Teacher engagement in research: Published resources for teacher researchers - Books from regional locations - Gregory Hadley (ed.). Action research in action, Singapore: SEAMEO Regional Language Centre (2003). Pp. iv + 54. ISBN 9971-74-081-8. - Gertrude Tinker Sachs (ed.). Action research in English language teaching. Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong (2002). Pp. vii + 255. ISBN 962-442-227-3. - Books from governmental initiatives - Simon Borg (ed.). Classroom research in English language teaching in Oman. Oman: Ministry of Education, Sultanate of Oman (2006a). Pp. xii + 136. No ISBN. - Simon Borg (ed.). Investigating English language teaching and learning in Oman. Oman: Ministry of Education, Sultanate of Oman (2008). Pp. xiii + 166. ISBN 978-9948-03-769-9. - Kay Gallagher & Khadar Bashir-Ali (eds.). Action research and initial teacher education in the UAE: Perspectives from teacher education at the Higher Colleges of Technology. Abu Dhabi: HCT Press (2007). Pp. 141. ISBN 978-9948-03-554-1. - Anne Warne, Michael O'brien, Zafar Syed & Mary Zuriek (eds.). Action research in English language teaching in the UAE: Perspectives from teacher education at the Higher Colleges of Technology. Abu Dhabi: HCT Press (2006). Pp. 124. ISBN 9948-03-246-2. - Books from international contexts - Simon Borg (ed.). Language teacher research in Europe. Alexandria, VA: TESOL (2006b). Pp. vii + 206. ISBN 978-1931-18-537-0. - Anne Burns & Jill Burton (eds.). Language teacher research in Australia and New Zealand. Alexandria, VA: TESOL (2008). Pp. vii + 249. ISBN 978-1931-18-547-9. - Christine Coombe & Lisa Barlow (eds.). Language teacher research in the Middle East. Alexandria, VA: TESOL (2007). Pp. vii + 209. ISBN 978-1931-18-541-7. - Thomas S. C. Farrell (ed.). Language teacher research in Asia. Alexandria, VA: TESOL (2006). Pp. vii + 209. ISBN 978-1931-18-533-2. - Leketi Makalela (ed.). Language teacher research in Africa. Alexandria, VA: TESOL (2009). Pp. vii + 124. ISBN 978-1931-18- 554-7. - Hedy M. Mcgarrell (ed.). Language teacher research in the Americas. Alexandria, VA: TESOL (2007). Pp. vii + 203. ISBN 978-1931-18-542-4.

2010 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 527-536 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Burns
Author(s):  
Bilge Akıncı

This chapter presents an example of STEM and English language teaching integration. In this study, it was aimed to improve students' English language skills and increase their engagement with the appliance of STEM. In this descriptive study, a way of integrating STEM into the language teaching process was explained with an applied example. The research is of qualitative design with the implementation of action research method. As a result, the implementation improved students' language skills and gave students the chance of using knowledge of other disciplines in English courses while increasing their engagement. Additively, the implementation developed students' 21st century skills. It is thought this study can be an inspiration for English teachers to apply various approaches in their teaching processes. In addition, the study can be accepted as an example of the contribution of STEM to English language teaching process. Moreover, the study is a representation of teacher research, and this research can be assessed as an inspiration for teachers to turn their practices into research.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald Freeman

This article examines how the concept of a knowledge-base in language teacher education has changed since the 1998 proposal. Arguing that a knowledge-base evolves in two ways: through changes in the field of knowledge, and through changes driven by the work that knowledge supports, I describe two problems: ‘translating’ theory into practice and the ‘positionality’ of those defining what counts as knowledge. The 1998 proposal outlined a work-driven framework in response to the former without fully acknowledging the latter: who is doing English language teaching, with whom, and to what ends. Revising the knowledge-base now depends on taking that positionality into account. With this in mind, I suggest three concepts – of teacher language use (English-for-Teaching), participation and agency, and professional confidence as a measure of outcome – as work-driven alternatives to our present thinking.


2005 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. i-i

We are delighted to begin our term as editors with a stimulating special-feature article by Anne Burns on action research. While the term ‘action research’ is not new in the wider field of research methodology, it remains a relatively recent phenomenon in the field of language teaching, but one which is increasingly the subject of much debate. Anne Burns takes a critical look at the origins, purpose, scope and impact of action research in the area of English language teaching, and describes both the challenges to its status as a research methodology and the issues which need to be addressed by language teachers if it is to remain a sustainable methodology. In addition to being an authoritative overview of the paradigm, the article provides excellent background for a state-of-the-art article on the development of the language teacher written by Steve Mann, which will appear in the next issue of this journal.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 65-84
Author(s):  
Zeynep Çetin Köroğlu

Literary texts can be used to improve language learners' skills such as reading, writing, speaking and listening because these texts contain rich vocabulary, complex grammar structures, interesting plot and most importantly imagination of the author. However, using literature for language teaching purposes is a controversial issue among scholars. While some researchers think positively, others have negative views on the subject. Learners' needs and way of using literary texts are the main concerns of literature use in language pedagogy. In this context, the present research aimed to find out whether digital short stories can improve language learners' listening skills. The purpose of this study was to figure out student teachers' perceptions of digital short stories’ implementation into language classrooms. Specifically, the current research aimed to investigate whether digital short stories are useful to develop language learners' listening skills in English. The research is action research in design. The study used pre-test and post-test, a written structured interview to collect data and it included both quantitative and qualitative components. The interview consisted of six open-ended questions. Achievement tests and t-test were used to analyze quantitative data. On the other hand, content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. The data were collected in 2016-2017 academic years, Bayburt University. Participants were prep class students of English language teaching department of Bayburt University. In the treatment process, digital short stories were used for eight weeks, which were written by various famous American authors and voice recorded by various American natives. Additionally, weekly worksheets and handouts were prepared by the researcher. Results showed that digital short stories provide satisfactory content, supports vocabulary learning, improves language learners’ listening skills, helps participants to gain familiarity with complex grammar structures and makes students more familiar with different cultures. Furthermore, participants are satisfied with digital short stories and they think these digital stories are useful to improve their listening skills.


Author(s):  
Ali Al-Issa

Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) has been the sole English Language Teaching (ELT) research enterprise in the Sultanate of Oman through the Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Methods of Teaching English degree program it launched in the early 1990s. Eighty-two theses have been completed so far about topics pertinent to ELT in the Sultanate of Oman. However, a review of those theses has shown that the discussion of these topics lacks a critical dimension that can advance Omani ELT at the micro and macro levels. This critical qualitative study, therefore, sets out to make a case for new directions in ELT research at the M.Ed. in ELT program at SQU. The discussion should lead to better understanding of the multiple ELT problems in the Sultanate of Oman and have implications for other similar contexts.


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