The future of EFL teachers’ professional development in Türkiye: A Swot Analysis

Abstract

A clear understanding of teachers' continuing professional development (CPD) needs is crucial for planning appropriate in-service training activities. The study adopts a qualitative approach, utilizing a methodology centered around roundtable discussions that integrate a SWOT matrix for a comprehensive analysis of English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers' CPD needs. The inductive content analysis approach to the data (Strauss and Corbin, 1990), specifically within the deductive structure of the four broad categories of SWOT component was applied, followed by a thematic approach (Merriam and Tisdell, 2016). Engaging five experienced K–12 EFL teachers across three consecutive roundtable sessions to explore both advantageous and challenging internal and external factors and propose solutions, this study highlights the utility of the SWOT analysis as an effective tool in needs assessment. The framework emerging from unified recommendations suggests fostering informal CPD avenues, such as communities of practice and opportunities for teacher mobility. The study concludes with forward-looking recommendations urging policymakers to develop cohesive CPD programs tailored for EFL teachers in public schools in Türkiye. These recommendations could potentially be generalized, enabling local and national educational institutions and organizations to provide effective CPD avenues for EFL teachers