Teachers and students perceptions of teaching English in small classes in Ecuador

Abstract

The aim of this research was to find out the teachers and students’ perceptions of teaching and learning English in small classes in order to determine if some problems in English learning have to do with the number of students that the teachers have to deal with. A class size research study was conducted based on several previous and reliable studies and theories provided by different authors through the years. A quantitative and qualitative methods have been postulated. The research sample was of 50 high school students between the age of 12 and 16 as well as 5 teachers basically in private high schools located in Quito – Ecuador. Teachers and students filled out a twenty-one question survey whose results were then analyzed through statistical charts to reveal that most teachers and students strongly agreed or agreed that smaller class sizes increase student’s achievement. Based on literature findings and previous studies as well as well as on the results that surveys, note- taking and observation class sheets supplied, it could be concluded that smaller class sizes do increase students’ achievement. Key words: class size, research, quantitative, qualitative, sample, survey, achievement, previous studies, observation, perception.