The learning and teaching of English : A field based study at Phaung Daw Oo Monastic High School, Mandalay

Abstract: Abstract This essay reports on a Minor field study carried out at Phaung Daw Oo Monastic Educational High School in Mandalay, Myanmar. The aim was to carry out a three-stage analysis of the learning and teaching of English whilst in the institution. Firstly, the general needs of PDO were identified and field notes were taken. Secondly, we worked with improving the pupils’ English communicative skills. Finally, areas regarding teaching and suggestions for future projects for teaching English at PDO were highlighted.   The questions we sought to answer were: What strategies do the local English teachers at PDO use to activate their pupils’ English communicative skills? What developmental areas regarding the teaching of spoken English can be identified, and how can they be acted upon at PDO?   In order to carry out the analysis we chose to take an ethnographical approach where observations and interviews were our main sources for collecting data. During our eight-week stay at PDO, we taught several subjects through English in different departments with the aim of activating and improving the pupils’ English communicative skills.   The main finding was that the local teachers mainly used a modified rote learning strategy to activate their pupils’ English communicative skills. Furthermore, several developmental areas regarding the teaching of English were identified. We believe that the local teachers’ limited education in teaching methodology and in spoken English are the major areas for development.