Pedagogical and Social Factors that Influence the Learning Process of English as a Foreign Language in Ecuador

Abstract

Abstract: This study examines the most common pedagogical and social factors influencing the teaching and learning of English as a foreign language. The aim of this research is to identify and analyze these factors to understand their impact on students as well as on the teaching and learning process. The study was conducted at a public-private educational institution in Quito, Ecuador, with a sample of thirty Ecuadorian second-year secondary school students. A mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methods, was adopted. Student surveys served as the primary data collection instrument. Quantitative analysis was used to determine the frequency and percentage of these impacts, while qualitative analysis was employed to explain their causes and propose solutions regarding these influential factors. The results reveal that the majority of the factors both pedagogical and social do indeed affect the teaching and learning of the language. Overall, these findings highlight the need to consider both internal and external factors to enable students to improve their English proficiency.