ACTFL Standards and Their Implications to Taiwanese English Teacher Education and Professional Development

Abstract

In this globalized world, the growing importance of English learning has attracted more and more attention from researchers and educators, as the implementation of the new “English Lively Curriculum” in Taiwan demonstrates. The quality of English teachers is crucial in determining the quality of our English education, especially in an EFL environment like Taiwan. This study aims to examine the ACTFL Standards for the Preparation of Foreign Language Teachers in the US and their implications to English teacher education in Taiwan. Beginning with a review of foreign language teaching in the US, the ACTFL six new standards are introduced in detail. After this, the qualification processes and problems of the evaluation of English teacher education in Taiwan are discussed. Finally, by interviewing Taiwanese in-service English teachers, the possible implications of ACTFL standards to teacher education policy and institutions for Teacher Education in Taiwan are explored. Some of the implications include emphasizing the exposure to the ACTFL standards in Taiwanese teacher education programs and the need for a certificate from a well-organized English proficiency exam. In addition, the insufficient qualified English teacher and teaching resources in some rural districts should be improved by national policy.