scholarly journals English as a Foreign Language Teachers’ Motivation: An Activity Theory Perspective

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teymour Rahmati ◽  
Karim Sadeghi
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Activity Theory ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Foreign Language Teachers ◽  
Motivation Factors ◽  
Teachers Beliefs ◽  
Practical Implications

Drawing upon Activity Theory, this mixed-methods study explored L2 teachers’ (de)motivation factors, motivation change, and voice in adopting strategies that could motivate L2 teachers. Semi-structured interviews, a motivational timeline diagram, and a researcher-developed scale were used to collect data from 226 in-service L2 teachers. The interview data collected from 15 participants were analyzed through open, axial, and selective coding using MAXQDA Analytics Pro version 12.3. Individual participants’ motivational timelines were also carried over into a collective diagram to illustrate motivational trajectories. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the quantitative data collected from 211 teachers. The findings identified a number of (de)motivation factors and indicated that L2 teachers experienced changes in their motivation due to some primary and secondary level contradictions in their motivational activity systems. Moreover, L2 teachers’ commitment to their profession revealed the significant role of teachers’ beliefs and agency in resolving those contradictions. The theoretical and practical implications of the study were accordingly discussed.

Online Informal Language Learning Among Foreign Language Teachers

2020 ◽  
pp. 315-332
Author(s):  
Violeta Jurkovič ◽  
Vita Kilar ◽  
Nives Lenassi ◽  
Darja Mertelj
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Social Group ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Online Resources ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Foreign Language Teachers ◽  
Online Behaviour ◽  
Insight Into

Today's online world provides foreign language users and learners with a multitude of opportunities to engage in a variety of language activities. A social group that can derive major benefits from the availability of online resources in different languages is foreign language teachers. Based on an ‘emic' approach, this study involves case studies of three experienced foreign language teachers that used diaries over a period of eight weeks to report on every instance of online use of their predominant foreign language and English. Semi-structured interviews were used to obtain insight into online behaviour that was not specifically related to the eight-week period of diary-keeping. The results indicate that the online uses of the three participants, although they belong to the same social and age groups, display great variety in terms of online activities and the predominant language used to perform these activities.

“Das bin ich...”: Corporeality and early German language education in (Slovak) kindergarten

Human Affairs ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ondrej Kaščák ◽  
Branislav Pupala ◽  
Iveta Kovalčíková
Keyword(s):  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Cultural Anthropology ◽  
Language Education ◽  
The Body ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
German Language ◽  
Foreign Language Teachers ◽  
Foreign Language Acquisition

AbstractThis paper, based on ethnographically obtained data, discusses German language acquisition at an early age: the discovery of the interconnection between language and corporeality is the key component of the analysis based on videostudies. The body—conceived as an intermediary and content element of education, becomes an essential base for foreign language acquisition. This will be documented by tangible data and subsequent theoretical analysis with respect to relevant terminology of cultural anthropology (Körper and Leib). The principle of corporeality is further used as a means of perceiving German language education in the sense of the so called language propaedeutic concept and as a means of the legitimisation of particular qualification and the role of foreign language teachers in preschool institutions.

scholarly journals THE ROLE OF MEDIA EDUCATION IN THE TRAINING OF FUTURE FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHERS

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Barkasi ◽  
◽  
Tetiana Filippyeva ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Media Education ◽  
Educational Technologies ◽  
Foreign Language Teachers ◽  
Rational Use ◽  
Professional Activities ◽  
The Future

The aim of the article is to study the advantages of media education technologies in the training of future foreign language teachers due to the fact that the current stage of society highlights the education of the individual who must effectively select and concentrate information, process it and create new, separate useful from unnecessary ways and programs for their solution. Therefore, today it is not enough to use video, audio, press and information and communication technologies when teaching future foreign language teachers only for the development of oral and written speech. It is necessary to pay attention to the development of visual and critical media literacy of students, based on the main objectives of media education. The article considers the problems of formation of professional competence of the future teacher of a foreign language by means of media education. The author analyzes the principles and functions of media education as the main components of professional media education of the future foreign language teacher. The peculiarities of the introduction and rational use of the latest media educational technologies in the professional training of future foreign language teachers are revealed. Their influence on the educational process and the need to update the role of the teacher in modern conditions of pedagogical activity are analyzed. The relevance of the article is determined by the dynamic trends in the introduction of media in the educational process. The integrated use of media education technologies motivates future foreign language teachers to master their profession, gives them the opportunity to acquire and develop new skills and abilities. The inclusion of the study of media education technologies in the initial program of the Faculty of Foreign Languages will promote the rational use of media education in future professional activities, critical evaluation of information, the ability to analyze and recognize media texts, and learn about new trends in teaching their subject. Improving knowledge in the field of media educational technologies, acquiring knowledge of pedagogical development of personality and awareness of the role and place of teachers in the educational process provides an opportunity to intensify and motivate student learning activities and gain initial pedagogical experience.

Students’ Strategic Reactions to the Role of Native Language as a Medium of Instruction in English Classrooms

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soheila Kabiri Samani ◽  
Mehry Haddad Narafshan
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Code Switching ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Foreign Language Teachers ◽  
English Classrooms ◽  
Speaking Skill

Code-switching is the use of two languages simultaneously or interchangeably and is commonly seen with hesitation in foreign language learning classes. Hence, second or foreign language teachers and researchers have been concerned in decreasing the level of code-switching in the EFL classes. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating students’ attitude towards teachers’ code-switching. In order to conduct the study, the quantitative research method was used. The data was collected from a sample of 219 students (male and female, with different age level) who were selected randomly for the purpose of the study. Through a questionnaire, the students’ attitude was investigated. The results revealed that students held a positive attitude towards teacher’s code-switching. More than half of the students believed teachers had better code-switching to enhance students' understanding. In addition, they believed that code-switching was more useful to teach grammar and writing skills as compared with teaching speaking skill.

scholarly journals Digital portfolio in building teaching efficacy of pre-service teachers

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivana Cimermanová
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Teaching Efficacy ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Foreign Language Teachers ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
The Social ◽  
Digital Portfolio ◽  
Pre Service Teacher

Abstract The paper discusses the role of e-portfolio in the development of reflective thinking in a group of pre-service English as a foreign language teachers. It stresses the benefits it can bring (e.g. autonomous learning, cooperative learning - the author highlights the social context of e-portfolio) as well as presents the threats and risks it might bring based on the own experience of the author. The results of this case study showed that the process of e-portfolio building can enhance professional development, self-confidence and the ability to self-reflect own work and progress. The author indicates also the possibilities of its use not only in the groups of pre-service teacher trainers but also in the groups of in-service teachers.

scholarly journals Teaching Methods of English for Specific Purposes

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 481-485
Author(s):  
D. Saidvalieva
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Teaching Methods ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English For Specific Purposes ◽  
Foreign Language Teachers ◽  
Linguistic Development ◽  
Foreign Language Learners

Foreign Language Teachers for Specific Purposes have a lot in common with teachers of general foreign language. For both it is necessary to consider linguistic development and teaching theories, to have insights in contemporary ideas regarding their own position and role as well as the position and role of foreign language learners in education and to face new technologies offered as an aid to improve their methodology. The most important difference lies in the learners and their purposes for learning English. ESP students are usually adults who already have some acquaintance with English and are learning the language in order to communicate a set of professional skills and to perform particular job-related functions. An ESP program is therefore built on an assessment of purposes and needs and the functions for which English is required.

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