The perceptions of language teachers, students and parents on the characteristics of effective primary school language teachers

Abstract

Teachers, as mediators of classes, play an influential role on both cognitive and affective aspects of students’ learning. Teacher characteristics and teaching behavior are important elements in student motivation and learning in general. Robinson and Aronica (2015) described effective teachers as people who engage, inspire and enthuse students by creating conditions in which those students will want to learn. English language teaching is not something that anyone who can speak English can do. English teaching is a profession, with a field of educational specialization, which requires a specialized knowledge base obtained through both academic study and practical experience. Rixon (1999) suggests that the countries lower the age of English language learning, because they would like to take advantage of benefits connected with language learning at a younger age. Effective language instruction can develop a lifelong motivation for learning languages. A child who enjoys English classes at the age of eight are much more likely to love and continue to pursue English in later years in comparison to a child who finds English classes boring and meaningless. Thus, learning languages effectively from an earlier age holds potential for future learning.