Teacher Research as a Form of Critical Praxis

2022 ◽  
pp. 412-437
Author(s):  
Pinar Sali ◽  
Ebru A. Damar

The aim of this chapter is to provide TESOL practitioners, undergraduate, and graduate students in language teacher training programs with both a conceptual framework of teacher research (TR) as a form of critical praxis and a practical guide on how to implement it in language education settings. Subsequent to the description of what TR consists of and how it relates—or it does not—to other forms of research endeavors undertaken by TESOL teachers, the chapter continues with an outline of the procedures and practices to be implemented in TR and concludes with some key recommendations as to the promotion and dissemination of it for a full and effective exploitation of its transformative power.

Author(s):  
Scott Kissau ◽  
Kristin J Davin ◽  
Chuang Wang ◽  
Helga Haudeck

Despite the importance of advanced language proficiency when teaching a foreign language, little research has investigated the oral proficiency of aspiring foreign language teachers across multiple countries and what their teacher training programs do to enhance it. In response, the researchers collected and analyzed both quantitative and qualitative data from foreign language teacher candidates in Germany, China, and the United States. Results suggested that oral proficiency varies significantly both within individual teacher training programs and across nations. The teacher candidates from Germany demonstrated significantly greater oral proficiency in the target language than their Chinese counterparts, who in turn, demonstrated significantly greater oral proficiency than the US teacher candidates. Helping to explain these findings, the data suggested that foreign language teacher training programs have differing areas of focus. While the programs in Germany and China focused more attention on language development, the US program emphasized pedagogical skills. Implications for practice are discussed.


1987 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. 204-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.J. Bina

A survey of itinerant teachers in Texas found that, despite the numerous shortcomings of the job, the respondents believed there were many advantages. The respondents further identified the much needed ability to adjust to change, to put things in perspective, to modify their expectations, and to exercise a healthy sense of humor. This article details these shortcomings and advantages, suggests strategies for overcoming obstacles, and discusses the implications of the findings for administrators of schools and personnel of teacher-training programs.


1980 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Kavale ◽  
Alfred Hirshoren

The findings from a survey of public school programs for behaviorally disordered children are presented suggesting that a majority considered their theoretical focus to be behavioral. If a majority of university teacher-training programs in behavior disorder also consider their primary theoretical focus to be behavioral as previous research suggested, then the two would appear to complement each other. Another portion of the survey, however, indicated that the pragmatic approaches to treatment found in public school behavior disorders programs cover techniques reflecting a wide variety of theoretical models. Consequently, there exists a mismatch which prevents maximum effectiveness in both teacher training and service delivery for behaviorally disordered children. It was concluded that university teacher training programs should reflect a more eclectic stance by carefully synthesizing assorted theoretical components into a composite which meets the diverse pragmatic demands of public school programs for behaviorally disordered children.1


Author(s):  
Esther Ntuli ◽  
Arnold Nyarambi

The use and importance of technology in teaching and learning processes is well established in teacher training programs and teaching literature; however, integration of technology in meaningful ways remains a challenge. For teacher candidates to be able to effectively integrate technology in the classrooms, they need to experience meaningful technology pedagogical practices during teacher training. This chapter synthesizes well-established and relatively new technology pedagogical strategies that could be used with teacher candidates. The aim is to provide a summary of research-based strategies for teacher educators interested in improving technology integration in their teacher training programs.


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