Measures and features of teacher effectiveness evaluation: perspectives from Iranian EFL lecturers

Abstract

Reporting on the results of a sequential mixed-methods study conducted in the Iranian higher education context, this paper addressed measures and features of teacher effectiveness evaluation from EFL lecturers’ perspectives. In so doing, two groups of lecturers were recruited to participate in quantitative (n = 43) and qualitative (n = 14) phases of the research. The findings obtained from a researcher-developed questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were threefold. First, five independent evaluation measures (SETs/students’ ratings, student learning outcomes, peer evaluation, self-evaluation, and observation) were introduced. Second, features of a successful teacher evaluation system were discussed. Third, evidence for a differentiated teacher appraisal model was presented. The model discussed called for L2-specific features in L2 teacher effectiveness evaluation. The findings were imbued with several implications for the main stakeholders, e.g. administrators and teachers.