ProDev Participation and Teaching Performance: A Case Study of Two Urban School EFL Teachers in Indonesia

Tono Suwartono,Putu Kerti Nitiasih

doi:10.13189/ujer.2020.080752

Abstract

EFL teachers take the position as front-liners in attempt to promote the nation's human resource quality. Unfortunately, in Indonesia, the competence of EFL teachers remains low. Some teachers take steps to solve this problem. This study aimed to investigate the participation of two urban primary school EFL teachers in professional development and its impact on their teaching performance. Semi-structured interviews with the teachers and colleagues were conducted, documents were collected, and student questionnaires were administered. Data were analyzed using inductive technique, content analysis, and descriptive statistics. The study has shown that the two EFL teachers' participation in professional development was not yet optimal. Indeed, in quantity, their participation was above average. In quality, however, inadequate attention was given primarily to relevance and role taking. With regard to teaching performance, the study has shown that the two teachers' performance was not optimal, either. Their personal and social competences were extremely superior to the pedagogical and professional ones. The latter should have been more demanding in order to attain a better learning process as well as outcome. At last, the study has revealed that despite their urban work environment the two EFL teachers' less quality participation in professional development was believed to have its unsatisfactory impact on their performance in classroom.

Highlights

Teachers, including EFL teachers, play a vital role in bringing a generation to the bright future
The improvement of teacher’s quality is crucial in the domain of education, but it remains a challenge in Indonesia [3]
Teachers working for primary schools at urban area of Purwokerto, Central Java, Indonesia. Both teachers had been working at different schools – State Junior High School 1 of Purwokerto and State Junior High School 2 of Purwokerto – for eleven years. They were identified as two EFL teachers who actively took activities related with professional development

Summary

Introduction

Teachers, including EFL teachers, play a vital role in bringing a generation to the bright future. Every teacher should have high professionalism and performance. The facts have shown that, overall, the competence and quality of EFL teachers in Indonesia remains low [2]. One thing for sure, for instance, is the fact that of those certified teachers taking Teacher Competence Exam usually only about twenty percent pass it. To solve this problem it is not possible to take actions solely through formal teacher training or education. All efforts should be synergized to boost the EFL teachers’ professionalism and sharpen their performance

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion