Students’ perceptions on their teacher's english teaching practice. A case análisis from proyecto Huellas UPSE.

Abstract

Teachers take great significance in the educational field. English teachers are a fundamental part of the teaching-learning process of a foreign language at all levels. Therefore, good and effective teachers are necessary to carry out this function. However, there is little knowledge about the quality of English teachers, since it is based just on proficiency level and degree. For this reason, this research project has been executed to know the descriptions and qualities of effective teachers from UPSE students’ perspectives of “Profesor Huellas”. This research project was based on a qualitative approach, since it was a case analysis from previous research denominated “El perfil del profesorado de inglés en universidades del Ecuador. Estudio interpretativo de sus buenas Prácticas y Formación, maestros que dejan huellas”. It implies having information from primary sources such as students’ interviews, and secondary sources having a bibliographic review of journals, books, and papers. Furthermore, to collect data appropriately, interviews were conducted with five students from Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena. The sample of the study stated different perspectives on “Profesor Huellas” that were compared with the authors’ statements of the background. Thanks to the gathered information and the previous studies that were researched, it was possible to conclude that the qualities of effective and good English teachers are categorized in teaching practice, behavior, training, and traits. Also, these characteristics can be used for future research to have a deeper analysis with other perspectives and at the same time be used to create and establish a good university English teacher profile.