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

Abstract

This research was conducted to investigate about teachers and students´ perceptions of teaching English in small classes in Ecuador, in order to determine the benefits, teaching strategies, resources, feelings, and limitations that teaching English in classes with few students represents. The approach of this study was qualitative and quantitative. The sample consisted of 5 small classes with 20 students or less and five teachers from five different educational institutions such as high schools, and English institutes, in Ecuador. The techniques applied were surveys, note taking, and observations; the instruments used were teachers and students’ questionnaires and observation sheets for in service teachers. The analysis, description and results, were taken from the data collected during classroom observations. The most significant factor observed was that there were classrooms with just two or three students; however, the teacher competently involved the students in several interesting activities and the classes were given only in English. Another important fact was that not all the classrooms used technological resources, but the teachers managed their classes effectively, using participative strategies, reaching in this way the desired success.