scholarly journals Interventions to Improve a Practicum Course for EFL Teachers in Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khadija A. Alamoudi

Although the Teaching Practicum (TP) course makes a significant contribution in preparing teachers, it remains lacking in many essential aspects. To fill in the gaps regarding literature, this research paper was designed to explore the views of three Master of Art (MA) TESOL student-teachers on the advantages they gained and challenges they faced during their TP course at a Saudi university. Participants were interviewed, observed, and the two reflective assignments of the course were analyzed to find answers to the research questions. The research questions focused on the instructional benefits of the TP course and the interventions needed to enhance the effectiveness of the course. The findings revealed that the practical teaching component was the most helpful part of the course and the peer-observation report was the most appropriate evaluation method. Moreover, the study found that the limitedness of the teaching timeframe poses a significant challenge, and hence increasing the teaching practice time was the most significant change the participants suggested. Finally, the study recommends interventions that will help improve the quality of the TP course.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-70
Author(s):  
Khadija A. Alamoudi

Although the Teaching Practicum (TP) course makes a significant contribution in preparing teachers, it remains lacking in many essential aspects. To fill in the gaps regarding literature, this research paper was designed to explore the views of three Master of Art (MA) TESOL student-teachers on the advantages they gained and challenges they faced during their TP course at a Saudi university. Participants were interviewed, observed, and the two reflective assignments of the course were analyzed to find answers to the research questions. The research questions focused on the instructional benefits of the TP course and the interventions needed to enhance the effectiveness of the course. The findings revealed that the practical teaching component was the most helpful part of the course and the peer-observation report was the most appropriate evaluation method. Moreover, the study found that the limitedness of the teaching timeframe poses a significant challenge, and hence increasing the teaching practice time was the most significant change the participants suggested. Finally, the study recommends interventions that will help improve the quality of the TP course.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arab World English Journal ◽  
Syamsudarni ◽  
Sahraini

This research generates a product, namely the guiding book for the evaluation of micro teaching of student teachers at the Faculty of Education and Teacher Training of IAIN Palopo (State Islamic Institute) Indonesia, and the instruments used to evaluate the practice of micro teaching at the faculty. The following research questions were addressed: 1. How was the evaluation model of mirco teaching practice at the Faculty of Education and Teaching Training of IAIN Palopo? 2. How were the constructed instruments used to evaluate the practice of micro teaching at the Faculty of Education and Teaching Training of IAIN Palopo? The aim of the study is to produce a guiding book for the evaluation of micro teaching of pre-service teachers at IAIN PAlopo.The book comprises of procedures and guidelines for performing the evaluation of the practice of micro teaching, as well as ways to analyze the results of the evaluation. On the other hand, the instruments generated were employed to evaluate the basic competence of the student teachers’ teaching performance. This book is beneficial for the lecturers teaching micro teaching skills and other related subjects. It can be an ideal handbook for both the lecturers and preservice teachers in that the instruments created have been validated and tested; hence, it is valid and reliable. Also, teaching practice is one of the core topics that the students are supposed to undertake before they jump into the placement, or teaching practicum placed in some schools. Therefore, the provision of this book will significantly help lecturers, students, not to mention the education instution because it can be used either in the classroom or micro teaching lab at the Islamic institute.


Author(s):  
Georgina Martin ◽  
Evans Atteh

In today’s keen competitive global environment, schools and institutions of higher learning are entrusted to produce quality human capital that is able to participate and cope with the ever changing market demands in various sectors of the economy such as education, business and commerce, and technology. The quality of education that students receive is inextricably linked to the knowledge, intelligence, professional skills and competencies of teachers. Teachers are the major in – school influence on student achievement and the most influential profession in the society that make huge differences to children’s lives. The professional roles and qualities of the teacher are blended to make him/her an effective teacher. With teacher preparation issues becoming a major concern for many societies today, it is therefore crucial to shed more light on pre-service teachers teaching practice program aimed at positively influencing the quality level of our student teacher preparation to assist them in carrying out their core mandate as and when they become fully grown teachers. The issues in focus are; the concept of teaching practice, why the need for teaching practice for student teachers, supervisors and supervision, supervisions and feedback, and challenges in supervision.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Johanna Hugo

Mentor teachers play a vital role in the pre-service training of teachers.  The role of mentor teachers assumes even more significance when the training is done at a distance education institution.  It is impossible for lecturers and university representatives to reach every teacher student during the weeks of teaching practice done at schools in a big country like South Africa.  The feedback obtained from the mentor teachers is thus important to train student teachers when they present their lessons during weeks of teaching practice at schools.  But the feedback from mentor teachers can also be used for the future training of student teachers.  Mentor teachers should, however, also be informed about their role as mentors for student teachers.  In this article the way feedback of mentor teachers could be used to improve the quality of the lessons of student teachers when offering language lessons in Grades 1 – 3, is discussed.           


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asma Mansour Almusharraf

This study examined the effect of utilizing e-portfolio reflection-enhancing tasks in a practicum course on developing student teachers' level of reflection. It sought to answer how engaging EFL student teachers in writing a teaching philosophy and peer observation affect their understanding of and appreciation for reflective practice and its influence on developing their reflection level and teaching performance. A mixed-methods study design was implemented where both quantitative and qualitative data were collected within this study. Eight female Saudi student teachers enrolled in a teacher education program at a public university in Saudi Arabia participated in this study while completing an 11-week teaching practicum course at a public secondary school in Riyadh. Each participant was tasked with completing a teaching philosophy and six peer observations with other participants within the study. Each task was analyzed for its reflection level based on a rubric developed by El- Okda (2009). Data were also collected through a semi-structured interview with each of the participants. This study demonstrated that while the participants struggled throughout the practicum to develop a cogent teaching philosophy, their level of reflection for the peer observation tasks improved throughout the teaching practice. Their enthusiasm for these tasks and the process of reflection itself was very positive. The results of this study will help teacher educators to create an informative account of reflection in teaching practice programs in ways that encourage reflective practice among student teachers. Future research could continue to explore more reflective tasks that encourage reflection among student teachers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-71
Author(s):  
Wai Cheong Jacky Pow ◽  
Kwok Hung Lai

Microteaching and reflection remains an important technique that pre-service student teachers can use to practice their teaching in a safe environment. However, improvements in teaching are not guaranteed without the support and feedback from peers. Previous studies suggest that a learning community supported by information technology promotes improved pedagogical decisions. This study aimed to examine whether virtual learning communities can facilitate student teachers’ reflection upon their teaching practice. A video database with both text- and voice-comment functionalities was designed to facilitate the process of giving peer feedback and improve the quality of teaching practice. Student teachers’ experiences in using the video database were collected through a questionnaire survey and feedback recorded within the database. Findings indicated that student teachers demonstrated a better understanding of concepts and theories relevant to the teaching of the chosen language skill area. While only some student teachers reflected on their reflective teaching practice more effectively with voice-comment features, most of them did peer evaluation of relevant principles and techniques used in their microteaching. Although feedback on the comment functionalities was divided, student teachers trusted that the microteaching videos with their own reflection and peer feedback were good evidence of their learning outcomes. Future research should examine what types of peer feedback in virtual learning communities may work more effectively in enhancing the quality of reflective teaching practice.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (90) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michał Bronikowski ◽  
Ida Laudańska Krzemińska ◽  
Adam Kantanista ◽  
Małgorzata Bronikowska ◽  
Ewa Szczepanowska ◽  
...  

Research backgrounds and hypothesis. This study investigates the student teachers’ preparation for the practical school  placement  in  Poland  and  Kosovo.  Considering  the  two  countries  with  different  academic  backgrounds there might be reasonable differences in the state of students’ preparation to work practice. While other research  concentrates on teachers’  supervision  during practical placement the literature review carried out for this paper  illustrates that teaching practicum, which has been a focal point of many academic discussions, has been relatively little researched, especially from the students’ perspective of the process. Understanding the differences regarding  various academic systems may bring some more light into the search for the most effective ways of preparing student  teachers for the school practical placement. Research aim. The purpose of the study was to analyse the student teachers’ assessments of their actual teaching  competencies in order to further prepare a Cooperating PE Teachers Programme (COPET) at both universities. A  sample of 154 second year Bachelor undergraduates in Poznań and 128 students from Pristina and respectively 109 from Master students from Poznań, and 45 from Master students of the international post-graduate programme in Physical Education and Sport in Kosovo were surveyed.Research  method.  Quantitative  data  were  collected  via  the  Pre-Service  PE  Teachers  Self-Assessment Questionnaire including 25-items concerning three areas: organizational, didactic and pedagogical. A multivariate analysis of variance showed the differences between students from Poznań and Pristina. Research results. In our own research, the analysis of progression (visible in the difference between Bachelor and Master students) in their self-assessment indicates more critical self-reflection present in the assessments of students in Poznań. This was not common in the self-assessment of the students in Pristina as levels of their self-assessment at the two phases of the PETE programme (Bachelor and Master) were similar.Discussion and conclusions. Recommendations for further improvements of PETE programmes in both Polish  and Kosovan Higher Education Institutions concern the introduction of a COPET programme. Improving teaching  practice  and  professional  preparedness  of  student  teachers  requires  elevating  the  quality  of  academic  teaching  delivered to students throughout their studies. This especially concerns subjects dealing with the teaching of practical  and methodological skills. Equally important is the quality of early practical experience.Keywords: PE practical school placement, student teachers’ competencies, self-assessment.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liu Jin ◽  
Lazarus Obed Livingstone Banda ◽  
Jane Thokozani Banda ◽  
Zhou Wen Hui

Abstract Teaching practice is a precious period for final learner support. In Malawi, any faculty member could supervise teaching practice regardless of their subject specialty (scrambled model). This qualitative study assessed the impacts of this scrambled model of supervision on the quality of learner support when non-specialist faculty supervised student-teachers. Through 2 different focus group discussions, data were collected from 10 conveniently sampled practicum students, 6 practicum supervisors, and 6 coordinators from 6 purposefully selected higher teacher-education institutions. and data were analyzed qualitatively. The study revealed that student-teachers and faculty were uncomfortable with the scrambled supervision model because it led to (1) inconsistencies in pedagogical and content knowledge, (2) unfriendly environment, and (3) inadequate feedback due to varying needs in varying subject areas demands. However, they justified this model for convenience at the mercy of other constraints. Apart from contributing to the existing body of knowledge, this study suggests best practices to guide institutional policy regarding practicum to facilitate quality learner support.


2010 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 78-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wahyuni Kadarko ◽  
Settings Dian Novita ◽  
Refni Delfi

This study aims to identify problems facing by participants in experiencing teaching pratice under The Strengthening Teaching Competency Programme. An evaluation method was employed through problem and issues maping, interpreting problem  dynamics, and improving actions. A qualitative-naturalistic approach with inteview was conducted during April-July 2009 to participants of Lower Secondary School Teacher Training  who live  in remote and rural areas in  Bandung, Bogor and Serang region. Interview was also   conducted to tutors, supervisors, programme manager, remote-school principals, peer teachers and students involved in the  teaching practicum/exercise. Observations and documentary study were employed to support the data of the interview. Problems  identified as  the low performance of  supervisory officials and partnership schools in guiding  student teachers in  developing didactic materials for both practicum and final exam. Most participants become stressed due to the absence of a definite timetable guidance process both in the process of lesson plan development, implementation of practicum and execution of final exams. It was suggested to redesign the current system with a more reliable system for participants coming from remote areas who wish to carry out teaching practice. 


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