Identifying Possible in-Service Training Needs of Teachers of English Language to Fourth and Fifth Graders at Primary Schools

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the possible in-service training (INSET) needs of English language teachers teaching the 4th and 5th graders at primary schools. The subjects of this study were the English language teachers teaching the 4th and 5th graders of various primary schools in the city center of Bolu. During the study, the quantitative data were collected by means of an opinionnaire developed by the researcher. The results of this study indicated that the in-service training programs (INSET) for English language teachers teaching the 4th and 5th graders at primary schools need to base their training on the following areas: a.Teaching basic foreign language skills (i.e. listening, speaking, reading, writing), b. Using audio-visial coursematerials, c. Raising awareness of the cognitive characteristics of primary school level foreign language learners, d.Using current approaches, methods and techniques in teaching grammar and vocabulary, e. Developing andapplying appropriate criteria for selecting the course books and supplementary materials to be followed during the academic term.