Foreign Language Student Teachers Research Articles

EFL Pre-service Teachers’ Enactment of Agentic Capacities in their Online Pedagogical Practicum

The global COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed how education is delivered and accessed. In the evolving landscape of pre-service teachers’ pedagogical practicums within teacher education programs, both teacher educators and school supervisors continue to follow traditional national bilingual policies and curricula. These frameworks, often marked by discourses of accountability, control, and prescription, fail to address the post-pandemic realities faced by second and foreign language student-teachers. Factors influencing the pre-service teachers’ capacities to take initiative and make decisions in online pedagogical practices have not yet been thoroughly explored. This case study aimed to explore how 16 pre-service teachers exercised their agency in their online EFL pedagogical practicum classes and the factors that influenced their actions. Data were gathered through surveys, focus groups, recorded class observations, whole-class discussions, and teacher’s journal. The findings suggested that an intermediate competence on educational software enabled EFL pre-service teachers’ agentic capacities, which were manifested in transformative online teaching strategies centered on learners. Likewise, the lack of computer-mediated communication literacy, bad perceptions towards online teaching, unstable connection, and unequal power relations with school practicum teachers related to textbook coverage and impossibility to address social issues critically restricted their agentic capacities. These findings urge teacher educators, practicum supervisors, and curriculum developers to incorporate innovative, teacher agency-based policies, designs, and practices in both face-to-face and online instructional environments. Doing so will raise pre-service teachers’ awareness and empower them in decision-making processes during their pedagogical practicum, ultimately contributing to societal transformation through remote education.

Identitätsarbeit und Rollenverständnis durch persönliche Narrationen in Virtuellen Austauschen zwischen deutschen und israelischen Studierenden

Digitalization is essential in daily life, especially in education, and has been further emphasized by the COVID-19 pandemic since 2020. Schools and universities are demanding digital development. To date, little progress has been made in virtual and transnational exchange programs for foreign language student teachers from diverse cultural backgrounds. These learners could greatly benefit from enhanced development of foreign language and intercultural communicative competencies (O’Dowd 2006, 2021). A group of Israeli and German students took part in a four-week virtual exchange project. The students collaborated on concepts for their future foreign language classroom, drawing from their (digital) pandemic experiences. Zoom meetings were recorded and multimodally transcribed for research purposes. The essay provides insight into a conducted PhD research project analyzing online personal narratives resulting from given impulses and assigned tasks. Using a phenomenological approach, an example sequence was selected. The findings will illuminate the discourse development of participants' secondary conversations („off-task-talks“) and their (situated) concept of roles and identities presented in the discourse.

Foreign language student-teachers: Dispositions from the classrooms for peacebuilding in Colombia

Este artículo describe eventos narrativos relacionados con la manera como afrontan el conflicto y la reconciliación en las aulas de clase, estudiantes-profesores de lenguas extranjeras en su práctica pedagógica en Bogotá-Colombia. Se aproxima, desde una epistemología narrativa de investigación, a saberes personales, alrededor de cómo se llega a ser docente de lenguas en contextos de enseñanza donde la reconciliación social está en juego. Para ello, se obtuvieron los eventos narrativos a través de 12 entrevistas semiestructuradas con estudiantes de Licenciaturas en Lenguas Extranjeras de dos universidades de Bogotá, entre junio y diciembre de 2018. Se utiliza como apoyo para el análisis el software Nvivo12. Por medio de este, se realizaron codificaciones abiertas y axiales que muestran una textura sólida y concluyente del saber emergente que construyen los estudiantes-profesores en sus prácticas. Se destaca dentro de los resultados la toma de consciencia de los estudiantes-profesores sobre las acciones que favorecen la convivencia pacífica en el aula. También son relevantes los posicionamientos que hacen sobre su rol como profesores en la construcción de la paz. En conclusión, se reconoce que los estudiantes-profesores se aproximan a pedagogías contra-hegemónicas y re-humanizantes. Ellos expresan la necesidad de tener en cuenta las realidades de sus estudiantes al enseñar inglés. Esta disposición los acerca a una construcción de paz.

Listening to foreign language student teachers: The use of transcripts to study classroom interactions

Although many issues about the use of transcripts for studying classroom interactions have been addressed in other studies, little attention has been given to the use of transcripts to study student teachers’ classroom interactions. To achieve a deeper understanding of student teachers’ perspectives and permit the formulation of a more appropriate framework, it is crucial to hear from student teachers and investigate their experiences about the use of transcripts. Therefore, in the study reported on here we used 7 focus-group interviews of approximately 6 Saudi EFL (English as a foreign language) student teachers in each group to investigate their perceptions on the use of transcripts for studying their classroom interactions. The data were thematically analysed. Three themes that represented the participants’ experiences of using transcripts to study their classroom interactions emerged: using the transcript analysis, learning from the transcript analysis, and committing to using the transcript analysis. The findings reveal that most participants felt they had autonomy in using transcripts to study their classroom interactions, but experienced some challenges. Most students were determined to change their classroom interaction based on their analyses of classroom interactions but only a few demonstrated the determination to continue using the transcript analysis approach.

The transformative cognition of English as a Foreign Language student teachers' personal practical knowledge.

This study investigates the process by which English as a Foreign Language (EFL) student teachers transmute their Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) into Personal Practical Knowledge (PPK) within a blended learning community. Data sources, including conversation transcripts, reflective journals, and field notes, were meticulously examined utilizing the commonplaces of temporality, sociality, and place. Several key findings were unveiled: (1) the volume and focal points of transformed PPK varied across participants; (2) the metamorphosis of PCK into PPK was found to be selectively partial, filtered by factors such as previous learning experiences, course expectations, and levels of engagement; and (3) the selection process was molded within the dynamic interplay of the internal components of the blended learning community and the external socio-cultural conditions. The study concludes that the cognition mechanism of EFL student teachers' PPK is characterized by elements of variation, selection, and dynamism.

Exploring student teachers’ perceptions of assessment ethics across university-based teacher education programs in Iran

It is acknowledged that assessment ethics is an integral part of teacher education. Unlike sizable published research on students' perceptions of assessment in higher education, very little is reported on student teachers' perceptions of assessment ethics across university-based teacher education programs. This study aimed to explore Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) student teachers’ perceptions of assessment ethics in the classroom. Qualitative (phone interview) data from 15 TEFL teacher candidates were collected and analyzed using thematic content analysis. Based on the informants' responses, three overarching issues in assessment ethics emerged and are namely related to (a) assessment development (i.e., content underrepresentation, one-dimensional assessment, surprise items), (b) assessment administration(i.e., time, noise, and inconsistency in educators' behaviors), and (c) assessment scoring and communication (i.e., lack of transparency in feedback provision' 'misalignment of grading practice,' and 'breaching confidentiality in grade communication'). Furthermore, it was revealed that assessment is, for a great part, teacher-initiated and summative-oriented. In light of these findings, this study can inform professional development programs on assessment in teacher education.

Classroom-Situated Willingness to Communicate: Student Teachers of EFL in Spain.

This exploratory mixed-methods research involves an intra-/intergroup replication design to analyse the classroom-situated willingness to communicate (WTC) in English foreign language (EFL) student teachers of early childhood education according to grouping, group member familiarity, and EFL proficiency. The novelty lies in the adaptation from face-to-face to virtual teaching while student teachers attended a didactics course at the University of Cádiz (Spain). Results show that there are no significant differences in WTC concerning teaching modality except for grouping. Conclusions imply that classroom-situated WTC is not affected by teaching modality when instruction aims at language acquisition by fostering oral communicative interaction.

Fostering foreign language student teachers’ glocal competence through telecollaboration

The interconnectivity of peoples worldwide is sufficient rationale for foreign language learners to develop the relevant competences for intercultural interactions in both local and global–glocalcontexts. This study presents a conceptualisation of glocal competence for Jamaican foreign language teaching professionals from a content analysis of three relevant competence frameworks (PISA, and Byram’s and Deardorff’s ICC models). It further reports on Phases 1 and 2 of ClerKing, a Franco-Jamaican telecollaborative project between Applied Foreign Languages (AFL) students of English from Clermont Auvergne University (UCA), France, and Modern Languages student teachers of French/Spanish from Shortwood Teachers’ College (STC), Jamaica. Through qualitative content analysis, parameters of glocal competences were identified and examined against the different frameworks. Pre-liminary findings show that student teachers developed negotiation, adaptive, and collaborative skills in their professionalization process. However, local values impeded understanding of and appreciation for alternate worldviews on certain topics discussed.

Effects of value and interest intervention on EFL student teachers' research motivation in the Chinese context.

Language teacher research is conducive to the development of teachers' teaching skills and professional careers. Thus, many English teacher education programs require student teachers to do research. However, some empirical findings suggest that English as a foreign language (EFL) student teachers lack research motivation. Consequently, finding suitable interventions to increase their research motivation has become increasingly necessary. In light of the importance of research motivation intervention, this study involved designing an experiment to identify the effect of a value and interest intervention including the sharing of positive research experiences to improve student teachers' research motivation. Quantitative questionnaires and qualitative semi-structured interviews were used to gather evidence on the change in student teachers' research motivation during the intervention. The interview data revealed that student teachers' research motivation was influenced by their belief in the value of research to their teaching practice. The experiment results suggested that student teachers' intrinsic and extrinsic research motivations both increased after the intervention. However, the intervention was not effective in curbing their failure avoidance tendency. Pedagogical implications of the results are discussed at the end of this article.

A Correlational Predictive Study of Teacher Well-Being and Professional Success in Foreign Language Student Teachers

The teaching profession has an important emotional burden that, together with the erosion of different elements that compose it from continuous educational reform to the bad behavior and demotivation of students has led to many teachers experiencing physical and psychological illness or leaving the profession. Nevertheless, studies and interventions in this regard are still insufficient in the Spanish context. This situation also exponentially affects pre-service teachers, which according to numerous studies is the stage during which the diminishing of teacher well-being begins and consolidates. Within this panorama, with this study the authors pursue to determine which dimensions of teacher well-being are capable of predicting the professional success of 88 pre-service primary education teachers who specialize in a foreign language so that they can be addressed in the training process. To this end, an ex post facto study was carried out correlating the following instruments: the Teacher Distress Questionnaire, the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educators Survey with an adaptation of the Rueda de la vida escolar sobre el éxito y la satisfacción laboral del docente (Wheel of school life on teacher success and job satisfaction). Multiple linear regression revealed that of all the variables studied for teacher well-being (intrinsic motivation, expectations about good professional performance, professional distress, professional exhaustion, irrational beliefs, emotional intelligence and burnout) only emotional intelligence and intrinsic motivation have the ability to predict the success of teachers in training in their future professional performance. This result is of paramount importance for reconsidering the training that teachers receive during their university stage, which currently and substantially prioritizes the cognitive component over psychosocial and emotional components.

English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Student Teachers' Readiness to Deal with Online Learning During the Covid-19 Pandemic

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has forced all teachers to deliver online teaching and learning whether they are ready or not. Some studies have reported that many teachers face many challenges in delivering online classrooms. Hence, it is logical to assume that student teachers are likely to face even a more complex situation dealing with this issue. Unlike in-service teachers, for student teachers, they lack experience in both face-to-face and online learning. Therefore, this study attempts to report the readiness of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) student teachers and the kinds of digital competencies they need to be ready to teach English with digital technology using a quantitative approach. There were 60 respondents who participated using convenience sampling, from an Islamic university in Bogor, Indonesia. Using the TESOL Technology Standards for Teachers and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) theory, a questionnaire consisting of 50 items was written in 'yes' and 'no' questions. The findings of the study show that most respondents possess adequate basic digital skills to teach digital technology. However, they need to learn various digital technology that more effectively supports language instructions.The respondents also indicate acceptance of the utilization of technology and are willing to integrate it into their future classrooms. This study implies the need to include technology in the curriculum of the English Education Department.AbstrakPandemi COVID-19 telah memaksa semua guru untuk melaksanakan belajar mengajar secara online baik siap atau tidak. Beberapa penelitian telah melaporkan bahwa banyak guru menghadapi banyak tantangan dalam memberikan ruang kelas online. Oleh karena itu, masuk akal untuk mengasumsikan bahwa siswa guru cenderung menghadapi situasi yang lebih kompleks dalam menangani masalah ini. Tidak seperti guru yang sudah mengajar, mahasiswa, kurang pengalaman dalam pembelajaran tatap muka dan online. Oleh karena itu, penelitian ini mencoba melaporkan kesiapan siswa guru Bahasa Inggris sebagai Bahasa Asing (EFL) dan jenis kompetensi digital yang mereka butuhkan untuk siap mengajar Bahasa Inggris dengan teknologi digital menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif. Ada 60 responden yang berpartisipasi menggunakan convenience sampling, dari sebuah universitas Islam di Bogor, Indonesia. Menggunakan teori TESOL Technology Standards for Teachers and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), kuesioner yang terdiri dari 50 item ditulis dengan pertanyaan 'ya' dan 'tidak'. Temuan penelitian menunjukkan bahwa sebagian besar responden memiliki keterampilan digital dasar yang memadai untuk mengajarkan teknologi digital. Namun, mereka perlu mempelajari berbagai teknologi digital yang lebih efektif mendukung pengajaran bahasa. Responden juga menunjukkan penerimaan pemanfaatan teknologi dan bersedia mengintegrasikannya ke dalam kelas masa depan mereka. Studi ini menyiratkan perlunya memasukkan teknologi ke dalam kurikulum Departemen Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris. How to Cite: Sari, E.N.A., Azkiyah. S.N., Sumintono, B. (2021). English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Student Teachers' Readiness to Deal with Online Learning During the Covid-19 Pandemic. TARBIYA: Journal of Education in Muslim Society, 8(2), 135-154. doi:10.15408/tjems.v8i2.23324.

Why all the drama? Perceptions and Experiences of Foreign Language Student Teachers on Training in Improvisational Drama Pedagogy

Abstract Improvisational drama techniques (IDTs) can benefit foreign language (FL) learners by offering them an engaging way to practise speaking while hiding behind the safety of a character mask. This study aimed to glean perceptions toward and experiences with IDTs among FL student teachers, as well as training needs related to integrating IDTs as a pedagogical tool. Foreign language student teachers at a Dutch university who had not received IDT-training took part in a questionnaire (n = 197). Former student teachers who had taken such a course in drama were interviewed in depth (n = 9). Almost all student teachers - both those who had and had not received IDT-training-shared the belief that IDTs have added pedagogical value. The majority of student teachers who had not had drama training indicated that they did not often implement IDTs in their classes. Former student teachers who had IDT-training continued to integrate IDTs with some regularity. Both groups provided valuable input on the components that should be included in a future IDT-training module for both student teachers and in-service teachers. Our findings give rise to the hypothesis that training can play a key role in galvanizing teachers to implement IDTs, and allow us to formulate design criteria for an innovative training module.

Student teachers' professional identity construction through famous education quotes

PurposeSince a teacher's identity is the result of ongoing discussion, explanation, negotiation and justification, famous education quotes were integrated into a language teacher practicum in a teacher education program in the northwest university in Taiwan. This study aims to explore the influence of discussing education quotes on 10 English as a foreign language student teachers' professional identities. This study also aims to discuss the following research questions.Design/methodology/approachThis case study focused on 10 student teachers' identity construction in a practicum class under one advisor. According to Merriam (1998), a case is a “thing, a single entity, a unit around which there are boundaries” (p. 27). The case was a practicum and the unit of analysis was participants' identity construction.FindingsFirst, reading and discussing famous quotes was a useful “discourse” and “language” for student teachers to construct and negotiate their identities. Second, through the integration of reading and discussing quotes, participants revealed more professional identity in knowledge and expertise, particularly in English instruction in the post-test.Research limitations/implicationsThis study examined the influence of discussing educational quotes of 10 students’ professional identity. However, given the nature of the study, there were some limitations. First, although the small sample size offered rich data through observation, artifacts and pre-and post-tests, it restricts our ability to generalize the results.Practical implicationsThis study is highly practical (i.e. learning by discussion) and strongly interactive among the participant in a professional and social context. The conceptual framework in Figure 1 presents a theoretical framework supporting reading and discussing quotes as the discourse for the student teachers for their professional identity construction. Social context and relationship shape their professional identity (Izadinia, 2013). Student teachers spent much of their time with their cooperating teachers and administrators in their cooperating schools. In order to foster student teachers’ professional identity construction, it is recommended that student teachers should be encouraged to read and discuss educational quotes with teachers and administrators in their cooperating schools as a mean of professional dialogue and learning.Social implicationsIn this study, it was argued that educational or English teaching quotes could be used as viable, effective and appropriate materials in documenting student teachers' professional identity construction out of their classroom practice in their practicum. The findings of this study derived from the nature of 10 student teachers' professional learning via discussing famous education sayings, and professional learning took place during the practicum.Originality/valueMost of the studies reviewed above were small-scale and qualitative case studies. Some involved only one or two single cases (e.g. Antonek et al., 1997; Calandra et al., 2006; Camp, 2013). Only a few studies were analyzed and explored based on theoretical frameworks (e.g. Chasteen, 2015). No explicit references were made to any theoretical frameworks in most of the studies. This study included both qualitative (observation and artifacts) and quantitative data (pretest and posttest) to explore the influence of discussing education quotes on 10 student teachers' professional identities and reflective practices.

Development and validation of a metamemory maturity questionnaire in the context of English as a foreign language

To determine the inherent components of language learners’ capacity for metamemory maturity, the researchers drafted a metamemory maturity (MMM) questionnaire based on Hultsch et al.’s (Memory self-knowledge and self-efficacy in the aged, Springer-Verlag 65–92, 1988) model. The volunteer participants were a heterogeneous sample of 356 male and female English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers and student teachers with various age ranges, teaching experiences, and educational backgrounds. Through a series of factor analytic procedures and structural equation modeling, the final draft of the questionnaire with 30 binary Likert-scale items was validated. Statistics confirmed acceptable measures of internal consistency as well as convergent and discriminant validity. The newly designed MMM questionnaire consisted of three main components of memory strategy use (12 items), memory attentiveness (6 items), memory factual awareness (6 items), and a moderator component of confidence and affect (6 items). The researchers highlight the implications of this questionnaire to provide the teachers with an instrument to analyze the needs of EFL learners for metamemory enhancement strategies.

Exploiting foreign language student-teachers’ visual language biographies to challenge the monolingual mind-set in foreign language education

ABSTRACT This article takes the plurilingual repertoires of foreign language teachers – and thus the teachers’ linguistic diversity – as a starting point for exploratory research into the potential of visual methods in teacher education for changing mind-sets. Describing and reflecting on the ubiquitous manifestation of a monolingual habitus in foreign language (teacher) education, we consider ways to offer linguistically responsive foreign language teacher education aiming at challenging that ethos. Reporting on a project based on the production of drawings, we present and compare the linguistic biographies of future French and Spanish teachers, using multimodal analysis. The analysis seeks to uncover whether target language (French and Spanish) and migrant background influence the visual representation of the plurilingual repertoire and of the process of becoming plurilingual. As no significant differences are observed, demonstrating the pervasiveness of the monolingual mind-set in foreign language learning and teacher education, I propose some ways forward in response to the identified language learning ideologies.

From Knowledge Sharing to Reflective Thinking: Using Focus Group to Promote EFL Teachers’ Reflectivity

Educational research literature has underscored the key role of collaboration and interaction among teachers. As such, the present study, as its main objective, sought whether knowledge sharing in a reflective focus group improved English as a foreign language(EFL) student teachers’ reflective practice. In addition, it explored the benefits and challenges to knowledge sharing in a reflective focus group. To this end, a survey of reflective practice, and a semi-structured interview were employed to investigate research questions. Eleven Iranian Master of Arts (MA) students who were, at the same time, EFL teachers in languages schools served as the participants of the study. The results indicated that the focus group platform could enable EFL teachers to improve their reflective practice through interaction with colleagues. Among other factors, receiving constructive feedback, and recognizing the possible relationship between theory and practice were the benefits of knowledge sharing through reflective practice. Regarding the barriers to using reflective focus group, various inhibitors were reported by the participants that can be classified into personal, institutional, and educational factors. The implications of the study are also presented.

“It’s impossible that there’s no connection”

Despite the growing interest in language learning histories, autobiographical reasoning, a central concept in narrative psychology, has rarely appeared in second language acquisition research, despite the fact that autobiographical reasoning has been found to be central to identity formation, correlating with resilience, motivation, and well-being. This article conducts a narrative analysis of the language learning histories of two English as a foreign language (EFL) student teachers, focusing on three qualities of their autobiographical reasoning: integration, valence, and vividness. It shows how differences in their autobiographical reasoning correlate with differences in their motivation and confidence. It also argues that production of language learning histories can contribute to the development of more confident and motivated learners and teachers.

The effect of microteaching lesson study on the beliefs of EFL student teachers

Microteaching lesson study, that is a variation of lesson study applied by student teachers in microteaching course, provides the environment for EFL student teachers to collaborate, engage, and reflect on their ideas, beliefs, and teaching experiences. Such condition is a fertile ground that enables the student teachers' beliefs of language learning to change. Recent studies show that some education programs have changed the beliefs of student teachers. However, no studies have discussed the changes of beliefs of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) student teachers experienced in microteaching lesson study. This present study aims to investigate the effect of microteaching lesson study on EFL student teachers� beliefs. The data were collected using a questionnaire on Beliefs About Language Learning Inventory (BALLI) adapted from Horwitz administered before and after microteaching lesson study. The participants were the EFL student teachers enrolling in a microteaching lesson study class at Universitas Muria Kudus. The study reveals that the beliefs of EFL student teachers did not change significantly after they experienced microteaching lesson study. Time seems to be one of the most influential factors in hindering the changes of beliefs of the EFL student teachers. Therefore, this study suggests that EFL student teachers be given more time to practise teaching in the microteaching course.

From Knowledge Sharing to Reflective Thinking: Using Focus Group to Promote EFL Teachers’ Reflectivity

Educational research literature has underscored the key role of collaboration and interaction among teachers. As such, the present study, as its main objective, sought whether knowledge sharing in a reflective focus group improved English as a foreign language (EFL) student teachers’ reflective practice. In addition, it explored the benefits and challenges to knowledge sharing in a reflective focus group. To this end, a survey of reflective practice, and a semi-structured interview were employed to investigate research questions. Eleven Iranian Master of Arts (MA) students who were, at the same time, EFL teachers in languages schools served as the participants of the study. The results indicated that the focus group platform could enable EFL teachers to improve their reflective practice through interaction with colleagues. Among other factors, receiving constructive feedback, and recognizing the possible relationship between theory and practice were the benefits of knowledge sharing through reflective practice. Regarding the barriers to using reflective focus group, various inhibitors were reported by the participants that can be classified into personal, institutional, and educational factors. The implications of the study are also presented.

Tracking the pre-service teachers development of communicative skills and their beliefs towards communicative approach

Concerns about the purpose of developing communicative skills in English teaching and approaches to overcome these concerns have always had an important place in language teaching. In this context, besides the fact that teachers’ roles are important, their beliefs about the approach have a profound influence on their professional achievement. In this regard, the aim of the present study was to determine Turkish English as a Foreign Language (EFL) student teachers’ beliefs about developing their communicative skills with the communicative approach in Turkish context. The data obtained through Pre-Service Teacher Beliefs Questionnaire, in which 445 participants took part, and focus group interviews with 28 participants at several times and places were analysed by quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods respectively. As a result of the analysis, it was found that EFL student teachers generally had positive attitudes towards improving communicative skills of their prospective students with communicative approach; however, it was difficult for this approach to work properly in Turkey and in Turkish education system due to various reasons. In addition, it was found that EFL student teachers' self- efficacy beliefs were correlated with their attitudes towards the approach, and that many sub-factors such as second language proficiency also had an influence on the attitudes. Lastly, these findings were found to be significantly different according to the departments (ELL, ELT) rather than age and gender.