ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS’ TRAINING AT BASIC LEVEL IN THE CAPITAL KHARTOUM : ACRITICAL APPRISAL

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate whether the training of English Language teachers at Basic Level is satisfactory and to what extent English Language teachers are qualified at that level. The study also intends to determine the pupils’ standard at English Language at Basic Level and whether they are interested in learning English Language. The research states the problem of unqualified English language teachers at Basic Level and that the training of English language teachers is not adequate. The study tries to answer the following questions: • To what extent Basic Level English language teachers in the capital Khartoum are qualified? • To what extent is the number of text-books sufficient for pupils? • To what extent are teachers' books available enough for teachers ? • To what extent is the shortage in the number of trained English language teachers at Basic Level in the capital Khartoum and to what extent do inspectors play a role in helping English language teachers? • To what extent are pupils interested in English language and to what extent are English language teachers competent and use attractive methods for pupils? • To what extent are work conditions attractive ? This research is based on the following hypothesis:- a) The researcher hypothesizes that teachers of English Language in the capital Khartoum at Basic Level are not adequately trained. b) The researcher hypothesizes that the new educational system produces a lot of problems such as crowded classes and shortage in text-books. c) The researcher hypothesizes that due to expansion in education there is difficultly to give all English language teachers opportunities to be trained and work conditions are not attractive. d) Eventually the researcher hypothesizes that teachers guide-books are not available enough for teachers and that inspectors' visits are not adequately useful. The researcher used the following reliable tools. Two questionnaires were constructed in addition to an unstructured interview with heads of English language departments and experienced English language teachers, besides literature review and previous Basic Level Certificate examinations' results. The results obtained confirmed the hypotheses of the study. It was found that Basic Level English Language teachers are not adequately trained and that this has affected the standard of the pupils. Moreover there is shortage in pupils ' text-books and English language teachers are not contented with work conditions. Eventually the researcher concluded that this research can be conducted and extended to cover training English Language teachers in all levels in Sudan.