Implementing Authentic Materials through Critical Friends Group (CFG): A Case from Turkey

The purpose of this exploratory case study is to investigate the use of authentic materials through Critical Friends Groups (CFG) in a language preparatory program, at a private university in Turkey. Specifically, the study attempted to identify the perceptions and observed behaviours of native and non-native EFL instructors on the use of authentic materials, find out the potential reasons behind the implementation of authentic materials in their classroom practices and finally, examine the influence of incorporating authentic materials through CFG on classrooms practices as well as teachers’ professional development. The participants were eight EFL instructors offering English courses in the exiting preparatory program. Data were collected through interviews, lesson observations and reflective essays. The findings revealed that participating in CFG has transformational impact on instructors regarding their classroom practices as well as on their continuous professional development.

Teaching as a creative and learning process.

The Teaching Inquiry Group (TIG) is a team of six faculty members from STEM disciplines who are conducting research about their teaching. The group met through AY 15-16, and was mentored by an expert in self-study methodology from the Graduate School of Education. TIG meetings have focused on the self-study of interactive teaching including, self-study as a research method, developing a topic for self-study, self-study research questions, and identifying “critical friends groups”. The group facilitates critical reflection by maintaining an open dialogue; this enables them to think about teaching in ways that go beyond the subject area. The end-goal of the group is to improve their professional development on teaching and learning, not only for themselves, but also for the students they teach. Dissemination includes group and individual presentations at conferences, followed by write ups of the studies and publication in their respective educational research journals The session will include an overview of the process and then the six faculty group members will describe parts of the process that affected them greatly. Discipline fields included astronomy, bioengineering, biology, geology, information sciences and technology, and mathematics. At the end of the session, participants will be aware of the importance of taking time to reflect, reframe and respond to their practice, and foster genuine educational change for themselves and their students.