Assessing English teachers’ adherence to criteria for selecting visual instructional materials for comprehension lessons in secondary schools in Nkhata-Bay District, Malawi

Abstract

This study investigated how English teachers in secondary schools in the Nkhata-Bay District of Malawi select visual instructional materials for comprehension lessons and assessed their adherence to the established selection criteria of visual materials. Recognising that visual materials play a crucial role in translating abstract textual content into accessible learning experiences, this study examined the decision-making processes as well as the pedagogical strategies that teachers employ to enhance student comprehension. Using a qualitative case study design, data were collected from four secondary schools through classroom observations and semi-structured interviews with teachers who are actively engaged in the selection of visual materials. The study’s findings revealed a dynamic, multi-step selection process where teachers systematically review lesson plans, identify key concepts, and seek visuals that align with curriculum objectives and contextual realities. While many teachers demonstrated acknowledgeable understanding of benchmark of visual materials criteria such as clarity, simplicity, relevance, and cultural appropriateness, it was established that resource limitations, time constraints, and inadequate professional development sometimes compel deviations from ideal practices. These challenges not only affect the quality of the visual materials but also have a direct impact on student engagement as well as overall comprehension of lessons. Following the findings of this study, the study recommends the provision of training to the teacher in order to advance their knowledge on the visual materials. There is also a need to implement digital platforms that could be providing accessibility to various digital visual materials. At the same time, promote collaboration among teachers to be sharing the best means of selecting the visual materials. Ultimately, the insights from this study contribute to a deeper understanding of visual literacy in low-resource educational environment and offer practical recommendations for enhancing English comprehension instruction.