scholarly journals Saudi EFL Teachers’ Attitudes towards Professional Development

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 242-258
Author(s):  
Maha Alzahrani
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
English Language ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Teachers Attitudes

The study reported in this paper aimed to investigate the Professional Development (PD, henceforth) needs of English language teachers in Saudi Arabia. Its primary objectives were to assess the needs of PD and training of Saudi English language teachers and to explore the teachers’ attitudes towards the amount and quality of English teaching preparation received prior to their teaching career. The study adopted a mixed-method approach in order to gain a deep understanding of the phenomenon under investigation. The participants of the study included 109 Saudi teachers of English language who teach in public schools. The study involved quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. Whilst the quantitative data of the study was gathered via a survey questionnaire, the qualitative data was obtained via interviews with 10 of EFL teachers. The findings indicated the teachers’ dissatisfaction with the amount and quality of pre-service training they received. This was due to poor information, a lack of qualified trainers and limited selection of topics which does not serve their teaching needs.

scholarly journals Professional development of English language teachers in Malang, Indonesia: Institutional and individual perspectives

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Anik Nunuk Wulyani
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Proficiency ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Ict Skills ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Teacher Professional ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
The Individual

<p>Two important areas of professional development for teachers of English as a foreign language (EFL) in Indonesia identified in the 2003 Law on National Education System and 2005 Law on Teachers and Lecturers are disciplinary knowledge and ICT skills. The present thesis investigates institutional and individual aspects of EFL teacher professional development (TPD) in Indonesia in relation to the development of these two areas of expertise.  Three studies were carried out. The first study measured Indonesian EFL teachers’ target language (English) proficiency as a core component of their professional knowledge and how it is maintained and developed by the teachers. EFL teachers’ language proficiency in this study was operationalised as their lexical, reading and writing proficiency and measured using the Vocabulary Levels Test (VLT), IELTS-like reading comprehension test and IELTS-like academic writing test, respectively. The results showed that the teachers’ length of service correlated negatively with their knowledge of academic vocabulary, as well as reading and writing proficiency, indicating issues with the outcomes of the TPD in this area. To triangulate the test results, teacher perceptions data were also gathered using questionnaires and interviews. It was found that the EFL teachers tended to overestimate their own overall English language proficiency.  The second study used a longitudinal blogging activity with the EFL teachers as a form of personal professional development that targeted their English language and ICT skills while reflecting on topics related to their professional (teaching) activities. Qualitative analysis of the blog entries of three EFL teachers suggested that the individual teachers’ blogging, critical reading and reflective writing skills were very uneven. Interviews with nine teachers and 11 educational stakeholders were then conducted to understand their views on blogging as a form of professional development. The results revealed that the perceived obstacles and drawbacks outweighed the perceived benefits of blogging as a form of personal professional development.  The third study examined Indonesian national TPD policy documents, how these policies were translated into local professional development programmes in Malang district. It was found that the needs for EFL teachers to maintain their English proficiency and ICT skills were only partially addressed in TPD policy and implementation. In addition, the interviewed teachers and stakeholders perceived the definitions, goals, administration, evaluation, benefits, and challenges of TPD differently.  Taken as a whole, the present findings show that institutional implementation of TPD policies in Indonesia needs to better target individual EFL teachers’ English proficiency and ICT skills, and that opportunities for better professional development need to be sought at both personal and institutional levels. At the individual level, self-motivation to continue learning is crucial for English language teachers who want to keep up with change and innovation in English language teaching. At the institutional level, needs analyses and environmental analyses are essential in designing programs for maintaining and developing teacher professional competency.</p>

Teacher Development: Strategies and Perception

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 69-78
Author(s):  
Padam Lal Bharati ◽  
Subas Chalise
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Teacher Development ◽  
English Language ◽  
Development Strategies ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Teachers Professional Development ◽  
Clear Idea

Aspects of teachers’ professional development in general and EFL teachers in non-English speaking countries in particular are issues that warrant constant research. Although these are widely researched areas internationally, within Nepal grounded professional development studies have been sparsely carried out. A considerable section of practicing English language teachers has no clear idea of the issue although it directly concerns themselves. Against this backdrop, this article explores some EFL teachers’ perception on the concept of teacher development in a relatively sophisticated centrally located town of Nepal.The Saptagandaki Journal Vol.8 2017: 69-78

scholarly journals Professional development of English language teachers in Malang, Indonesia: Institutional and individual perspectives

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Anik Nunuk Wulyani
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Proficiency ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Ict Skills ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Teacher Professional ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
The Individual

<p>Two important areas of professional development for teachers of English as a foreign language (EFL) in Indonesia identified in the 2003 Law on National Education System and 2005 Law on Teachers and Lecturers are disciplinary knowledge and ICT skills. The present thesis investigates institutional and individual aspects of EFL teacher professional development (TPD) in Indonesia in relation to the development of these two areas of expertise.  Three studies were carried out. The first study measured Indonesian EFL teachers’ target language (English) proficiency as a core component of their professional knowledge and how it is maintained and developed by the teachers. EFL teachers’ language proficiency in this study was operationalised as their lexical, reading and writing proficiency and measured using the Vocabulary Levels Test (VLT), IELTS-like reading comprehension test and IELTS-like academic writing test, respectively. The results showed that the teachers’ length of service correlated negatively with their knowledge of academic vocabulary, as well as reading and writing proficiency, indicating issues with the outcomes of the TPD in this area. To triangulate the test results, teacher perceptions data were also gathered using questionnaires and interviews. It was found that the EFL teachers tended to overestimate their own overall English language proficiency.  The second study used a longitudinal blogging activity with the EFL teachers as a form of personal professional development that targeted their English language and ICT skills while reflecting on topics related to their professional (teaching) activities. Qualitative analysis of the blog entries of three EFL teachers suggested that the individual teachers’ blogging, critical reading and reflective writing skills were very uneven. Interviews with nine teachers and 11 educational stakeholders were then conducted to understand their views on blogging as a form of professional development. The results revealed that the perceived obstacles and drawbacks outweighed the perceived benefits of blogging as a form of personal professional development.  The third study examined Indonesian national TPD policy documents, how these policies were translated into local professional development programmes in Malang district. It was found that the needs for EFL teachers to maintain their English proficiency and ICT skills were only partially addressed in TPD policy and implementation. In addition, the interviewed teachers and stakeholders perceived the definitions, goals, administration, evaluation, benefits, and challenges of TPD differently.  Taken as a whole, the present findings show that institutional implementation of TPD policies in Indonesia needs to better target individual EFL teachers’ English proficiency and ICT skills, and that opportunities for better professional development need to be sought at both personal and institutional levels. At the individual level, self-motivation to continue learning is crucial for English language teachers who want to keep up with change and innovation in English language teaching. At the institutional level, needs analyses and environmental analyses are essential in designing programs for maintaining and developing teacher professional competency.</p>

scholarly journals DESENVOLVIMENTO PROFISSIONAL DE PROFESSORES DE INGLÊS DAS ESCOLAS PÚBLICAS: UM ESTUDO AVALIATIVO DO PDPI SOB A PERSPECTIVA DE SEUS EGRESSOS

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 318-335
Author(s):  
Lorena Lins Damasceno ◽  
Mariana Gomes Fontes Bethônico
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
United States ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
English Language ◽  
Development Program ◽  
The United States ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Cultural Experience ◽  
The Usa ◽  
English Language Teachers

In this article, we analyze the Professional Development Program for English Language Teachers in the United States (PDPI), from the perspective of its graduates. The PDPI is a program developed by Capes in partnership with the United States Embassy and the Fulbright Commission, for the provision of intensive courses at American universities for English language teachers in Brazilian public schools. To identify the results and the possible repercussions of the program on the performance and the professional development of the participating teachers, a questionnaire was sent to the graduates of the courses taken in the USA, one year after their return to Brazil.The questionnaires were applied from Google Forms and the data tabulated and analyzed using the Microsoft Excel tool, with the construction of dynamic tables. Teachers' responses to the questionnaire were analyzedconsidering the objectives listed in the program selection notice. For this, an indicator was created for each of the five objectives: valuing teachers, mastering skills, sharing methodologies, cultural experience in loco, and established partnerships. The results showed that the objectives of the program were partially achieved with regard to the valorization of teachers, the ability to contextualize the cultural experience in the USA in language teaching, the establishment of partnerships, and the sharing and socialization of knowledge after the return to Brazil. On the other hand, the program has shown to have contributed significantly to the increase in the mastery of language skills and to the improvement of teaching and assessment practices in the classroom, according to the participating teachers.

scholarly journals English language teachers’ professional development: a survey study of needs and expectations

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 113-127
Author(s):  
Anna Mędrzecka
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Professional Career ◽  
Didactic Literature ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Teachers Professional Development ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Professional development should be an inseparable part of a teacher’s professional career. Although it is the teacher’s sole responsibility, the action he/she undertakes greatly influences learners’ success. The goal of the paper is to investigate in-service English language teachers’ professional development practices, as well as delve into their needs and expectations in this area. The data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire. The results show that teachers are aware of the lifelong nature of professional development and undertake various activities to improve the quality of teaching, such as workshops or reading didactic literature. However, their attitudes, practices and needs differ and are contingent on their education level, experience and workplace.

scholarly journals Demotivational Factors among Secondary School EFL Teachers in Iran

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 932-942
Author(s):  
Abolhassan Nazari ◽  
Saeed Taki
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
High School Teachers ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
School Teachers ◽  
Attitudes And Behaviors ◽  
South West ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Teachers Attitudes

Demotivating factors negatively influence teachers attitudes and behaviors and hence lead to undesired teaching outcomes. The endeavor of this thesis was to scrutinize some sources of demotivational factors among Iranian English language teachers junior and senior high schools. To begin with, 100 junior and senior high school teachers in Chaharmahal Va Bakhtiari province, South West of Iran participated in this study. Two instruments (questionnaire and interview) were used for collecting data. Descriptive and inferential statistics for all questions and categories were generated and reported. The overall results showed that five out of six top items are related to working conditions and class facilities. The lowest number of demotivating factors related to lack of communication among teachers, lack of expression of straight opinion by colleagues, heterogeneity of learners in one class, students' forgetting to do homework, students' forgetting to bring textbook. The results also showed that recognizing and eradicating such impeding factors serve promising attention to learning, teaching and attainment.

scholarly journals Investigating Self-Assessment of Teaching Profession of Iraqi EFL Teachers

2018 ◽  
Vol 214 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-128
Author(s):  
Dhea Mizhir Krebt. Ph.D.
Keyword(s):  
Formative Assessment ◽  
Physical Environment ◽  
English Language ◽  
Teaching Profession ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
English Language Teachers

     Self-assessment is a process of formative assessment during which teachers reflect on and evaluate the quality of their work, decide the degree to which they reflect explicitly stated goals or criteria, identify strengths and weaknesses in their work, and revise accordingly. The present study is an attempt to find out the SA of Iraqi English language teachers. The sample consists of 100 teachers in Baghdad. An inventory of many domains distributed to the teachers, they are, routines, expectations, language, time, opportunities, physical environment, and interactions. The results show that the EFL teachers practice four domains of SA they are: routines, physical environment, time, and language.                            

EFL teachers’ beliefs about professionalism and professional development

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Sawsan Al-Bakri ◽  
Salah Troudi
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Context Sensitive ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Context Specific

This study explores how English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers’ perspectives on professionalism and beliefs about the usefulness of professional development (PD) activities influence their teaching practices and acceptance of new approaches. The focus is on tertiary English-language teachers working in Oman, and an exploratory research methodology was employed in which qualitative data were obtained from two focus group interviews with two groups of six teachers. The first group, which was asked about the meaning of professionalism, indicated that while a variety of aspects were of concern, there was a shared belief that professionalism is mainly related to moral values, which should be context sensitive. The second group, which was asked about PD, indicated that teachers’ engagement with PD activities is mainly related to context-specific skills improvement activities, and that the main obstacle to PD is a lack of institutional support. The research thus contributes to the study of Englishlanguage teachers’ own perspectives on professionalism, a topic which has previously received only limited attention.

scholarly journals Teachers’ Attitudes towards Translanguaging in Indonesian EFL Classrooms

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 254-266
Author(s):  
Khairunnisa Khairunnisa ◽  
Iwa Lukmana
Keyword(s):  
Positive Attitude ◽  
English Language ◽  
Multiple Choice ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Local Language ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Efl Classrooms ◽  
Quantitative Descriptive ◽  
Teachers Attitudes

This study aims to investigate the attitudes towards translanguaging in EFL classrooms by 50 English language teachers. The present study employed quantitative descriptive. A survey was administered to the teachers to gauge information regarding the importance of translanguaging use and the frequency with which these teachers felt it was practiced in the classroom. The survey was collected through questionnaire that included multiple-choice and Likert scale questions. The findings revealed that Indonesian EFL teachers showed positive attitude towards the use of translanguaging in their classrooms. Most of them considered the incorporation of Indonesian language and local language are beneficial in EFL classrooms. It is also discovered that Indonesian EFL teachers were flexibly use translanguaging to facilitate students’ learning. Nonetheless, this study is limited to teachers’ attitudes. Hence, further study is needed to observe translanguaging practices in Indonesian EFL classrooms.

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