Exploring English Language Teachers’ Role In An ESL Classroom

Abstract

English language has occupied an important status in the world being an International Language and the language of Business, Technology and Science. It has increased the role of English teachers especially in Pakistan. The role and responsibilities of English language teachers in Pakistan is very critical issue. This study intends to find the perceptions of the English language teachers and the learners of English regarding the variety of roles that are performed by English language teachers in the classroom. This study aims to find the gap between the perception of the English teachers and the students so that the English teachers can try to bridge the gap. The samples of the study are the teachers and the students of Government Postgraduate College Bure Wala Distt. Vehari. The data was
collected through the tool of interview as two semi-structured interviews were conducted with the English teachers and the students. So the data was collected by employing qualitative method. The text elicited from the interviews was transcribed carefully and later it was analyzed by using grounded theory analysis techniques of” Open, Axial and Selective Coding “paradigm model (Strauss & Corbin, 1998). Different roles of the English teachers were developed out this coding process resulting into a “core category” that was
formulated after finding common and most frequently mentioned roles of the English language teacher in the perception of both the English teachers and English language learners. So this study is an effort to bridge the gap between the perception of the English
teachers and the students regarding the various roles of English teachers. It further highlights the expected roles of English teachers as are demanded from better teachers.