Necessity of improvement of foreign language teaching in the Slovak Republic

Authors

  • Marcela Šarvajcová Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Department of Sociology, B. Slančíkovej 1, Nitra 949 01 Slovakia
  • Monika Štrbová Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Department of Sociology, B. Slančíkovej 1, Nitra 949 01 Slovakia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2021.2.251.263

Keywords:

education, foreign languages, teacher, information- communication technologies

Abstract

Aim. The aim of the research study was to investigate the opinions of the Slovakian secondary school foreign language teachers and learn about their views on the system of education in the field of enhancement of teachers` professional qualifications.

Methods. To perform the results of the study the method of focus group was used.

Results. The results of the presented research show the differences between the perception of foreign language education in the past and how it appears today through the views of selected number of foreign language teachers in Slovakia. The pivotal role is played by the technological skills of the students and their ability to use information technologies instructed in foreign languages. The research results also indicate the possibilities of teachers to get in direct contact with the target foreign language as a part of their professional development. The research participants also specified the factors that they considered the most influential in the process of foreign language learning.

Conclusion. The purpose of the article is to discuss the urge to achieve highly professional foreign language education in today`s technological society. As shown by the results obtained from the focus group, the teachers/participants agreed on a single highly impactful factor: family.

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Author Biographies

  • Marcela Šarvajcová, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Department of Sociology, B. Slančíkovej 1, Nitra 949 01 Slovakia

    Sociologist. She is interested in current social issues, education, poverty and the influence of the media. As a researcher was part of several projects, currently she is a member of the project aimed to support reading literacy in the mother and a foreign language (the Slovak Research and Development Agency). Her main subjects are methodology, sociological theory and mass media.  She is the author of several monographs and educational texts.

  • Monika Štrbová, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Department of Sociology, B. Slančíkovej 1, Nitra 949 01 Slovakia

    Sociologist. She deals with Roma issues, demography and sociological theory. As a researcher, she is interested in social problems, marginalized groups and education. She is a member of the grant project The Slovak Research and Development Agency. She is a member of the Slovak Sociological Society.

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Published

2021-09-25

How to Cite

Šarvajcová, M. ., & Štrbová, M. (2021). Necessity of improvement of foreign language teaching in the Slovak Republic. Journal of Education Culture and Society, 12(2), 251-263. https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2021.2.251.263