Key lifelong competences: exploring EFL teachers’ perceptions and challenges in Greek state schools

Dora Chostelidou; Athina Karakasidou

doi:10.31686/ijier.vol12.iss3.4195

Authors

Dora Chostelidou Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Athina Karakasidou EFL teacher, state school sector

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31686/ijier.vol12.iss3.4195

Keywords:

Key competences, EFL curriculum, Teachers, Perceptions, Integration of competences, State schools, Greece

Abstract

The study aims to explore the familiarity of EFL teachers with the concept of key lifelong competences and examines their preparedness in integrating them in their classes in Greek schools.

Quantitative research was carried out using a questionnaire (N=95) comprising in total 15 questions and exploring aspects such as the EFL teachers’ perceptions of the FL curriculum, their familiarity with the concept of key competences and their preparedness to integrate them in their teaching practice along with potential barriers they face and solutions in coping with them. The data from the questionnaire was processed using descriptive and inferential statistics and revealed that almost half of the teachers are aware of the term competence and to a considerable extent prepared to integrate key competences in their teaching context. The EFL teachers are adequately aware of multilingual competence and are highly prepared to integrate it in their classes, given the distinct emphasis placed on multilingualism in Greece. On the contrary, competences such as entrepreneurship, and citizenship are the least known to teachers. It should be noted that the EFL teachers identify barriers in implementing all competences which indicates that focused training on promoting a gradual complete immersion of the entire educational system in the principles of key competences should be considered.

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Author Biographies

Dora Chostelidou, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

EFL Teacher
Athina Karakasidou, EFL teacher, state school sector

Karakasidou Athina is an EFL teacher with a Master's degree from the Hellenic Open University. She has participated in academic conferences and has published in journals and conference proceedings.

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