Problem Areas in EFL Writing: The Tertiary Level Fatima Bouzenirh

MATE ELT Series : Book 2

Issues in Applied Language Studies:

A Special Reference to
ELT in Morocco
Mohamed Ouakrime

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Publication of Moroccan Association of Teachers of English (MATE)
Problem Areas in EFL Writing: The Tertiary Level Fatima Bouzenirh

MATE ELT Series : Book 2

Issues in Applied Language Studies:

A Special Reference to
ELT in Morocco

Mohamed Ouakrime

Publication of Moroccan Association of Teachers of English (MATE)

-1- MATE ELT Series : Book 2
Issues in Applied Language Studies Mohamed Ouakrime

The views expressed in this ELT Series

do not necessarily reflect those of MATE.

© Moroccan Association of Teachers of English (MATE), 2018.

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Issues in Applied Language Studies Mohamed Ouakrime

Foreword
MATE ELT Series is an ambitious project launched by MATE as part of its
strategic and academic activities. This project is basically an implementation
of MATE constitution as stated in its Aims and Activities (Chapter 2);
namely;
a. to encourage research in the field of teaching English as a foreign
language (TEFL) in Morocco (Article 3).
b. to gather and circulate information on the teaching of English as a
foreign language (Article 4).

The need for this ELT series comes from the fact that
a. writings about ELT in Morocco are scattered in different publications
(newsletters, magazines, conference proceedings, unpublished research
papers, online publications…) and they need to be compiled according to
themes and qualitative products by distinguished researchers and experts
in the field;
b. so many Moroccan specialists and researchers have much contributed to
conferences and seminars but they could not put their work into
publication so that interested professionals can make good use of it;
c. there is a need for valuing the work done by distinguished Moroccan
researchers and specialists in the field of ELT and paying tribute to them
by putting their work into lasting published work; and
d. the need for MATE to make good use of its legacy and long invaluable
contribution to Moroccan ELT as a national heritage.

For the above-stated noble reasons and strategic aims, Moroccan researchers
and specialists are called upon to contribute to this series for the benefit of
ELT development in our country and serving the future ELT researchers and
specialists. MATE is so grateful to everyone who has contributed to the
implementation of this project and to its continuity and growth.

MATE ELT Series Editing Team

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Issues in Applied Language Studies Mohamed Ouakrime

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to offer appreciation and thanks to all my colleagues and

students who have, each in their own way, contributed to the
development of the arguments presented in this anthology and who
have fostered my interest in the issues discussed in the papers. Most
of the language teaching/ learning issues addressed in this anthology
are the result of what I learned from them all through my experience
as a teacher of English and I am most grateful to all those who have
helped me sharpen my thinking and deepen my reflection.

My sincere gratitude goes to my colleagues Bahanou Akabouch,

Abderrahman Azennoud, Ahmed El Haggach, Abdellatif Hakim,
Mohamed Moubtassime, Fatima Mouaid and Kebir Sandy who were
involved in the Success, Failure and Attrition in Departments of
English at the University (‘PARS’ Programme for Assistance to
Scientific Research) research project that initiated our concern in
issues in Higher Education.

Most heartfelt thanks go to the MATE Board who have made it

possible to extend the availability of the contents of the present
publication to the first generation of 21st Century ELT professionals in
Morocco.

Mohamed Ouakrime

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Issues in Applied Language Studies Mohamed Ouakrime

PREFACE

This publication is a collection of second versions, and/or

reedits, of papers delivered at different national and
international conferences. The papers address issues related
to language education, in general, and more specifically to
language teaching and learning, with special reference to
ELT in Morocco. They are meant to contribute to
scholarship of special interest to students of language
education, applied language studies in higher education and
pedagogy related to second and foreign language teaching
and learning.

The arguments developed in these papers are the result of

experience accumulated over years of teaching, particularly
English, at secondary school and university, and constitute
an attempt to report and reflect on some aspects of the
Moroccan experience of ELT, and the changes that have
impacted this experience at the levels of purposes, practices
(methodology and assessment) and outcomes.

Mohamed Ouakrime

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Issues in Applied Language Studies Mohamed Ouakrime

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Issues in Applied Language Studies Mohamed Ouakrime

Contents

Preface 5
1. ELT in Morocco: From French Pragmatism 9
to Modern ‘Post-methodism’
2. Purposes of E.L.T. in Morocco Revisited 21
3. Evaluating Classroom Teaching: 26
Focus on Communication
4. Teaching Learners or Helping Them to Learn? 39
That is the Question
5. The Neglected Species Need some ‘AIR’: 50
Focus on the Learner
6. The concept of Integration in the ELT Programme 57
7. An argument for a more formative approach 66
to assessment in ELT in Morocco
8. Perceptions and Reality: Demystifying ESP 76
9. Gender and second/foreign language learning: 87
Not an issue in Morocco?
10. Employability, social inclusion and life-long 101
learning: Three prerequisites for equity in language
planning
11. Tentative profiles of the school leaver and 110
the first year university student of English
12. Maintaining mother tongues through teaching and 119
learning: Perspectives and constraints for
Tamazight

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Issues in Applied Language Studies Mohamed Ouakrime
Issues in Applied Language Studies:
A Special Reference to ELT in Morocco
This publication is a collection of second versions, and/or reedits, of
papers delivered at different national and international conferences.
The papers address issues related to language education, in general,
and more specifically to language teaching and learning, with special
reference to ELT in Morocco. They are meant to contribute to
scholarship of special interest to students of language education,
applied language studies in higher education and pedagogy related to
second and foreign language teaching and learning. The arguments
developed in these papers are the result of experience accumulated
over years of teaching, particularly English, at secondary school and
university, and constitute an attempt to report and reflect on some
aspects of the Moroccan experience of ELT, and the changes that have
impacted this experience at the levels of purposes, practices
(methodology and assessment) and outcomes.

About the author

Mohamed OUAKRIME is a retired Professor of
English Language and Applied Linguistics from Sidi
Mohamed Ben Abdallah University, Faculty of Arts &
Human Sciences, Department of English where he
taught undergraduate courses (‘First Year Seminar’ and
‘English for Teaching’) and graduate courses (‘Applied
Linguistics’, ‘Issues in Teaching and Learning in
Higher Education’ and ‘Issues in Sociolinguistics’).
He obtained a BA in English Language and Literature from Mohamed V
University (Rabat) in 1969, an MSc in Applied Linguistics from
Edinburgh University in 1978 and a Ph.D. in Higher Education and
Applied Linguistics from London University in 1986. He has been a
member of MATE ever since its inception and has been actively involved
in its development.

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Publication of Moroccan Association of Teachers of English (MATE)