................................. 67 4.3.2 Cronbach’s Alpha of Students’ Questionnaire ............................................................... 71 4.4 Correlations ......................................................................................................................... 72 4.5 Analysis of Variance ........................................................................................................... 76 4.6 Independent Variables ......................................................................................................... 97 4.7 Analysis and Discussion………………………………………………………………………………………………………97 Chapter 5: Qualitative Findings ............................................................................................. 99 5.1 Thematic Analysis ............................................................................................................. 100 5.1.1 What is Thematic Analysis? ........................................................................................ 100 5.1.2 What is a Theme? ....................................................................................................... 101 5.1.3 Types of Thematic Analysis ........................................................................................ 101 5.1.4 Advantages and Disadvantages of Thematic Analysis ................................................. 103 5 5.1.5 How Thematic Analysis is used in this Research ......................................................... 104 5.2Themes related to Qualitative Data ..................................................................................... 107 5.2.1Traditional Teacher-Centred Role ................................................................................ 107 5.2.2 Correcting Errors ....................................................................................................... 108 5.2.3 Providing an Answer Model....................................................................................... 112 5.2.4 Providing In-Class Student Discussions ...................................................................... 114 5.2.5 Independent Learning ................................................................................................. 117 5.3 Cultural Factors ................................................................................................................ 121 5.4 Critical Thinking .............................................................................................................. 123 5.5Other Factors Related to University System ........................................................................ 124 5.6 Other Teachers’ Beliefs about Learning-Teaching Methods .............................................. 126 5.7 Other Factors Related to the School System ...................................................................... 131 5.8 Teacher Characteristics ...................................................................................................... 137 5.9 Teachers’ Diaries.............................................................................................................. 138 5.10 Students’ Learning-Teaching Beliefs ............................................................................... 140 5.10.1 Traditional Teacher-Centred Role. ........................................................................... 140 5.10.2 Correcting Errors ..................................................................................................... 142 5.10.3 Providing an Answer Model ..................................................................................... 143 5.10.4 Providing In-class Student Discussions ..................................................................... 144 5.10.5 Independent Learning ............................................................................................... 145 5.10.6 Learning-Teaching Beliefs Related to Schools ......................................................... 147 5.10.6.1 Students’ beliefs about themselves ..................................................................... 147 5.10.6.2 Using students’ first language in learning English............................................... 148 5.10. 6.3 Using memorisation when learning English ....................................................... 149 5.10. 6.4 Having a different system at university to that at school..................................... 149 5.10.6.5 Students’ beliefs about the characteristics of the teachers who teach them the English language ............................................................................................................. 152 5.11 Learning-teaching Beliefs Related to the Students’ Open Questions ................................. 154 5.12 Teacher Engagement ....................................................................................................... 160 5.12.1 Emotional Engagement ............................................................................................. 160 5.12.2 Social Engagement with Students.............................................................................. 166 5.13 Teacher-Student Relationship .......................................................................................... 173 6 5.13.1 Helpful/ Friendly (QTI) ............................................................................................ 173 5.13.2 Understanding (QTI) ................................................................................................. 180 5.14- Students’ Point of View about Teacher Engagement ....................................................... 185 5.14.1 Social Engagement with Teachers ............................................................................. 185 5.15- Teacher-Student Relationship ......................................................................................... 189 5.15.1 Helpful/ Friendly (QTI) ............................................................................................ 189 5.15.2 Understanding (QTI) ................................................................................................. 194 5.16- Analysis and Discussion…………………………………………………………………………………………………198 5.17- Job Resources suggested by the participants………………………………………………………………..199 Chapter 6: Conclusions and Recommendations ................................................................... 210 6.1 Summary of Findings ........................................................................................................ 210 6.2 Limitations ........................................................................................................................ 211 6.3 Recommendations for practice ........................................................................................... 212 6.4 Recommendations for Further Research ............................................................................. 213 6.5 Conclusions ....................................................................................................................... 214 List of Appendices ................................................................................................................... 215 Appendix A :Teachers’ Questionnaire ..................................................................................... 217 Appendix B: Teachers’ First Diary Questions ........................................................................... 223 Appendix C: Teachers’ Second Diary Questions ...................................................................... 228 Appendix D:Teachers’ Third Diary Questions .......................................................................... 233 Appendix E: Students’ Questionnaire ...................................................................................... 238 Appendix F: Teachers’ Interview Questions ............................................................................ 244 Appendix G: Students’ Interview Questions ............................................................................ 246 Appendix H: Management Interview Questions ..................................................................... 248 Appendix I: Interview Transcript Teacher 1 ............................................................................ 250 Appendix J: Interview Transcript Teacher 2 ............................................................................ 261 References .............................................................................................................................. 274 7 List of Figures Figure 1.1 Theoritical Framework of The Research ................................................... p.27 Figure 2.1 The Job Demands-Resources Model ......................................................... p.29 Figure 2.2 Model of Interpersonal Teacher Behaviour ................................................ p.44 Figure 3.1Graphs of the Three Major Research Paradigms, Including Subtypes of Mixed Methods Research ...................................................................................................... p.52 Figure 4.1 Changing in Teachers' Emotional engagement over time .......................... p78 Figure 4.2 Changing in Teachers' Social Engagement over time ............................... p.80 Figure 4.3 Changing in Total Teacher Engagement over time ..................................... p.82 Figure 4.4 New diagram for changing Emotional Engagement.................................. p.83 Figure 4.5 New Diagram for changing Social Engagement ....................................... p.84 Figure 4.6 New Diagram for changing Total Engagement ......................................... p.85 Figure 4.7 Difference between students in Social Engagement.................................. p.87 Figure 4.8 Difference between students in Helpful/Friendly QTI .............................. p.88 Figure 4.9 Difference between students in Understanding QTI ................................. p.89 Figure 4.10 Difference between students in total QTI ................................................ p.90 Figure 4.11 Difference between Pre-Intermediate students in Social Engagement ....... p.91 Figure 4.12 Difference between Pre-Intermediate students in Helpful /Friendly ........ p.92 8 Figure 4.13 Difference between Pre-Intermediate students in Understanding .............. p.93 Figure 4.14 Difference between Pre-Intermediate students in Total QTI ..................... p.94 Figure 4.15 Difference between teachers in Social Engagement with students .......... p.95 Figure 4.16 Social Engagement of new combined level teachers................................. p 96 Figure 5.1 Themes related to Questionnaires Data ..................................................... p105 Figure 5.2 Other Inductive Themes........................................................................... p 106 9 List of Tables Table 1.1 Placement Test Score for each Level ........................................................... p 21 Table 1.2 Contacting Hours Programme for each Level .............................................. p.23 Table 4.1 Emotional Engagement Reliability ............................................................ p.68 Table 4.2 Teacher Social Engagemnt Reliability ......................................................... p.68 Table 4.3 Teacher Helpful/Friendly Reliability ........................................................... p.68 Table 4.4 Teacher Understanding Reliability ............................................................. p69 Table 4.5 QTI Teachers Understanding Deleted Items Reliability ............................... p 70 Table 4.6 Students Social Engagemnt Reliability ...................................................... p 71 Table 4.7 Students Helpful/Friendly Reliability .......................................................... p 71 Table 4.8 Students Understanding Reliability ........................................................... p 71 Table 4.9 Correlation between Teacher Engagement, Teacher-Student Relationship and Learning-Teaching Beliefs from Teachers' point of view ............................................ p 73 Table 4.10 Correlation between Teacher Engagement, Teacher-Student Relationship and Learning-Teaching Beliefs from Students' point of view ............................................. p 75 Table 4.11 Composite of Emotional Engagement Diaries ........................................... p 77 Table 4.12 Composite of Teacher's Social Engagement Diaries .................................. p 79 Table 4.13 Composite of Total Teacher Engagement Diaries ..................................... p 81 Table 4.14 Correlation between Teacher Engagement, Teacher-Student Relationship, Age and Months of Experience .......................................................................................... p 97 10