1. Introduction
English, in today’s fast-growing world, is the medium of international communication, the language of trade and business, science and technology, and the key to accessing a vast amount of entertainment, the internet, and education. English is now dominated as a global language. It is the target language most widely taught as an FL in most countries worldwide, and in most of these countries it is emerging as the chief FL in schools, often displacing another language in the process (Crystal, 2003: p5) (1). English is the most widely learned language worldwide, with more second-language speakers than native speakers.
To learn any language, one needs to master its skills and its constituent components, one of which is grammar. Being a key component, grammar has been an essential aspect of language teaching for years. It also plays a vital role in language learning, and scholars of applied linguistics have extensively debated its importance. Mastering English grammar is essential not only for academic success, but also for everyday interactions, especially if learners intend to speak the target language and produce well-formed sentences.
In the realm of language learning, teaching English grammar plays a pivotal role in EFL teaching and learning, facilitating effective communication and comprehension. Grammar has been proven to be the cornerstone in mastering a new language, and many methods in teaching grammar have emerged as a promising avenue for enhancing pedagogical practices. For a significant period of time, grammar and its instruction has been the main concern for both
language teachers and learners alike. Some perceive it as an indispensable component to language teaching, as Ellis (2002) (2), while others view it as a hindrance to language teaching and learning, as Krashen (1982) (3). However, Ellis (2009: p105) (4) has concluded in his empirical study that “grammar instruction can help learners enhance both their language proficiency and accuracy. It also facilitates the internalization of the syntactic system of the ESL/EFL, and supports the development of fluency”. Therefore, the importance and value of teaching English grammar explicitly have never been disputed (Aarts et al., 2012: p 3) (5).
In Iraq, conventional grammar instruction methods have typically followed a one-size-fits-all approach, failing to adapt to the requirements of each learner and their unique idiosyncrasies and diversity, and to keep up with recent developments in teaching methods in general and in teaching grammar in particular.
Recognizing these limitations in grammar instruction, educators have increasingly turned to new approaches and techniques in grammar teaching, one of which is the 4Es instructional model, i.e., Expose, Exercise, Execute, and Evaluate.
1.1. Statement of the Problem
Grammar is essential to language and is regarded as the most important component. Without it, there is no language (Nassaji and Fotos, 2011: p 1) (6). Due to this important role in language, it is considered a crucial aspect of foreign language teaching. A good knowledge of English grammar has always been an essential part of the course, aimed at improving communicative competence in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. In the end, language learners must achieve grammatical competence as it is a key element of their overall communicative competence (Hadjih, 2017: p 16) (7).
Despite its crucial role in language learning, grammar is considered a significant issue for most EFL learners, and much previous research has indicated its problematic nature (7-12). Grammar provides the rules for organizing words into meaningful sentences, forming the backbone of effective communication (2025: p1) (13). That’s why EFL learners often struggle to express themselves clearly, coherently, and confidently without a solid understanding of sentence structure, tenses, and syntax. According to Ellis et al. (2009: p144) (4), there are three criteria that respectively determine the learning difficulty of grammatical features as implicit and explicit knowledge, and they are: difficulties associated with the linguistic environment (e.g. input frequency); difficulties related to linguistic factors, i.e. the nature of the grammatical features; and difficulties due to psychological factors, i.e. learnability.
To learn English grammar effectively, EFL learners need extensive instruction to assimilate basic grammatical material. However, nothing in the field of language pedagogy has sparked as much debate as the teaching of grammar. The controversy has consistently revolved around whether grammar should be taught explicitly through a formal presentation of grammar rules or implicitly through natural exposure to meaningful language use (Nassaji and Fotos, 2011: p1) (6).
A highly debated and unanswered question in grammar learning is whether language learners should first learn the grammatical rules before using the structural forms (the deductive approach or DA), or before applying them; or if they should use the grammatical structures in functional practice sessions before learning the grammatical rules (the inductive approach or IA) (Hadjih, 2017: p2) (7).
At the university level, grammar instruction has consistently posed significant challenges. Such challenges persist in the realm of grammatical structure instruction, as evidenced by the difficulties undergraduate EFL students encounter in grasping fundamental grammatical concepts (Ahmed et al., 2020: p 420) (14). This is clear and evident in many EFL classrooms; have a look at the results in English at schools and universities, and one can understand what we mean.
Based on these discussions and observations, the researchers, and from their observations and experiences, have noticed that EFL students experience difficulties in grammar learning, and this is obvious when EFL learners attempt to perform the productive skills, i.e., they experience difficulties in applying what they have learned to produce accurate English sentences (See Al-Sinbesy, 2012; Brown and Lee, 2016 and El-Tanani et al., 20110 ( 9, 10, 15). As a result, language proficiency, including grammar knowledge, among EFL students seems to be declining. The study problem has been identified and can be stated as: Although its significance is well acknowledged, there remains a notable gap in the literature regarding effective methods and approaches for grammar instruction to enhance learners’ grammatical proficiency and engagement.
1.2. Aims of the Study
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of utilizing the 4Es instructional model on the grammar learning and achievement of first-year EFL university students enrolled at the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Industries Techniques Engineering, Technical Engineering College/ Mosul, Northern Technical University; as well as their overall proficiency in the English language. On the basis of these two primary goals, the following specific objectives have been already drawn:
(1) To measure the baseline grammar proficiency of first-year EFL university students enrolled at the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Industries Techniques Engineering, Technical Engineering College/ Mosul, Northern Technical University;
(2) To evaluate the effectiveness of utilizing the 4Es instructional model on the grammar achievement of first-year EFL university students;
(3) To analyze the differences in grammar achievement between the experimental group (EG) and the control group (CG) after the implementation of the 4Es instructional model;
(4) To compare the 4Es instructional model with the prescribed instructional approach, i.e. the DA; and finally,
(5) To assess the overall English language proficiency of first-year EFL university students.
1.3. Questions of the Study
The present study seeks to address key questions about the effectiveness of utilizing the 4Es instructional model, aiming to enhance further understanding and contribute valuable insights. The study questions are as follows:
(1) Is the grammar learning and achievement of first-year EFL university students optimized as a consequence of utilizing the 4Es instructional model?
(2) To what extent is the 4Es instructional model effective in optimizing English grammar achievement of first-year EFL university students?
(3) How do the 4Es instructional model and the prescribed method, i.e., the DA, differ from each other?
(4) Did the overall English language proficiency of first-year EFL university students improve?
1.4. Significance of the Study
Once again, grammar teaching has regained its importance in language teaching and learning, akin to its former prominence. Grammar teaching is now a crucial aspect in language learning. In addition to the importance of teaching grammar in language learning, many scholars have emphasized the importance of teaching grammar in context (See Ellis, 2006; Larsen-Freeman, 2003; Nunan, 1991; and Thornbury, 1999) (18-21). Each one of those scholars endorse teaching grammar in context, but with different approaches, and this augments the effectiveness of grammar teaching approaches and techniques that require contextual teaching and application of grammatical rules. This necessitates using the 4Es in teaching English grammar, which could greatly benefit in addressing these challenges. Therefore, the integration of the 4Es in grammar teaching can enhance EFL learners’ understanding and application of grammatical rules, as well as address different challenges and difficulties in language learning. By exposing EFL learners to natural TL context, noticing the rule, applying what they have discovered and unveiled, and finally being evaluated to measure their understanding and progress, language teachers can create a more autonomous, interactive, effective and engaging learning environment where EFL learners are participating actively in the process and being responsible for their own learning and becoming more autonomous. Accordingly, the theoretical and practical significance of the present study arises from what follows:
(1) There are no experimental studies conducted to experiment with the effectiveness of 4Es instructional model on grammar learning and achievement of first-year EFL university students in the Iraqi context;
(2) The instructional model, daily-lesson plans, and the instruments of the investigation might be of benefit to all EFL stakeholders;
(3) The study might pave the way to other researchers to investigate the effectiveness of using 4Es in improving English grammar to different academic levels.
(4) Particularly, this study can help EFL learners become aware of the instructional approach that can greatly enhance their grammatical competence and guide them in recognizing what works best for them.
(5) This study is likely to provide language educators and stakeholders with valuable insights about the most effective method for teaching English grammar to EFL learners, and
(6) Consequently, the current study aims to contribute to the field of foreign language education research.
1.5. Hypotheses
For experimental purposes, the subsequent null hypotheses are formulated. The α-level is fixed at 0.05:
Ho1: “There will be no statistically significant difference between the mean scores of the EG and those of the CG in the grammar achievement posttest”.
Ho2: “There will be no statistically significant difference between the mean scores of the EG and those of the CG in the overall English language proficiency posttest”.
1.6. Limits of the Study
The study is limited to the following:
(1) The four main separate stages included in the 4Es instructional model to teaching grammar, viz. Exposure, Exercise, Execution, and Evaluation;
(2) A sample of first-year EFL university students enrolled at the Northern Technical University Departments in the first course of the academic year 2024-2025; and
(3) English Language Module 1 is designed specifically for the first-year EFL university students of the Northern Technical University.
1.7. Key Terms and their Definitions
For the sake of terminological clarity and preciseness, the following key-terms are defined:
1. 4Es Instructional Model: Laor (2014, 0:10) (22) defines the 4Es as “a set of steps that you can use when you are planning on teaching a grammar point or a grammar structure to the students. These steps can be taken in order to make sure that the lesson is structured accordingly and that the students are being exposed to the grammar properly and are getting enough practice using it”.
- The operational definition of the 4Es instructional model: 4Es is an instructional model of four distinct separate stages, i.e. ‘Exposure’, ‘Exercise’, ‘Execution’, and ‘Evaluation’, which are utilized by the researchers to optimize grammar learning and achievement of the first-year EFL university students.
2. English Grammar: Grammar is all the rules that govern the language. Greenbaum and Nelson (2002: 1) describe grammar as “the set of rules that allow us to combine words in our language into larger units.” Also, Brown (2014: p 373) ( 16) defines grammar as “descriptions of linguistic systems; rules that account for linguistic performance”.
- The operational definition of English grammar: English grammar is the ability of first-year EFL university students to produce accurate English sentences in various contexts using the right rules and structure.
3. Grammar Achievement: The operational definition of grammar achievement is the score each first-year EFL university student receives in both groups, experimental and control, in the posttest of grammar, and this posttest measures various aspects of grammar, which is administered immediately upon the completion of the experiment.
2.1. Grammar Instruction
Grammar instruction has been developed across time and transformed from ‘conventional’ to ‘contemporary and modern approaches’. It is regarded as a dynamic process. It actually demonstrates how language works. Accurate and effective grammar instruction helps learners learn to use the language correctly and communicatively (Alem, 2021: p 8) (23). Salman et al. (2022: p 298) (24) have stated that most instructors are supporting the idea of giving only a few examples with no using practical exercises for applying the grammatical rules; whereas Azar (2007:p 3) ( 25) has focused on the pedagogical value of grammar instruction as “One important aspect of grammar teaching is that it helps learners discover the nature of language. Without grammar, we would have only individual words or sounds, pictures, and body expressions to communicate meaning. Grammar is the weaving that creates the fabric”. Teachers’ beliefs about how students can easily learn the material and what instructional model for deep learning is being used can be regarded as the main determinants of what teachers choose in class, according to “curriculum, pedagogy, assessment and classroom management” (Aman, 2020: p 2) (26). In accordance with grammar instructions, grammar can be taught in various methods:
(1) via following explicit teaching in which students are clearly exposed to rules attracting their attention (Aman, 2020: p2)
(26);
(2) via following implicit teaching in which teachers do not point out to the rules, i.e. rules can be comprehended implicitly throughout using various forms of exposure (Aman, 2020: p2);
(3) following a DA in which students firstly learn rules (Aman, 2020: 2 26);
(4) following an IA in which students themselves determine the patterns by examining some given examples (Aman, 2020: 2 26);
(5) separately, in which the grammatical rules are taught to students in isolation (Aman, 2020: 2 26); or
(6) integratedly, in which students learning the grammatical rules are taught with other different learning activities (Aman, 2020: 2 26).
However, irrespective of whether the practice is controlled, in context, or communicative, it will be characterized by the following:
(1) Attempts are made to “isolate a specific grammatical feature for focused attention” (Ellis, 2002: 168 2).
(2) Learners have to come up “with sentences containing the targeted feature” (Ellis,2002: 168) (2).
(3) Opportunities will be provided for learners to repeat the intended feature (Ellis, 2002: 168) (2).
(4) Learners are expected to perform the structural feature properly (Ellis, 2002: 168 2).
(5) Feedback is provided on whether “learners’ performance of the grammatical structure is correct or not. The teacher’s feedback may be on-the-spot or delayed” (Ellis, 2002: p168) (2).
In Iraq, more specifically in the Departments of English throughout Iraqi Universities, most of them follow the DA to teaching English grammar. In this traditional approach, the teacher presents and explains a specific grammar rule to the students, and then provides them with some examples. Clearly, by employing this method, the teacher can effectively help students in learning grammar items through explanation and guided practice (Lafta, 2019: p 56) (11).
As evidenced by the discussion above, the primary objective of grammar instruction is to help language learners achieve grammatical competence. Grammar knowledge serves as a tool for leaners to understand, and produce oral/written discourse in efficient, effective, and appropriate manner according to the context on the situation. So, effective grammar instruction should bridge the gaps between understanding grammar rules and applying them in practical, various communicative social contexts, aligning with these theoretical perspectives (Huang, 2005:P 28) (27).
2.2. Inductive and Deductive Approaches
Grammar has certainly received significant attention in EFL pedagogy and research. Reviewing previous-related literature on grammar (teaching and learning) in the ESL/EFL context reveals that several key issues have been emphasized. One of these issues is whether to teach grammar inductively or deductively. IA and DA are considered two of the fundamental approaches used to present language items, here in this study teaching grammar (Gower et al., 1995: p135) (28). Brown (2014: p 423) (16) has posed the following controversial pedagogical grammar question: “Should grammar be presented inductively or deductively?”. To answer this question properly, and to choose which grammar teaching approach is more appropriate, one needs to delve deeper, discussing and explaining each grammar teaching approach in thorough detail.
Before discussing and explaining each grammar teaching approach in detail, the IA resembles the way how individuals acquire their first language; simply through exposure to a considerable amount of input of the regularities and patterns of the language without conscious study and explicit rule formulation. “Induction or learning through experience is seen as a natural way to learn, and it is strongly associated with methods of second language instruction, such ‘the Direct Method’ and ‘the Natural Approach’, which model themselves on first language acquisition” (Thornbury, 1999: p 49) (21).
First, let’s explain the two approaches to teaching grammar. In an IA to teaching grammar, “the teacher provides the context, in the written or spoken form, and shows examples; but learners are left to figure out the grammatical rule on their own”. Conversely, in a DA, “learners are provided with the grammatical rule first by the teacher, and then practice various instances of language to which the rule applies” (Walter, 2015: p3) (29).
The DA and IA are regarded as two-grammar-teaching processes. Deductive-grammar-teaching process is a more traditional style of teaching in which “students learn a rule and then apply it in practice exercises” (Ur, 2012: p298) (30). In contrast, the inductive-grammar-teaching process, which is a discovery approach and a more modern style “in which the teacher provides students with language data, from which they work out the rule themselves” (Ur, 2012: p299). (30)
When the IA is employed, “a context is established first by the teacher from which the target structure is drawn. Therefore, the approaches described under visual/oral contexts, texts and short dialogues could be referred to as inductive” (Gower et al., 1995: p135 (28). Conversely, “the DA starts with an example of a structure and the grammatical rule is given first, followed by language practice, as described under giving or working out the ‘rule’” (Gower et al., 1995: p135). (28)
The DA to teaching grammar entails the use of metalinguistic information presented explicitly by the teacher to the language learners at the beginning of the lesson (Mallia, 2014: p222) (12). This generally involves from the outset the presentation of the concept to be taught directly by the teacher. Learners have no problem understanding the concept as the teacher explained it. Then, and to reinforce this digestion, the teacher writes examples of the taught concept on the board. Lastly, the teacher encourages learners to produce their own examples and share their findings with the class (Al-Kharrat, 2000: p3-4) (31). Harmer (2007: p203) (32) maintains that these “Explanation and practice sequences are usually PPP-like”, where PPP-Method is a widely-used instructional approach that stands for “present, practice and produce”, and where learners learn in sequential, step-by-step manners.
Nevertheless, while there are merits and demerits of both approaches to teaching grammar, and while a combination of both DA and IA is likely to happen, but there is no universal agreement on which approach is more effective in teaching grammar in an EFL context, and the debate is still raging in this regard (7, 12, 34-36).
So to answer the question ‘Which approach works best?’, one can say that both DA and IA have advantages and disadvantages and which grammar teaching approach is deemed appropriate to use with your students depends on several factors, including age and learner characteristics; the nature of the language under instruction; what the teacher and learners prefer the most; language proficiency level; grammar-point complexity; classroom time and setting; and teacher’s role and teaching philosophy. It remains, however, widely accepted that a combination of the two grammar teaching approaches, DA and IA, is ideally appropriate for the EFL classroom (Hird, 2015: p 1-2) (34). As Nunan (2003: p158) (35) concludes that an eclectic approach integrating both approaches, DA and IA, can be combined together.
2.3. The 4Es Instructional Model
The 4Es is a model of instruction consisting of four separate stages, viz. Exposure, Exercise, Execution, and Evaluation. In this study, it is utilized and modified to teach English grammar to first-year EFL university students. Each E in the paradigm denotes a distinct, separate step. It is in essence an IA to teaching grammar, but with some modifications. Teachers who teach the language inductively show learners a number of examples and non-examples, then lead them to notice a grammatical pattern in order to formulate a generalization or concept rule. It is a ‘bottom up’ approach, and based on trial and error, or experiment. Learners learn by experimenting different things, evaluating what works, and what does not. Through this process, they discover the grammatical rules, then teachers evaluate their understanding and application of the grammar rule (Mountone, 2004 (37) cited in Hadjih, 2017: p44) (7).
In her video, Noga Laor (2014) (22) who is the academic director at Rennert School, an English language school at NYC, introduces the 4Es, a four-step-instructional model, which stands for Expose, Exercise, Execute, and Evaluate. She explains that this model helps make grammar instruction more engaging and effective by guiding EFL/ESL students through different stages of grammar learning. These steps are:
(1) Exposure: EFL/ESL students are exposed to grammar structure through a written or spoken form, a ‘story or a dialogue’ that they can look at, and spot the structural rule(s) (22).
(2) Exercise: EFL/ESL students are given a set of tasks that permit them to “notice and select the grammar pattern, the pattern of the grammar structure” (Laor, 2014, p1:13) (22). This should be done under the guidance of their teacher.
(3) Execute: EFL/ESL students use the grammar rule in real-life contexts, such as writing a paragraph, or engaging in a conversation. It is worth mentioning that “there should be a mirror between the execution stage and the exposure stage, but the teacher can incorporate other skills in there as well” (Laor, 2014, 2:50) (22).
(4) Evaluate: EFL/ESL students are given a homework assignment, “which will allow them to practice the grammar at home on their own; or a quiz which can be conducted outside class or the next day in class”. This quiz helps the EFL/ESL teacher to evaluate the progress of the students, and “how well they have understood the grammar structure and can use it” (Laor, 2014, p22).
In brief, the 4Es is a four-stage-instructional model. Each stage begins with a letter ‘e’, viz. Expose, Exercise, Execute, and Evaluate. In this study, it is utilized and modified to teach English grammar to first-year EFL university students. Each E in the paradigm denotes a distinct, separate step, and represents a specific aspect of the grammar teaching process.
2.4. Previous Related Studies
After reviewing the related literature on teaching English grammar using the 4Es instructional model, it is found that there is no study similar to the present one. Therefore, the previous studies investigating topics relevant to the present one will be discussed chronologically to provide a clear overview of the research developments in this field. Therefore, below are some academic studies, which were conducted in the region that have investigated the effect of the IA and DA to teaching English grammar at university level.
(1) Kolat’s (2009): The first study is Kolat’s (2009), which was conducted in Istanbul, Turkey. She (2009) compared between the two approaches, i.e. the IA and DA, and sought to determine whether teaching English grammar deductively or inductively is more effective for EFL university students enrolled at Istanbul Aydin University. To fulfill the goals of her investigation, she selected two-different classes, each consisting of 25 EFL university students with elementary proficiency in English. One class was instructed according to the IA to teaching English grammar, and the other was taught according to the DA. After applying the experiment, both groups were posttested. The results of her study were that the DA is more beneficial for EFL university students with elementary-level English proficiency.
(2) Mallia (2014): Next, a study implemented by Mallia (2014) (12) in Sudan, which intended to examine “adult learners’ perceptions on IA and DA of teaching English grammar; evaluating the written performance of the two study groups, one was taught according to the IA, and the other was taught according to the DA; and finally deciding whether using the IA, DA, or both approaches was the most feasible for resident or visiting teachers” (Mallia, 2014: 224) (12). The sample of the study consisted of 50 adult-Sudanese EFL participants, 7 females and 43 males. The participants of the study were exposed to both approaches to teaching grammar for a three-month course in general English.
The results of data analysis showed that learners preferred the DA over the IA, but “slight differences between the inductive and deductive groups’ performance were found. However, tasks that promote grammar-noticing and consciousness-raising, i.e. inductive tasks, were broadly found effective, if local contextualization was adopted” (Mallia, 2014: 221) (12). He concluded that teachers should not feel restricted to predominately use the DA to teaching grammar, assuming it is more suitable for non-BANA countries.
(3) Alzu’bi (2015): Then, a study carried out by Alzu’bi (2015) (8) in Jordan. One of the purposes of this study was to investigate the comparative effectiveness of teaching English grammar by employing the DA and IA. It further seeks to estimate which of these two approaches has a statistically significant improvement on the grammar achievement of Jordanian EFL learners at universities and schools. To achieve the aims of the study, two programmes were designed based on the IA and DA for each level based on its syllabus. The sample consists of 180 participants; 80 EFL freshman university students that were assigned randomly into two groups, experimental one (by using the IA) and two (by using the DA); and 100 elementary EFL pupils that were assigned randomly into two groups, experimental one (by using the IA) and two (by using the DA). Two grammar achievement tests (pretest and posttest) were constructed and administrated to the study groups.
At the end of the treatment period, relevant posttests are administered to the students of both the groups. The results of the study revealed that there were significant statistical differences among the grammar performance means of both groups at both levels due to the IA.
After a month of daily intensive grammar instruction, the results obtained from the posttest showed that the IA is effective in enhancing English grammar learning and achievement in EFL classrooms of both university and elementary levels. The researcher concluded that the IA, especially for adult students in academic settings, is beneficial to EFL students and emphasized its wide-scale application in various academic institutions.
(4) Hadjih (2017): Another study was performed by Hadjih (2017) (7) in Algeria, at the University of Mohammad Kheider. The purposes of this study were to estimate the effectiveness of using IA versus DA to teach English grammar to EFL second-year university students’ grammatical competence enrolled at Mohammad Kheider University of Biskra in Algeria, and to explore their attitudes towards learning grammar via these two grammar teaching approaches. To proceed, two questionnaires were designed and administered to two groups: Group One, which consists of 8 EFL university teachers, and Group Two, which consists of 60 EFL second-year university students.
The results demonstrated the crucial role of grammar in learning the foreign language. Also, the findings revealed that adopting an eclectic approach may lead to the development of learners’ grammar proficiency better than the use of each single approach in isolation.
(5) Lafta (2019): Finally, a study was carried out by Lafta (2019) (11) in the University of Thi-Qar, Iraq. This study aimed to examine and compare the effectiveness of utilizing the DA versus IA on learning English grammar. The subjects of the research totaled 70 first-year EFL university students enrolled in the Department of English, College of Arts, University of Thi-Qar for the academic year 2018-2019. They were randomly selected and divided into two equal groups, each consisting of 35 participants. The instrument of the research was a grammar achievement test, which was constructed by the researcher. After the instruction, the subjects were post tested. The results revealed that there were slight statistically significant differences between the two groups, in favor of the EG that was taught according to
· It is worth mentioning that Technical Engineering College of Mosul (TECM) includes seven major departments, i.e. Geomatics Techniques Engineering; Medical Instrumentations Techniques Engineering; Electrical Power Techniques Engineering; Power Mechanic Techniques Engineering; Building and Construction Techniques Engineering; Chemical and Petroleum Industries Techniques Engineering; and Applied Mechanics Techniques Engineering.
· Seventeen students were eliminated from the treatment group (Group A) because: one student is a repeater; eight students are bilingual; seven students enrolled in the course when the experiment was underway; and one student is from Al-Mutamayyizeen Secondary School. Fifteen students were eliminated from the comparison group (Group B) because: one student is a repeater; seven students are bilingual; six students joined the course when the experiment was underway; and one student is from Al-Mutamayyizeen Secondary School.
· English Grammar Proficiency Pretest: It is designed and administrated to ensure that all first-year EFL university students have a similar starting point or baseline, researchers must standardize the proficiency level across the sample.
|
the DA. On the basis of the results obtained, the researcher concluded that the DA was a beneficial teaching approach that has more positive effect on EFL grammar teaching, satisfaction, and helped EFL students improve their achievement in English grammar.
One can conclude that teaching English grammar through an IA or DA has been found to yield positive results. However, there is no conclusive evidence on the best approach to teaching English grammar to EFL/ESL learners, as these studies have shown varying results.
3.1. Experimental Design of the Study
The experimental design selected herein in the current investigation is a “Quasi-Experimental Design: The Matching-Only Posttest-Only Control Group Design” (Fraenkel et al., 2012: 275). This design is experimental and does not use a pretest. It is used to eliminate testing effects, in which participants’ scores on a measure change because they have already been exposed to it. The following is a paradigm for this design.
3.2. Population of the Study
The population of the present study targeted all the first-year EFL university students enrolled at Northern Technical University/Technical Engineering College of Mosul (TECM) whose population is (758) students distributed over seven major departments for the first course of the academic year 2024-2025.
3.2.1 Sample Population of the Study
Once the study population has been identified, questions of sampling emerge instantly. Thus, the sample of the study includes:
3.2.2. Department
The Department of Chemical and Petroleum Industries Techniques Engineering was chosen randomly to be the study sample, which consists of (84) first-year EFL university students.
3.2.3. Participants
At the outset, the study sample comprised of (84) male and female participants of the total number of (758) ones, each of (42) first-year EFL university students. Then, one of the groups (Group A) was randomly assigned as the EG, and the other (Group B) as the CG. Participants who failed to meet the inclusion criteria were excluded from the study, (17 from Group A, and 15 from Group B), to maintain the safety of the experiment. Therefore, the final complete number of the participants in the investigation was (52) students. The EG consisted of (25) first-year EFL university students; and the CG consisted of (27) ones.
3.3. Parity between the Study Groups
This experimental investigation is intended to measure the extent to which the causal variable “using the 4Es instructional model” causes changes in the effect variable: their achievement on the grammar posttest. Therefore, both groups of the study were matched in respect of almost all factors, except for the exposure to the experimental variable in order to increase the sensitivity of the experiment and thereby increase the probability of detecting the effects evidenced in the results. Matched groups procedures are the most effective to use in achieving equivalence between participant groups in the non-experimental variables. Thus, both groups, viz. EG and CG, were matched with regard to:
(1) the age counted in months;
(2) the general average of the participants in the general baccalaureate examinations in the academic year 2023-2024;
(3) the achievement scores of the participants in English subject for the academic year 2023-2024; and
(4) the achievement scores of the participants in the grammar proficiency pretest.
The data were obtained from the College Registration Office, and by requesting first-year university students to fill in their information in a Google Form specifically designed for this purpose. Data analysis was performed using SPSS, applying “the t-test for two independent samples”. As Table 3 shows, there was no statistically significant difference between the EG and the CG in each variable, since the computed t-values are lower in value than the tabulated t-value, which is 2.009 at 0.05, the α-level of significance, under 50, the df. In other words, both groups were statistically equivalent before the treatment as far as these variables are concerned (see Table 3).
3.4. Extraneous or Intervening Variables
The necessity for control is essential in experimental research; thus, this control was carried out to establish the internal validity of the experiment in terms of using the same instructional material; the same lecturer; teaching aids; the distribution of the lectures; and the duration of the experiment; instrumentation; and the selection of the participants. As for the external validity of the experiment, it was also established as the same experimental producers were applied to both groups; and the experiment was executed in the same facility; both groups were selected from the same university of the same environment and settings. In other words, the settings were identical to a great extent. Accordingly, this variable, the classroom environment, was also controlled.
3.5. Data-gathering Instruments of the Study
To achieve the aims of the study and verify its hypotheses, the following instruments were utilized:
3.5.1. Instructional Material
English Language Module 1 is the prescribed material designed specifically to first-year EFL university students at Northern Technical University, especially for Technical Engineering College/ Mosul. The material consists of three units. These units cover different language areas and skills and are divided into six main topics: grammar, vocabulary, reading and writing in addition to listening and speaking. One of the pillars of the module is to understand how to build a correct English sentence. It contains basic grammatical rules and different technical vocabularies with using typical examples to explain the structure and the meaning of any word or expression. The first section of each unit covers basic grammar and structures, which is the main subject of our investigation.
3.5.2. Behavioural Objectives of the Instructional Material
The researchers identified and derived the behavioural objectives of the first three units of the material. These specific behavioural objectives are grounded on Bloom’s Taxonomy of cognitive processes, which are only the five levels, viz. “Remember, Understand, Apply, Analyse, and Evaluate”. They were submitted with the daily-model lesson plans for review by a panel of 10 jurors who are specialists in EFL and education. They were kindly requested to read the items of the behavioural objectives and provide their opinions concerning their suitability and efficiency and whether they formally include the overall observable behaviour of the learning outcome. Also, they were requested to make any modification, addition, deletion, or change any item they see inappropriate. As a consequence, the specific behavioural objectives proved to be valid and encompass the entire instructional materials involved since they obtained the approval of all the ten jurors, i.e. 100% agreement of the jury members.
3.5.3. Lesson Plans
The researchers had previously prepared the necessary daily-lesson plans for both groups as well as the daily-model-lesson plans for teaching English grammar. For the treatment group, the daily-model-lesson plans were reconstructed in compliance of the independent variable, viz. teaching grammar on the basis of 4Es (see the Appendix). As for the CG, the daily-lesson plans for teaching grammar were prepared according to the prescribed method, which is the DA.
The daily-model-lesson plans were also submitted with the specific behavioural objectives to a panel of jurors who are specialists in the fields of EFL and education. They were kindly requested to read the daily model lesson plans thoroughly and provide their opinions on their suitability and effectiveness. Also, they were requested to make any modifications, additions, deletions, or changes to anything they see as inappropriate. As a consequence, the daily model lesson plans were acknowledged as methodologically valid and approved, except for some modifications to the timing and number of activities, which were given high consideration. It is worth mentioning that these plans granted the approval of (9) of the ten jury members, i.e., 90% agreement of the overall number of jurors.
3.5.4. Dependent Measures
The participants of the investigation in the EG were taught grammar inductively by using the 4Es instructional model, and their progress was measured in two ways, in a formative way by using homework assignments and daily quizzes. and by a summative way through the gains on the grammar achievement test. In order to carry out the predetermined aims; an achievement posttest was utilized in this study. This test was a grammar achievement test in which the participants had to answer 20 MC items. It was administered to the participants of the two groups at the end of the intervention.
3.5.5. Grammar Achievement Posttest
The purpose of this researcher-made test was to assess the progress of the EG in answering the grammar questions after being taught through the new instructional model based on the 4Es model, compared with the CG in order to validate the importance of employing such a model in teaching English grammar to enhance grammar learning and make students actively engage in the grammar activity. Thus, an achievement test was constructed to assess this language component. This test gives the students practice in answering structured questions to fulfill the aims of the study and confirm or refute its hypotheses. What follows are the milestones of constructing the test:
(1) Designing the Test
The grammar posttest consists entirely of 20 MC items. These 20 items are intended to measure the acquired achievement in grammar according to the specific behavioural objectives and the test table of specifications. The test items comprise different grammar categories from tenses and aspects, parts of speech to making questions as detailed in Table 4 below:
(2) Scoring Rubric of the Test
As mentioned previously, the test is composed of MC items that were used to prompt three types of cognition. They are objective items, so it’s scoring scheme is a binary grading scale, assigning 0 or 1 based on whether each response is incorrect or correct. Accordingly, the maximum score of the test is 20.
3.6. Validity of the Study Instrument
To ensure test validity, the test must demonstrate fitness for the purpose. There are several types of validity but there are just two types that are considered highly important for achievement tests, content and face validity. Therefore, both types were addressed to evaluate the test and come out with a validated test that yields truthful and accurate results.
(1) Content Validity
This type of validity was secured after the researchers had constructed the items of the test in harmony with the specific behavioural objectives that were identified and derived previously by the researchers themselves and granted approval by the jury members.
(2) Face Validity
To establish this type of validity, the initial version of the test had been submitted to a panel of jurors in the field of EFL and education. Each member was asked to read the items and give his/her remarks and suggestions concerning whether they fulfill the aims of the study and measure students’ grammar proficiency, its suitability and efficiency, and whether the scoring scheme is appropriate or not. They were also asked to make addition, deletion, and modification to any item they see inappropriate. They all agreed that the test is adhered to the accepted standards and suitable for first-year EFL university students, and the test items measured grammar. As a consequence, the test was acknowledged valid and measurable since it granted the approval of (8) out of the total ten jury members, i.e. 80% agreement. A number of modifications were taken into consideration.
3.7. Piloting the Test
After establishing the test validity, it was administrated to a sample of 25 first-year EFL university students at the Department of Geomatics Techniques Engineering. The purposes behind piloting the test were to:
(1) secure clarity of the test instructions, and items;
(2) check whether the test level is appropriate, i.e. neither too easy nor too difficult; and
(3) estimate the reliability coefficient of the test.
Good examination conditions were provided for the testees and complete control was exercised to ensure that no extraneous factors might interfere as a possible variable in the administration of the test. The instructions on how to answer the test items were explained by the researcher. These instructions were explained in Arabic to avoid any possible misunderstanding or ambiguity. The researchers themselves marked the responses.
Based on the pilot results, no serious ambiguity was found in the test instructions or items. The test assessed the students’ level; the reliability of the test will be explained in the subsequent paragraph.
3.8. Reliability Coefficient of the Test
The Alpha coefficient was found to be 0.81, which is considered within the acceptable index that ranges from 0.50 and higher up to 1.00. This means that the items are measuring the same underlying construct effectively. This index is sufficient and means that the test was ready to adopt, then to apply.
3.9. Experiment
The experiment started on 17th November, 2024 and ended on 30th January, 2025. The experiment spanned a duration of precisely 10 weeks and 5 days. The instruction of both groups was undertaken by the researcher herself to control the teacher variable during the investigation.
3.10. Final Administration of the Dependent Measure
In light of the obtained results, the different procedural steps came out with a valid and reliable grammar achievement posttest. The final version of the grammar test reflected the essential psychometric features of a good test: content and face validity, and satisfactory reliability coefficient, so the grammar achievement posttest was deemed suitable for administration.
Upon completion of the instructional period, the first-year EFL university students of the EG and the CG were posttested on 2nd February, 2025. After handing out the copies of the test to the participants, the researcher clarified in Arabic the instructions on how to respond on the test items. The testees were allotted 60 minutes to complete the test; and they were informed that the test scores would be taken into consideration in the assessment of their class effort. Moreover, proper assessment conditions were provided and rigorous control was practiced to eliminate any possible interference as a possible variable in the discrimination of the test. The researchers themselves marked the students’ test papers.
4.1. Results and Analysis
In this Section, the results of the study will be analyzed statistically, interpreted and then discussed in relation to the aims and hypotheses posed in Section One.
4.1.1. Testing the First Main Hypothesis
Ho1: “There will be no statistically significant difference between the mean scores of the EG and those of the CG in the grammar achievement posttest”.
To verify this hypothesis, a grammar achievement posttest was constructed and administrated to both groups, EG and CG, at the end of the experiment. The results yielded by the grammar achievement posttest were analyzed statistically to reveal whether or not the difference between the two study groups was statistically significant. Accordingly, the mean scores of the EG and the CG were compared. “The t-test for the two independent samples” was used. The test results are illustrated in Table 5 below.
As illustrated in Table 5, the EG achieved markedly better gains on the grammar achievement posttest. The results demonstrate that the difference between the two study groups at 0.05, the α-level of significance, under-50, the df, was statistically significant in favour of the EG due to the study independent variable, viz. the 4Es instructional model; as the computed t-value is 2.481, which is higher in value than the tabulated t-value, which is 2.009.
So, the first study null hypothesis is rejected, and the alternative hypothesis is automatically confirmed, viz. “There will be a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of the EG and those of the CG in the grammar achievement posttest”.
4.1.2. Testing the Second Main Hypothesis
Ho2: “There will be no statistically significant difference between the mean scores of the EG and those of the CG in the overall English language proficiency posttest”.
To test this second main hypothesis, an English language proficiency posttest was designed and planned to be administrated to both study groups at the end of the intervention to determine whether or not the difference between the two groups of the study was statistically significant in different aspects of the FL. The results acquired from the proficiency posttest were statistically analyzed. Thus, the mean scores of the two groups, the EG and the CG, were compared. “The t-test for the two independent samples” was also used. The test results are summarized in Table 6.
Table 6 signifies that both groups, i.e. the EG and CG, made nearly the same test gains in the overall proficiency posttest in the English language. The results indicate that the difference between the mean scores of the two groups, the EG and CG, at 0.05, the α-level of significance, under 50, the df, was not found statistically significant, because the computed t-value is 0.328, which is lower in value than the tabulated t-value, which is 2.009.
The second main null hypothesis, resultantly, is validated and confirmed, i.e. “There will be no statistically significant difference between the mean scores of the EG and those of the CG in the overall English language proficiency posttest”.
4.2. Discussion of the Results
· It is worth mentioning that the overall proficiency posttest is the mid-term exam that was conducted on 11th February, 2025. It is based on the course material, English Language Module 1, which includes three units. These three units cover different language areas and skills, viz. grammar, vocabulary, reading and writing in addition to listening and speaking.
|
It could be argued that the modest gains achieved by the EG were owing to the fact that first-year EFL university students had more exposure to English, and this exposure was contextualized in spoken and written English, as a result of the effectiveness of the 4Es instructional model, and participating actively and interactively in the lesson with homework assignments and/or quizzes; while the CG had taught grammar through the prescribed instruction, which is DA. The participants of the CG were passive and had little or no role during the lesson period; while the members of the EG were actively engaged in the lesson period through four-stage model that involved grammar-noticing, consciousness-raising, practicing and evaluation. This active involvement stood in stark contrast with the CG where the participants’ engagement was passive, i.e. they were only listening to their lecturer. The results obtained from the present investigation are in consonant with those of other studies, (7,8,33)
As the results of this study unveil, the 4Es instructional model and the manner the teacher approaches the first-year EFL university students influence positively their learning and their achievement in the English grammar of the FL.
5.1. Conclusions
Grammar is a fundamental component of language and its instruction as well; it is thus important in the process of teaching and learning any language. Effective communication requires constructing grammatically correct sentences to convey the intended meaning. Educators have proposed a variety of ways for teaching grammar to language learners. Among the different grammar teaching methods, the 4Es instructional model.
Consequently, the present study is quantitative in nature, and quasi-experimental in design. Its aims were to estimate the effectiveness of using the 4Es instructional model among first-year EFL university students and to examine the extent to which it can enhance students’ learning and achievement in English grammar. Therefore, it seems reasonable to deduce that:
(1) Both DA and IA have a common goal, which is teaching grammar, but in two different ways. Which approach to use is largely contingent on factors such as age, background, learning style, the grammatical point being taught, preferences, time, and so on. Teachers’ decisions will also be affected by learners' understanding of the grammatical areas taught. These decisions are also influenced by learners’ motivation levels, self-confidence, and their willingness to participate in grammar-related classroom activities.
(2) The 4Es instructional model that involves tasks that promote grammar-noticing, consciousness-raising, practicing, and evaluation was proven to be effective in optimizing first-year EFL university students' learning and achievement in English grammar.
(3) The results of the posttest show that the EG has achieved slight progress in the grammar posttest, which corroborates the effectiveness of the 4Es instructional model based upon the IA to teaching English grammar used in the experiment.
(4) The 4Es instructional model was ineffective in enhancing the first-year EFL university students’ overall language proficiency as indicated in the results of the proficiency posttest. This is potentially due to short instructional period, and to make significant improvements, much instructional time is needed.
(5) Finally, teaching grammar in a natural authentic context can lead to more success for learners. This model, which allows for natural exposure to the language, results in better understanding and retention. Additionally, engaging learners in real-life tasks is the best way to develop their grammatical competence.
5.2. Recommendations
In view of the aforementioned results and conclusions, a number of recommendations may be put forward.
(1) The 4Es instructional model can be applied to EFL learners at any level of instruction in order to improve their grammar learning.
(2) The 4Es instructional model seems to be more suitable and effective than the DA in catering for the needs of the Iraqi EFL university students in teaching grammar of the English language.
(3) Teachers should involve learners in the lesson to promote their active participation and interaction.
(4) Teachers should take into consideration their learners’ needs and preferences in choosing the best approach to teaching grammar.
(5) Grammar teaching does not have to be dull or book-bound. Therefore, teachers need to adopt motivating activities and tasks to engage learners and captivate their interest.
5.3. Suggestions for Future Research
In light of the present study's results and hypotheses, several directions for future research emerge.
(1) It may be worthwhile to examine the effectiveness of the 4Es instructional model at different levels of learning under controlled experimental conditions.
(2) Research may be conducted to verify whether or not there are significant differences between male and female students at different levels of learning after the application of the 4Es instructional model.
(3) Research is needed to figure out the effect of the 4Es instructional model on EFL learners’ motivation, attitudes, and interests towards English at different levels of learning.