The Impact of Linguistic Exposure, Interactive Engagement, and Supervisory Guidance on the Practicum Readiness of Future English Educators

Abstract

  Utilizing an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, this research examined the impact of English language exposure, active communicative participation, and mentoring on the practicum readiness of 69 future English educators at a state university in Iloilo City, Philippines. The initial quantitative stage utilized validated Likert-scale surveys to assess the participants' exposure, engagement, mentoring experiences, and self-reported teaching readiness. Subsequently, the qualitative stage investigated the underlying contextual elements to explain the statistical trends. The results revealed that the future teachers experienced a moderate amount of English exposure, primarily through entertainment and digital media, while interpersonal communication and home usage were minimal. Even with this moderate exposure, the pre-service teachers felt highly prepared for their internships. However, notable discrepancies existed across different student sections, suggesting disparities in developmental opportunities. Correlational testing showed no meaningful link between language exposure and internship readiness, suggesting that passive language reception does not automatically translate to pedagogical competence or teaching confidence. Furthermore, qualitative data underscored that active communication and effective mentoring—specifically through reliable modeling, organized feedback, and supervised teaching practice—are essential for preparing students for actual classroom environments. Ultimately, this research highlights that readiness for teaching internships is a complex phenomenon driven more by the depth of mentoring and quality of interaction than by the mere volume of language input. Consequently, teacher training institutions must prioritize robust communicative exercises, organized experiential learning, and strong supervisory frameworks to bridge the gap between academic coursework and real-world teaching.