scholarly journals A Comparative Study Of The Attitudes, Self-Efficacy, And Readiness Of American Versus Turkish Language Teachers

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-60
Author(s):  
Yesim Ozek Kaloti

Contrasting studies of foreign language teacher education have become a growing interest among educationists and researchers in different countries (Yoder, 1992; McKay & Montgomery, 1995; Baker & Giacchino-Baker, 2000; Stachowski & Sparks, 2007; Firmin, M. W., Firmin, R & MacKay, F. M., 2008; LaFond & Dogancay-Aktuna, 2009; Ozek, 2009). Such studies emphasize the importance of comparing and understanding different education programs and enables student teachers to think more globally with respect to their language career. These contrasting studies investigate different aspects of foreign language (FL) teaching programs. The present study reports a comparison of the student teachers of an American and Turkish university regarding their satisfaction and readiness in language teaching, and their attitudes towards language teaching theories and teacher education program. The study aims to discover the teacher trainees’ perceptions with an in-depth understanding and compare the differences among them. Therefore, the researcher employed an interconnection of qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data were collected through self-report questionnaires and interviews. The results indicated that there were some significant differences between the subjects in two groups regarding their readiness, their attitudes towards their education programs and their self-perceptions as teacher candidates.

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-154
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Karimi ◽  
Ebrahim Fakhri Alamdari ◽  
Mehrshad Ahmadian

The present study attempted to give insight into the features of an effective English as a foreign language (EFL) teacher education program by exploring student teachers’ beliefs, ideas, and the challenges they encounter during their teacher education program. The data were collected through several semi-structured focus group interview sessions with a total number of forty-one BA, MA, and PhD students studying teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) at university. The qualitative grounded theory design was used to analyze the data, and the findings of the study were corroborated with interpretations obtained from the informal observation of several university classes in a TEFL teacher education program in Iran. The inductive analysis of the data resulted in developing the following categories: the challenge of developing the ability to move back and forth from theory to practice,  the struggle to establish a professional identity, the quest for the ‘self’, less-practiced reflective practice, and the missing connection between teacher education programs and schools. The discussion concerning the challenges and issues culminated in implications for EFL teacher education programs through which they can take the issues that student teachers normally experience into account and help them pave the way for an effective EFL teacher education program.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Raja Nor Safinas Raja Harun ◽  
Mohd Hafiz Hanif ◽  
Goh Swee Choo

The advances in technology have paved the way for student centred learning environment which allows for higher students’ engagement, active participation, deep meaningful learning, and critical thinking. One of the technology applications which have gained popularity at the beginning of the 1990s is the use of e-portfolio. Studies in many professional fields have shown exceptional findings on the adoption of e-portfolio. Nonetheless, the development of e-portfolio affordances over a period of time has yet to be explored to ascertain its usefulness particularly in the area of teacher education. This article presents the process of systematic literature on the e-portfolio pedagogical affordances in teacher education programs and issues to be addressed for successful implementation. Using the content analysis method, 28 articles which focused on e-portfolio, teacher education, English as a second language, scientific research, and secondary school were reviewed. The findings of the review have mainly shed positive lights on its use in documenting student teachers’ learning experiences particularly on assisting and assessing student teachers learning how to teach. This article implicates the relevance of having a holistic view and understanding of the e-portfolio pedagogical affordances and the need to recognize issues to be addressed prior to its implementation in a teacher education program. With this understanding, the university and teacher education institutions can have a well-defined policy on the adoption of e-portfolio into their teacher education programs. 


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-75
Author(s):  
Mukhlash Abrar ◽  
F Failasofah ◽  
Nunung Fajaryani ◽  
M Masbirorotni

ABSTRACT This present study examined student teachers’ Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety (FLSA) associated with gender and proficiency differences. The participants of the study were 72 second-year EFL student teachers at the English teacher education program of one public university in Jambi, Indonesia. A close-ended questionnaire developed from Syakur (1987) and Horwitz et al, (1986) was administered to the participants to explore their FLSA. The results indicated that EFL student teachers are highly anxious when speaking English. Furthermore, the findings revealed that there is no statistical difference between male and female student teachers on FLSA. On the contrary, proficiency does affect EFL learners’ anxiety wherein more proficient students seem to be less nervous to speak. ABSTRAK Penelitian ini membahas kecemasan berbicara bahasa asing (FLSA) siswa yang dihubungkan dengan perbedaan jenis kelamin dan kecakapan berbahasa Inggris. Jumlah peserta dalam penelitian ini sebanyak 72 mahasiswa tahun kedua pada program studi pendidikan bahasa Inggris di salah satu universitas negeri di Jambi. Kuesioner tertutup diberikan kepada peserta penelitian untuk mengetahui FLSA mereka. Hasil penelitian mengindikasikan bahwa siswa pembelajar bahasa asing (EFL) sangat cemas ketika berbicara bahasa Inggris. Selain itu, hasil juga menunjukkan bahwa tidak ada perbedaan statistik yang signifikan pada FLSA antara siswa laki-laki dan perempuan. Sebaliknya, tingkat kecakapan sangat mempengaruhi kecemasan siswa EFL dimana siswa yang mempunyai kecakapan dalam bahasa Inggris terlihat tidak terlalu cemas untuk berbicara. How to Cite: Abrar, M. Failasofah. Fajaryani, N. Masbirorotni. (2016). EFL Student Teachers’ Speaking Anxiety: the Case in One English Teacher Education Program. IJEE (Indonesian Journal of English Education), 3(1), 60-75. doi:10.15408/ijee.v3i1.3619 Permalink/DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15408/ijee.v3i1.3619


SAGE Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 215824401990016
Author(s):  
Yi-Mei Chen

Communicative approaches have been a dominant paradigm in foreign/second language teaching since the 1980s. However, they are not widely accepted by teachers in many English as a Foreign Language (EFL) contexts. The current study adopted an action research approach to study classroom practice in a Taiwanese EFL secondary school, to identify and solve any problems arising. Three volunteer teachers and their 90 students were involved. The results suggest that the teachers’ limited understanding of the approaches seemed to be a dominant factor and further suggest that some commonly cited obstacles in the implementation of communicative approaches result from the teachers’ lack of understanding. This investigation gained insights into how teachers can learn and can be supported from the five cycles of action research. These experiences may provide a useful reference for practitioners and teacher education/development programmers in a variety of contexts.


2021 ◽  
pp. 26-44
Author(s):  
Fehime Aslan

Going beyond the heated discussion about the necessity of feedback on writing, the aims of the study were twofold; to investigate students’ and English instructors’ beliefs about feedback on writing and examine whether there is a match or mismatch between them. In the light of the questionnaire data, the study revealed that there are both matches and mismatches between English instructors’ and students’ beliefs about error correction and feedback practices on writing. The study suggests some useful implications for teacher education programs and educational institutions. Keywords: English as a foreign language teaching; feedback; practices on writing; students’ perceptions; teacher preferences.


2021 ◽  
pp. 33-41
Author(s):  
Marianna Levrints (Lőrincz) ◽  
Svitlana Myshko ◽  
Kateryna Lizák

  The paper set out to explore pre-and in-service foreign language teachers’ perceptions of attributes of effective teachers in Ukraine within a framework developed by the authors of the study to unravel the construct of effective language teaching. Two groups of pre-service (n=105) and in-service (n=127) teachers were recruited using a snowball sampling technique. The independent samples t-test and MANOVA statistical procedures were utilised to analyse and compare data generated from a self-report questionnaire. The findings indicated that the highest value was assigned to the performance category of teacher effectiveness, followed by the prerequisite category, including teacher competence, with the lowest value attached to the output category. A considerable degree of convergence was observed in students’ and teachers’ views on many attributes of teacher effectiveness.  Both groups endorsed such attributes as clear teaching, target language proficiency, knowledge of language pedagogy, active engagement of learners, downplaying the importance of learners’ test scores. Nevertheless, a statistically significant difference was detected between the perceptions of the two groups of subjects. The students accentuated teachers’ personality and rapport domains, as well as motivating instruction. They also endorsed traditional approaches to language teaching in giving preference to form-focused instruction. Conversely, the teachers associated effective teaching with competence, careful planning and ongoing professional development. Teachers gave precedence to current methodological approaches in favouring meaning-focused instruction. A conclusion was drawn that teachers form more sophisticated cognitions of effective teaching in the process of professional maturation, thus implying the necessity for closer attention to the development of prospective teachers’ cognitions in teacher education programmes. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 181-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malba Barahona ◽  
Kristin J. Davin

The international trend towards a practice-based approach in teacher education has permeated foreign language teacher education and English language teaching. A practice-based approach is based on the understanding that teachers learn to teach a language by engaging in “actual” teaching rather than “talking” about teaching. We report on the implementation of a practice-based approach in two different contexts: an initial English teacher education program in Chile and an initial foreign language teacher education program in the United States. We provide practical recommendations and areas of caution for future enactments. The findings demonstrate that incorporating a practice-based approach into the university classroom offers a useful affordance for examining and illuminating the complexities of foreign language teaching practice across contexts.


Author(s):  
Carmel Sandiford

Purpose – This article aims to report on a qualitative study that investigates the enculturation of a group of pre-service English language teachers over four years of a Bachelor of Education degree offered in a women ' s college in the United Arab Emirates. Design/methodology/approach – Bourdieu ' s “thinking tools” of field, habitus and capital provide the overarching theoretical framework and analytic tools to examine the processes of enculturation which impact on the student teachers as they participate in a program based on Western-oriented theories and practices. The study draws upon data gathered from focus group interviews with student teachers in the first and fourth years of the program to provide insights into their ways of thinking as future Emirati English language teachers. The article discusses the priorities that emerge as these student teachers validate, or otherwise, the theoretical principles and practices legitimated through the program. Findings – The findings suggest that influences bound by local, cultural and social forces contribute significantly to the student teachers ' perceived capacity to think and act as future Emirati English language teachers. Research limitations/implications – The study is limited to one site but, given the findings, similar investigations into processes of enculturation and the appropriation or resistance of essential aspects of English language teacher training could be undertaken. Originality/value – There is limited research into English language teacher education programs in the Arab world. This research has potential applications for English language teacher education programs where there is intent to effect educational reform.


2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Fernando Macías ◽  
Jesús Ariel Sánchez

<p>This qualitative descriptive study aimed to ascertain the extent to which classroom management constituted a problem among pre-service foreign language teachers in a teacher education program at a public university in Colombia. The study also sought to identify classroom management challenges, the approaches to confronting them, and the alternatives for improving pre-service teachers’ classroom management skills. The results revealed that classroom management is a serious problem with challenges ranging from inadequate classroom conditions to explicit acts of misbehavior. Establishing rules and reinforcing consequences for misbehavior were the main approaches to classroom management, although more contact with actual classrooms and learning from experienced others were alternatives for improving classroom management skills.</p><p>Este estudio cualitativo descriptivo buscó determinar en qué medida el manejo de clase constituye un problema para docentes practicantes de lenguas extranjeras en un programa de licenciatura en inglés en una universidad pública Colombiana. El estudio buscó identificar los desafíos de manejo de clase, el enfoque para afrontarlos, y las alternativas para mejorarlos. Los resultados revelaron que el manejo de clase es un problema serio que va desde condiciones inadecuadas del salón hasta actos explícitos de indisciplina. Establecer reglas y consecuencias por indisciplina fueron el principal enfoque de manejo de clase mientras que mayor contacto con sitios de práctica y aprender de otros con experiencia fueron alternativas de mejoramiento.</p>


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Ali Merç

The purpose of this study was to elicit student teachers’ views regarding the translation practices they were engaged in within the content of a compulsory ‘L1 to L2 translation’ course. During a 12-week translation class in 2018 Spring semester, 22 student teachers were asked to translate different types of texts: literary texts, recipes, magazine articles, official documents, and oral texts. They also deal with different translation practices such as prepared translation, unprepared in-class translation with and without dictionaries or online translation tools, constructing multiple-choice translation test items, and oral translation. At the end of the training, the student teachers were asked to rank those different practices and text types according to their usefulness and difficulty. They were also asked to explain their reasons for those ideas. The quantitative and qualitative analyses of the obtained data showed that each translation practice and each text type had its advantages and disadvantages for student teachers in their way to become foreign language teachers. A number of suggestions and implications are also provided for student teachers and teacher trainers for the translation courses in teacher education programs.


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