WAKA KOSHIBA (SHITENNOJI UNIVERSITY)

IMPLEMENTING TEACHER TALK STRATEGIES FOR LOW-LEVEL LEARNERS: INSIGHTS FROM ENGLISH PICTURE BOOK READING : TEACHER EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This study investigated how in-service teachers leveraged their understanding of English language usage to effectively teach low-level English learners in an EFL context, employing an English picture book reading project. Seven in-service teachers participated in this study, all of whom were enrolled in a course on teaching English to children taught by the author during the 2023 academic year. Throughout the course, the participants were equipped with teacher talk strategies aimed at enhancing primary school students' comprehension and verbal expression in English lessons. Towards the end of the course, the participants engaged in reading English picture books to first-year primary school students, arranging them into small groups ranging from 5 to 7 students. Data collection included reflective reports from the participants and recordings of their sessions reading English picture books to the students. Analysis of the data revealed a diverse array of strategies employed by the participants during the picture book reading, tailored to the specific content and highly pertinent to effective teaching techniques. These strategies went beyond repetition, the use of visual aids and simplification, typically employed for low-level learners. They incorporated adaptive approaches, such as using the introduction part of the story and employing L1 (Japanese) when necessary to engage students. The findings underscore the practical application of teacher talk strategies in English instruction for low-level learners, emphasizing the importance of integrating instructional content that applies such strategies into teacher training programs.

Waka Koshiba, Associate Professor at Shitennoji University, brings extensive experience in English education at all levels, including primary school. Dedicated to teacher education, Koshiba is committed to fostering effective pedagogy and supporting educators in delivering quality language instruction.