Questioning students obsession with grades at the expense of learning
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Université Oum El Bouaghi
Abstract
The major focus on attaining grades at the expense of learning could be seen as problematic in the Algerian higher education sector. Significantly, this research aimed to investigate whether Algerian university students are obsessed with grades at the expense of learning or not. It also aimed to explore the possible variables behind the EFL students' grades obsession. This study drew upon a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods. Both questionnaires and interviews were employed to collect the data for this study. Statistical tests and thematic analysis were employed to analyse the data. In this study, the participants were EFL teachers and students at the department of English in Oum El Bouaghi state. For the questionnaire, 75 male and female teachers took part, whereas, nine (9) male and female EFL teachers participated in the interviews. The findings of this study indicated that the students of English showed instances of obsession towards grades at the expense of learning. The findings also revealed that students' pressure for employability is a significant reason behind the EFL students' grades obsession according to the students' point of views. However, EFL teachers indicated a range of internal and external reasons in the interviews.
On the basis of these findings, recommendations and suggestions were brought to encourage the Algerian EFL students shift their attention from attaining grades to learning instead.
Description
Keywords
Assessment, Motivation, Obsession with grade