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Formulaic Sequences: Teacher and Student Perceptions and Teaching Strategies

Formulaic Sequences (FS), common word combinations stored and used as single units, are crucial for achieving oral fluency yet remain underrepresented in pedagogical materials. This study explores this gap by examining teacher and student perceptions of FS and the teaching techniques within an onlin...

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Main Author: Abd Allah, Ali Sayed Muhammad
Format: Thesis
Published: AUC Knowledge Fountain 2026
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access_status_str Open Access
author Abd Allah, Ali Sayed Muhammad
author_browse Abd Allah, Ali Sayed Muhammad
author_facet Abd Allah, Ali Sayed Muhammad
author_sort Abd Allah, Ali Sayed Muhammad
collection Thesis
description Formulaic Sequences (FS), common word combinations stored and used as single units, are crucial for achieving oral fluency yet remain underrepresented in pedagogical materials. This study explores this gap by examining teacher and student perceptions of FS and the teaching techniques within an online Egyptian EFL context. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, data were gathered via teacher interviews (n=4), student questionnaires (n=100), a student focus group (n=4), and classroom observations. Results indicated that teachers unanimously perceived FS as essential building blocks for fluency, accuracy, and learner confidence, and they utilized a spectrum of techniques ranging from explicit instruction to incidental exposure and technology-assisted recycling (e.g., voice notes, ChatGPT). Students highly valued FS for improving their speaking skills and exam performance, often associating their use with achieving a ‘native-like’ ideal, which emerged as a powerful motivational factor. However, students also reported that they had not received much clear instruction on FS in the past, leading to challenges in retention and appropriate use. A key finding was some students’ avoidance of FS due to fear of being misunderstood by interlocutors. The study underscores the need to bridge the theory-practice divide by advocating for more systematic, context-sensitive FS instruction that moves beyond native-speakerism standards and instead focuses on intelligibility and communicative competence. It also calls for enhanced teacher training on FS instruction, curricular integration, the development of shared instructional frameworks while respecting teacher autonomy, and a balanced approach that combines explicit focus with meaningful communicative practice while leveraging AI for FS reinforcement and recycling.
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id oai:fount.aucegypt.edu:etds-3643
institution American University in Cairo (Egypt)
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:35:59.828Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from AUC Knowledge Fountain — bepress
publishDate 2026
publishDateRange 2026
publishDateSort 2026
publisher AUC Knowledge Fountain
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spelling oai:fount.aucegypt.edu:etds-3643 Formulaic Sequences: Teacher and Student Perceptions and Teaching Strategies Abd Allah, Ali Sayed Muhammad Formulaic Sequences (FS), common word combinations stored and used as single units, are crucial for achieving oral fluency yet remain underrepresented in pedagogical materials. This study explores this gap by examining teacher and student perceptions of FS and the teaching techniques within an online Egyptian EFL context. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, data were gathered via teacher interviews (n=4), student questionnaires (n=100), a student focus group (n=4), and classroom observations. Results indicated that teachers unanimously perceived FS as essential building blocks for fluency, accuracy, and learner confidence, and they utilized a spectrum of techniques ranging from explicit instruction to incidental exposure and technology-assisted recycling (e.g., voice notes, ChatGPT). Students highly valued FS for improving their speaking skills and exam performance, often associating their use with achieving a ‘native-like’ ideal, which emerged as a powerful motivational factor. However, students also reported that they had not received much clear instruction on FS in the past, leading to challenges in retention and appropriate use. A key finding was some students’ avoidance of FS due to fear of being misunderstood by interlocutors. The study underscores the need to bridge the theory-practice divide by advocating for more systematic, context-sensitive FS instruction that moves beyond native-speakerism standards and instead focuses on intelligibility and communicative competence. It also calls for enhanced teacher training on FS instruction, curricular integration, the development of shared instructional frameworks while respecting teacher autonomy, and a balanced approach that combines explicit focus with meaningful communicative practice while leveraging AI for FS reinforcement and recycling. 2026-01-31T08:00:00Z thesis application/pdf https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/2594 https://fount.aucegypt.edu/context/etds/article/3643/viewcontent/Final_thesis___Ali_Sayed.pdf Theses and Dissertations AUC Knowledge Fountain Formulaic Sequences Oral Fluency Teacher Perceptions Student Perceptions Native-Speakerism Pragmatic Competence Teacher Autonomy AI ChatGPT Other Arts and Humanities Other English Language and Literature
spellingShingle Formulaic Sequences
Oral Fluency
Teacher Perceptions
Student Perceptions
Native-Speakerism
Pragmatic Competence
Teacher Autonomy
AI
ChatGPT
Other Arts and Humanities
Other English Language and Literature
Abd Allah, Ali Sayed Muhammad
Formulaic Sequences: Teacher and Student Perceptions and Teaching Strategies
title Formulaic Sequences: Teacher and Student Perceptions and Teaching Strategies
title_full Formulaic Sequences: Teacher and Student Perceptions and Teaching Strategies
title_fullStr Formulaic Sequences: Teacher and Student Perceptions and Teaching Strategies
title_full_unstemmed Formulaic Sequences: Teacher and Student Perceptions and Teaching Strategies
title_short Formulaic Sequences: Teacher and Student Perceptions and Teaching Strategies
title_sort formulaic sequences teacher and student perceptions and teaching strategies
topic Formulaic Sequences
Oral Fluency
Teacher Perceptions
Student Perceptions
Native-Speakerism
Pragmatic Competence
Teacher Autonomy
AI
ChatGPT
Other Arts and Humanities
Other English Language and Literature
url https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/2594
https://fount.aucegypt.edu/context/etds/article/3643/viewcontent/Final_thesis___Ali_Sayed.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT abdallahalisayedmuhammad formulaicsequencesteacherandstudentperceptionsandteachingstrategies