ABSTRACT
This qualitative-phenomenological study aimed at determining the views and challenges experienced by English teachers on the use of Active Learning Strategies. The study was conducted with all nine English teachers at the College of Education of PHINMA University of Iloilo who were purposively chosen according to the need set at the beginning of the study. The following themes were generated from the views of English teachers on active learning strategies: help promote interactive learning, improve learners’ creativity and critical thinking skills, foster understanding, and enhance retention. Also, active learning strategies help teachers in gauging learners’ participation, as an effective form of formative assessment, for successful achievement of learning outcomes, and accommodating diverse learners. In addition, active learning strategies used by English teachers are think-pair-share and peer-teaching, role-playing and debates, and reporting and mini-lectures. On the other hand, challenges were identified as: limited academic time, inconsistent learners’ participation, consistency of active learning implementation, and excessive class size. To further address the challenges experienced by teachers, the researcher proposed a Strategic Action Plan for Teachers.
Keywords: Challenges, Active Learning Strategies
INTRODUCTION
Active learning promotes student engagement by facilitating activities that require participation, critical thinking, and interaction with the course content. It is a student-centered approach that emphasizes experiential learning and practical application of knowledge, encouraging students to contribute to discussions and collaborate with peers. A shift from a teacher-centered to a student-centered approach in education fosters a better learning environment that promotes retention and comprehension. Educators play a crucial role in shaping the learning process for students. By placing students at the center of the educational journey, they act as facilitators, providing guidance and support throughout the process. This approach allows students to gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter and fosters a sense of ownership over their learning experience. This approach promotes critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, making it a popular tool for creating an engaging learning experience. Theobald (2020) defined active learning as a useful tool for enhancing student engagement and motivation, while also helping to reduce achievement gaps. It emphasizes higher-order thinking and often involves group work. It often includes group discussions, problem-solving exercises, hands-on projects, and other interactive methods to promote deeper learning and student engagement. Active learning can enhance students' motivation, improve their communication skills, and lead to more effective learning outcomes.
According to Promethean (2021), there are twelve active learning strategies, namely: Think-pair-share, One-sentence Summary, Role Play, Just-in-time Teaching, The Muddiest Point, Three-step Interviews, Game-based Learning, Minute Paper, Fishbowl, Problem-based Learning, The Pause Procedure, and Posters and Gallery Walk.
The Philippines is one of the world's major English-speaking countries. English is one of the Philippines' official languages. However, based on the EF English competency Index, in the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC), the average score of Filipino IELTS takers shows a progressive degradation in English language competency among Filipinos over time (Santos, A., Fernandez, V., & Ilustre, R., 2022).
However, a program of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), The National Roadmap for Global Competitiveness in Communication Skills, is a three-year project that is intended to be the country's response to different issues and possibilities related to the country's level of English language competence and communication skills. It aims to enhance the English language skills and communication of Filipinos to contribute to the country's progress towards a globally competitive knowledge economy. It is in this connection; that the researcher conducted this study to determine the English teachers’ challenges in using active learning strategies as groundwork for a strategic action plan.
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