scholarly journals The Power of Continuing Professional Development on EFL Teachers’ Creativity

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Mohammadifar ◽  
Mona Tabatabaee-Yazdi
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
English Language ◽  
Structural Model ◽  
Continuing Professional Development ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Years Of Teaching Experience ◽  
Efl Teachers

Creativity has played a leading role in education that not only attracts many learners but also teachers. According to Ismail, Desa, and Balakrishnan (2018) creativity is one of the main skills that is extremely noticeable in teaching. Moreover, because of the alteration of generation and expansion of knowledge and technology, the instruction requires creative teachers that can use up-to-date and modern techniques. Within this framework, the researcher tried to investigate any significant relationship between Iranian EFL teachers’ Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and their creativity. To comply with the objective, a total of 210 Iranian EFL teachers took part in this study. For gathering the data two questionnaires were administered through Google Form that shared via social media like Telegram and WhatsApp. The results of correlation analyses revealed that there was a positive significant relationship between Iranian EFL teachers’ CPD and their creativity. Accordingly, this study proposed a structural model to examine CPD factors contributing to EFL teachers’ creativity. Due to the outcome of SEM, collaborating is the best predictor of Iranian EFL teachers’ creativity. Moreover, this study provides evidence that there is no significant difference in the level of Iranian EFL teachers’ creativity between male and female teachers and years of teaching experience. Together these results provide important insights into the significant role of CPD on the teachers’ creativity. These findings provide a potential mechanism for teachers, supervisors, and administrators of English language institutes or schools to elevate teachers’ creativity knowledge, and education by applying beneficial practices and activities of CPD.

scholarly journals Female English Teachers Perceptions and Experience of Continuing Professional Development in Qatar

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 160
Author(s):  
Saba Qadhi ◽  
Alan Floyd
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Teacher Development ◽  
English Language ◽  
Current Model ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Continuing Professional Development ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching

The Qatari government views English language learning as crucial to the country’s future success. Anecdotal evidence suggests, however, that English language teachers (ELTs) employed in Qatar may not necessarily have the appropriate training, qualifications, and experience to enable them to teach successfully. Despite growing research and interest in the continuing professional development (CPD) experiences and needs of ELTs in Western contexts, there remains a lack of research in Middle Eastern countries in general and in Qatar in particular. The aim of this study was to address this gap by exploring female ELTs’ perceptions and experiences of CPD in Qatar in order to develop new practical and theoretical insights into our understanding of this area. The study draws on data from life history interviews undertaken with 16 female ELTs with at least 3 years of teaching experience in Qatari schools. The study found that the participants had very different experiences of CPD based on their personal and professional characteristics. This suggests that for it to be perceived as a positive experience, the current model of professional development for ELTs may need revising. We propose a paradigm shift from a traditional “one size fits all” CPD model towards a more dynamic and interactive style of teacher development that facilitates both personal reflection and professional discourse among teachers. It is argued that such a shift would prove a considerable step forward for English language teaching in this country.

scholarly journals Exploring the Nature of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Programs in a Language Institute

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 133
Author(s):  
Hussain Ahmad ◽  
Sayyed Rashid Shah ◽  
Emad A. Alghamdi ◽  
Sayyed Rashid Shah
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
English Language ◽  
Continuing Professional Development ◽  
Teaching Profession ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Professional Literature ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Reading Professional ◽  
English Language Institute

<p>When it is an undeniable reality that learning is at the centre of teaching profession, we assume that the continuing professional development would be a priority for all teachers. EFL teachers like the teachers of other subjects update their skills and knowledge base in order to keep abreast of the new developments and challenges in the field of English language teaching. The present study seeks to explore how EFL teachers in an English language institute at a Saudi Arabian university perceive the effectiveness of Continuing Professional Development in their context as well as the ways in which different modes of CPD can promote and enhance the teachers' learning. This study was conducted at an English language institute of a Saudi university. The study adopted a quantitative approach using online questionnaire. The quantitative data was collected from 50 EFL teachers who were qualified and experienced in the field of TESOL. The findings from the study showed that the teachers viewed external CPD such as courses, seminars, workshops and conferences, and self-directed endeavors like informal discussions, reading professional literature, and self-reflection more beneficial to their development than the internal CPD like classroom observations and other in-house training sessions. This paper concludes that the institution should improve its internal professional development scheme by expanding the professional development unit's role, enhancing the quality of its mentoring program, and establishing communities of practice wherein teachers engage in highly professional practices.</p>

An Investigation into the Effect of Individual Differences on Iranian EFL Teachers’ Perceptions Concerning Professional Development Obstacles

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 570
Author(s):  
Sara Rahimi
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
English Language ◽  
Small City ◽  
Teaching Career ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Academic Qualification ◽  
Gender And Age ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Postgraduate Studies

The aim of this study is to examine Iranian EFL teachers’ perceptions of the professional development obstacles they face during their teaching career. A total of 50 Iranian EFL teachers at different language academy within a small city of Kangan, participated in this study. The following items were found to be most highly frequent among the participants of the current study: [“Observers’ visits are rare” for institutional professional development obstacles; (M= 3.91)], [“Some teachers cannot afford pursuing postgraduate studies” for self-directed professional development obstacles; (M= 4.76)], [“English language conferences in Iran are rare” for professional development obstacles related to the nature of the work; (M= 3.74)]. On the contrary, the following problems were found to be the least highly frequent ones the participants were facing during their professional development: [“Institute administration considers English less important than other languages”; (M= 3.04)], [“Some teachers always feel frustrated with most students”, (M= 2.97)], [“Teaching is a type of work that rapidly becomes routine” for professional development obstacles related to the nature of the work; (M= 2.85)]. Finally, no significant difference was found in teachers’ perceptions of professional development obstacles with regard to their academic qualification, ELT experience, gender, and age.

scholarly journals EFL Teachers’ Perceptions on the Implementation of Mobile-Assisted Language Learning in Saudi Arabia During COVID-19: Challenges and Affordances

2022 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-100
Author(s):  
Norah Alghamdi
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Elementary Schools ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Mobile Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Efl Teachers

This study aimed to explore EFL teachers’ perceptions regarding mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) in elementary schools in Saudi Arabia, including their attitudes, levels of proficiency, and challenges they experienced regarding the use of MALL. The study also sought to investigate whether EFL teachers’ backgrounds have any significant impact on their perceptions of MALL. To this end, survey data were collected from 123 EFL teachers who have worked in elementary schools in Saudi Arabia. The results revealed teachers’ positive perceptions of MALL, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, participants stated that mobile learning is beneficial and has the potential to support and enhance EFL teaching. Most EFL teachers reported that they did not have a sufficient level of skills/abilities required to develop MALL activities and cited some challenges they faced. The results also indicate a significant difference among participants’ perceptions of MALL based on their professional development and teaching experience, but no difference based on their gender was found. These results indicate that placing a greater emphasis on offering professional development in MALL for Saudi EFL teachers could cultivate both greater proficiency and the ability to overcome challenges. This study concludes by providing recommendations on how to improve MALL implementation as well as directions for future research.

scholarly journals An investigation of EFL Teachers’ Professional Development in Algeria: Practices and Perspectives

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (11) ◽  
pp. 94-101
Author(s):  
Ziani Melouka ◽  
Lahma Saadia
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
English Language ◽  
Secondary School Teachers ◽  
Continuing Professional Development ◽  
Training Programme ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Teacher Professional ◽  
Teachers Professional Development ◽  
Training Programmes

In English Language Teaching, the complexity of competencies and skills required for maximum achievement calls for a highly structured training programme which caters for a Continuing Professional Development(CPD)  of EFL teachers. Hence, it has become more important than ever to involve teachers in the decision making and designing of their CPD programmes. The present paper, then investigates how effective is continuing teacher training to teacher professional development in Algeria. In an attempt to answer this question, an investigation was carried out on a sample of 56 secondary school teachers of English in RELIZANE, Algeria. Using observation and interviews, teachers and teacher trainers were examined on their different standpoints to CPD. The research findings revealed that the participants expressed the same need for a continuing professional development regardless their expertise. But, their perceptions regarding their role in their CPD reflected their dependence on the institutional training programmes. Indeed, it was found that teachers rarely reflected on their education or kept track of their development as teachers.

scholarly journals English as a Foreign Language High School Teachers’ Expectations of Continuing Professional Development Activities

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-35
Author(s):  
Trinh Quoc ◽  
Le Thanh
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Continuing Professional Development ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Pedagogical Knowledge ◽  
Teacher Competence ◽  
Willingness To Participate ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Efl Teachers

<p style="text-align: justify;">This paper investigated (1) English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers’ expectations of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities in a Vietnamese context, and (2) factors related to teacher demographics affecting their expectations of CPD activities. The study followed a mixed-methods approach, using a questionnaire to collect quantitative data from 224 Vietnamese EFL teachers, and individual semi-structured interviews to collect qualitative data from six teachers. The results revealed that among five domains in light of the Vietnamese English Teacher Competence Framework, including subject knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, learner knowledge, professional attitudes and values, and knowledge of teaching practice and context, the participants desired to learn about pedagogical knowledge the most (M=4.14). The study also indicated that factors related to age, teaching experience, and field of study at undergraduate level differentiated the teachers’ expectations of CPD activities. Basically, the younger and less experienced teachers desired to participate in the CPD activities more than their counterparts. Moreover, the teachers with degree in teaching EFL expressed their eagerness and willingness to participate in the CPD events more than those holding a degree in English Linguistics and Literature. This paper also suggested recommendations for further studies in the field of CPD.</p>

Emotional Intelligence and Self-efficacy of Iranian Teachers: A Research Study on University Degree and Teaching Experience

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyed Mohammad Reza Amirian ◽  
Azam Behshad
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Experienced Teachers ◽  
Sense Of Efficacy ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Years Of Teaching Experience ◽  
University Degree

This study evaluates the level of emotional intelligence, self-efficacy to investigate whether a relationship exists between these two attributes or not, also, the role of years of teaching experience and teachers’ university degrees in their emotional intelligence. To this end, 70 teachers were asked to complete The Assessing Emotions Scale Questionnaire (Salovey and Mayer, 1990) and Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES) (Tschannen-Moran & Woolfolk Hoy, 2001), regardless of their English teaching experience. The aim of this study was to represent the importance of emotional intelligence, self-efficacy and in teachers for having an effective teaching. The results indicated a significant relationship between teachers’ EI and their self-efficacy. Moreover, the findings showed that there was a significant relationship between teachers’ EI with their years of teaching experience, in a way that more experienced teachers can benefit their low experienced colleagues with their emotional experiences. Meanwhile, no significant difference was found between teachers’ EI in terms of different university degrees. The research results also proved a positive relationship between EI and self-efficacy.

scholarly journals Adoption of Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) in Saudi Arabian EFL Classrooms

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 312
Author(s):  
Sulaiman Alnujaidi
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Stages Of Concern ◽  
Mobile Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Stages Of Concerns ◽  
Teachers Professional Development ◽  
Manova Analysis

This study aimed to examine EFL teachers' concerns about the adoption of Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) in Saudi Arabia. The Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM) was used to analyze the participants' stages of concern (SoC) about MALL. The study also investigated whether some specific demographic and technographic variables (gender, age, teaching experience, and professional development) had any statistically significant effect on EFL teachers’ stages of concern about MALL. The participants in this study were (130) Saudi EFL public school teachers. The results revealed that the participants had high concerns at the Informational, Personal, and Management stages and minimal concerns at the Awareness, Refocusing, Collaboration, and Consequence stages. The MANOVA analysis revealed no significant difference among EFL teachers in terms of their MALL stages of concerns in relation to their gender, age, and teaching experience. Such findings indicate that Saudi EFL teachers' gender, age, and teaching experience have no effect on their concerns about using and implementing MALL. However, The MANOVA analysis yielded a significant difference among EFL teachers in terms of their MALL stages of concerns in relation to their professional development. These results entail that Saudi EFL teachers' professional development has a significant effect on their concerns about MALL. The study concluded that technology-related professional development could help decrease teachers’ self-concerns and increase their impact-concerns. The study recommended providing EFL teachers with technology-related professional development to ensure successful MALL adoption.

scholarly journals Is my stress right or wrong? Studying the production of stress by non-native speaking teachers of English

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
Ika Apriani Fata
Keyword(s):  
Stress Analysis ◽  
English Language ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Lexical Stress ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Years Of Teaching Experience ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Depth Study

This study aims at exploring the production of stress by non native English teachers in Aceh. It also inquires into how these teachers of English overcame their shortcomings in oral English language teaching. 45 non native English teachers from Aceh were recorded. They came from four regions in the province of Aceh, namely Aceh Timur, Langsa, Aceh Utara and Aceh Besar. The participants have taught English from five to 15 years. The approach used in this paper is qualitative by focusing on the method of lexical stress analysis suggested by Crystal (1969), Halliday (1970) and McCawley (1986).  The study reveals that variations of lexical stresses were produced by the teachers with 13-15 years of teaching experience.  Those from Langsa and Aceh Timur produced the most varied stresses. Therefore, it is suggested for future research to conduct a more in-depth study on this topic with a wider sample of participants and more target words. It is also proposed that possible socio-phonological language inferences in the production of English stress by EFL teachers should be explored.

scholarly journals Assessing Iranian EFL teachers’ educational performance based on gender and years of teaching experience

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haleh Mashhadlou ◽  
Siros Izadpanah
Keyword(s):  
Delphi Technique ◽  
School Administrators ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Years Of Teaching Experience ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
The Mean ◽  
University Lecturers

AbstractIn recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the assessment of Iranian English teachers’ performance. Besides, it was aimed to examine and compare the performance of teachers based on their gender differences and teaching experience. To the first aim, the Delphi technique was used to develop a questionnaire and the reliability of the Delphi questionnaire based on Cronbach’s alpha was .982. In the first round, 25 experts including university lecturers and experienced instructors in the field of English teaching were asked to answer open-ended questions regarding important issues in the evaluation of an English teacher. Then, the related themes emerged. Using emerged themes, a questionnaire including 100 questions was designed and measured on a linear scale (1 = not important to 5 = absolutely essential). After calculating the frequency of each item, the results were resent to the panel to rate the questions. In the last phase, three criteria including 1—the mean 4 and more, 2—standard deviation less than 1, 3—less than 10% of the participants do not answer to the item were considered to decide on the final questions and components of the questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed using Google forms. One hundred and fifty questionnaires were filled correctly and analyzed using SPSS 22. Then, the validity of questionnaire was checked. Overall, it was seen that there was not any significant difference between teachers’ performance based on gender difference and teaching experience. The findings of the present study might have some implications for researchers, instructors, language teachers, school administrators, and the ministry of education.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document