An analysis of teachers‟ classroom application of the eclectic method to English language teaching in multilingual Zambia

Abstract

- The Eclectic Method is the recommended method for teaching English as a second language in Multilingual Zambia. This implies that teachers need to posses the required competencies and skills to apply the method in multilingual classroom with learners of diverse abilities and language backgrounds. Through the use classroom lesson observation and interviews with 30 teachers of English drawn from 6 secondary schools in the Central Province of Zambia, this study provides an analysis of teachers’ classroom application of the Eclectic Method and the challenges they faced in so doing. The paper also provides suggestions regarding what teachers should do to implement the method in under resourced and challenging contexts. The findings showed that while some teachers understood the method and applied it in the classroom, others shunned it for various reasons. Some of the challenges faced were lack of English proficiency among learners, poor training received by teachers and shortage of teaching materials which were needed for the method to be applied. By drawing on multi modality and its extended notions of resemiotisation and semiotic remediation, the paper shows how teachers can still apply the eclectic method in under-resourced countries and contexts.