Pre-service EFL Teachers Research Articles

Exploring a Collaborative Synchronous Online Learning Environment in an Initial Language Teacher Education Program

This qualitative study explores pre-service language teachers’ experiences in a collaborative synchronous online course in language teacher education program in Turkey. A course was designed to equip pre-service language teachers of English with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively incorporate technology into their teaching and self-learning practices. Adopting a generic qualitative inquiry design, data were collected over 14 weeks from 63 pre-service EFL teachers through weekly reflection papers, online surveys, and face-to-face follow-up semi-structured interviews. The study found that technology-enhanced collaborative online course had a positive influence on participants’ engagement, interaction, and professional development with participants perceiving the course experience positively. The findings suggest that collaborative online courses, when they are effectively taught, can be a valuable professional development opportunity in initial language teacher education programs.

An investigation into how preservice EFL teachers perceive their mentors' pedagogical knowledge

This study aimed to explore pre-service EFL teachers’ perceptions and expectations of their mentors’ pedagogical knowledge in light of the five-factor mentoring model. Data was collected in two phases during pre-service teacher field studies. The participants were 10 purposively selected pre-service EFL teachers and 5 cooperating teachers, and 107 pre-service teachers were purposively selected from one Teacher Education College. The five mentors also participated in a semi-structured interview. A questionnaire was administered to 107 pre-service teachers. The data gathered was analyzed based on descriptive statistics using SPSS version 16. The finding revealed that effective mentoring practices arm mentees with pedagogical knowledge that enhances their professional expertise. Besides, mentors who demonstrate well-organized pedagogical knowledge give mentees access to a lot of benefits. Nevertheless, some mentees felt uncertain regarding their mentor's pedagogical knowledge. This study proposed implications for pre-service EFL teachers mentoring programs and forwarded recommendations for improving the professional development of mentors' mentoring programs. Keywords: Mentors; pedagogical knowledge; perception; pre-service teachers

Exploring the influence of EFL teachers’ informal digital learning on creative classroom instruction: a cross-sectional study

This study addresses the limited exploration in the literature regarding the influence of EFL teachers’ informal digital learning of English (IDLE) on their creativity in Indonesian EFL classroom instructions. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 244 Indonesian EFL teachers, encompassing both pre-service and in-service teachers. Through multiple regression analysis and Rasch modelling analysis, the study evaluated the association between teachers’ IDLE participation, demographics, and their teaching creativity. Findings of the present study revealed that Indonesian EFL pre-service and in-service teachers actively participate in Informal Digital Learning of English (IDLE), which impacts their teaching creativity. Nearly half (49.18%) engage strongly in activities like listening to English songs and watching YouTube videos, while 36.88% moderately engage in online educational content and social media conversations. A smaller group (13.93%) shows lower engagement in IDLE. The regression analysis revealed that while IDLE significantly predicted teaching creativity (p < 0.001), demographic factors did not indicate a substantial influence on creativity in teaching practices. Additionally, a Rasch-Wright map analysis unveiled that over half of the participants displayed strong creativity in teaching, with a notable inclination among younger teachers towards innovative and student-centered pedagogical strategies. The findings of the current study highlight the need for further exploration into the dynamics between informal digital learning, demographics, and creative teaching approaches, emphasizing the potential for fostering innovative pedagogical practices in language education.

Exploring EFL Pre-Service Teachers Perception of Interaction: A Case of Indonesian Creative Problem-Solving Implementation

Exploring EFL Pre-Service Teachers Perception of Interaction: A Case of Indonesian Creative Problem-Solving Implementation

Unveiling the Teacher Identities of Online EFL Pre-service Teachers

The remote education modality inherited from the global pandemic in early 2020 and the emergence of online schools worldwide led different universities in Colombia to establish pedagogical practicum online as a permanent option. These shifts impact the delivery of FL education and the positioning and self-perception of pre-service teachers as online educators in the post-pandemic landscape. Some previous research has examined how graduate and college in-service teachers developed their identities as online instructors during the global pandemic in early 2020, graduate and college in-service teachers’ construction of their transitional identities as online instructors and compared such newly-constructed roles with their already-established identities in face-to-face (f2f) scenarios; overlooking thus a complete examination of the experiences and factors that shape student-teachers online teacher identity in planned remote training settings in post-pandemic realities. This qualitative case study intended to address the research gap by unveiling the online teacher identities that 16 EFL pre-service teachers constructed throughout their online pedagogical practicum at a public university in Colombia. Data were collected employing whole-class discussions, recorded class observations, focus groups, teacher’s journals, and surveys. The results showed that the student-teachers constructed multiple online teacher identities based on their experiences as technology users and educational software course students. The pre-service teachers also drew on their recent experiences and interactions with their students and the online factors and events themselves present during the synchronous EFL classes in their pedagogical practicum. These results posed noteworthy implications for FL teacher education programs, practicum supervisors, and teacher development. The study's limitations entailed the relatively short timeframe of data collection and the selection of participants not based on a carefully designed and checked test on ICT and software-specific skills that could have played a role in the resulting online teacher identities.

&lt;b&gt;From Imagination to Practice: Unravelling the Professional Identity of a Pre-service EFL Teacher&lt;/b&gt;

This study uses a narrative inquiry method, focusing on the transformation journey of a pre-service EFL teacher named Brandon (pseudonym), to explore the complex process of professional identity construction and reconstruction for pre-service teachers to teach EFL from a teaching practicum. The study gathered information about critical events that shaped Brandon's professional identity through semi-structured interviews and diaries before and during his teaching practice. Using an innovative "story constellation" approach, the research creates a three-dimensional narrative, weaving together temporal, personal, social, and contextual aspects. This exploration of Brandon's journey illuminates the core tenets of effective language teaching, including adaptability, empathy, continuous learning, and a student-centred approach, thereby gaining a deeper understanding of the (re)construction of EFL teachers' professional identities. This study widens knowledge of EFL teachers' pre-teaching professional experiences and offers important implications for teacher education programs.

The Effects of Looping on Undergraduate Students’ TESOL Knowledge Acquisition and EFL Teaching Career Preparation: A Qualitative Case Study

Looping is an educational policy in which a teacher teaches the whole or part of the same class in consecutive years. It is advocated as one of the most useful 21st century instructional strategies. Research has reported that looping results in greater success in students’ learning of some school subjects, including mathematics, sciences, languages, and social sciences, while it is also claimed to be instrumental in fostering students’ appropriate behavior. However, studies on looping in higher education are scarce. Our study aimed to understand the effects of looping of a TESOL teacher educator on pre-service EFL teachers’ academic achievements in TESOL education and their career preparation for EFL teaching. We designed a case study to understand the looped students’ real-life experiences. The qualitative data were collected from three sources: documents, semi-structured interviews, and field notes (observation) for data and method triangulation. The data were analyzed using Williams and Moser’s (2019) qualitative data coding and following phenomenological reduction, bracketing (Dornan et al., 2005), and essences (Ganeson &amp; Ehrich, 2009). The findings showed that the looping of a proficient, experienced, and effective TESOL lecturer results in the success of undergraduate students’ acquisition of TESOL skills, and in developing their readiness for career start in EFL teaching.

The Exploration of EFL Preservice Teachers’ Self-Perceived Importance of Assessment Literacy

It is fundamental for language teachers to assess their students’ performance. Therefore, they should be familiar with various forms of assessments because teaching and assessing languages are closely related and have a great deal to do with one another. This study examined EFL preservice teachers’ perceptions of assessment literacy at a medium-sized university in South Korea, employing a survey questionnaire of self-perceived language assessment. The survey results reveal significant variability in the confidence levels of EFL preservice teachers across six domains of assessment literacy, with the highest confidence in preventing cheating and the lowest in constructing tests for advanced learners. Challenges in communicating assessment results, particularly with parents, indicate a need for professional development in communication strategies. While ethical practices and digital assessment literacy show strong commitment and proficiency, areas like avoiding "teaching to the test" and designing online tests require further training to ensure comprehensive assessment capabilities. Such an investigation in this study will assist in spreading the significance of assessment literacy and its results on teaching and learning. The implication of the study is expected to improve the policies and practices in the field of education.

Investigating Pre-Service EFL Teachers’ Self-efficacy in Their Classroom Management Skills using the EPOSTL as a Self-assessment Tool

Self-efficacy in classroom management is one of the important dimensions of the concept of teacher self-efficacy. Higher levels of classroom management self-efficacy (CMSE) have been positively correlated with an increase in teacher resilience and students’ learning outcomes. Therefore, it is crucial for teachers to develop CMSE beliefs to promote the quality of their teaching. Although the issue of classroom management has been comprehensively explored in the field of education, there are not many studies focusing on pre-service EFL teachers’ development of CMSE beliefs. Moreover, the relationship among several variables such as teachers’ affective states and students’ attitudes towards teachers or courses has been explored in the context of foreign language education (FLE). However, whether there is a relationship between self-assessment and development of CMSE beliefs in FLE settings has not been studied extensively. In this vein, the purpose of this study is to investigate pre-service EFL teachers’ CMSE beliefs depending on their use of the European Portfolio for Student Teachers of Languages (EPOSTL) as a self-assessment tool in their undergraduate education. This study follows an interventionist experimental design based on mix-method data collection. The participants of the study are 31 senior pre-service EFL teachers studying at a state university in Türkiye. Quantitative data of this study were collected through Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES) by Tschannen-Moran and Woolfolk Hoy (2001) in the form of pre-test and post-test to the participants. Between pre and posttest period, the participants assessed themselves through the EPOSTL for three times. Qualitative data were collected through the participants’ reflective reports and semi-structured interviews and subjected to thematic analysis. The findings of the study have shown that the use of EPOSTL leads to an increase in participants’ level of CMSE beliefs. It may be stated that the wide-spread use of the EPOSTL can be fostered by designing language teacher education programs as more reflection-oriented. By this way, pre-service EFL teachers’ autonomy, CMSE beliefs, perseverance, and continuous professional development can be sustained.

Exploring literary competences in EFL preservice teachers’ pedagogical proposals

Exploring literary competences in EFL preservice teachers’ pedagogical proposals

Exploring digital competence among Vietnamese EFL preservice teachers: the role of ICT self-efficacy, collegial collaboration, and infrastructural support

This study investigated factors influencing digital competence among Vietnamese preservice EFL teachers, focusing on ICT self-efficacy, collegial collaboration, and infrastructural support. Employing a quantitative research design, data were collected from 183 final-year EFL preservice teachers across various Vietnamese universities using validated scales. Structural equation modeling was utilized to examine the relationships between variables. Results validated a four-factor model comprising digital competence, ICT self-efficacy, collegial collaboration, and infrastructural support. ICT self-efficacy emerged as a strong predictor of digital competence (β = 0.43, p < .001), collegial collaboration (β = 0.81, p < .001), and infrastructural support (β = 0.57, p < .001). Collegial collaboration (β = 0.43, p < .001) and infrastructural support (β = 0.09, p < .05) also positively related to digital competence. The model explained 78% of the variance in digital competence. These findings underscore the importance of fostering ICT self-efficacy and collaborative learning environments in EFL teacher preparation programs, contributing to the development of evidence-based strategies for enhancing digital competence in preservice teacher education.

The Use of a Storyboard Platform to Enhance Reading Comprehension: A Pedagogical Experience with EFL Pre-Service Teachers

The Use of a Storyboard Platform to Enhance Reading Comprehension: A Pedagogical Experience with EFL Pre-Service Teachers

Evolving Professional Identities: A Narrative Exploration of a Chinese Preservice EFL Teacher’s Practicum Experience

This paper presents a narrative study on the professional identity development of a Chinese preservice EFL teacher, examining her experiences before, during, and after the teaching practicum. The data for this research were gathered through in-depth interviews, documents, and observations. By offering a comprehensive narrative of Yang’s practicum journey, this study sheds light on the evolving nature of professional identity among Chinese preservice EFL teachers. Through the framework of teacher socialization, the findings reveal distinct phases in Yang’s professional identity. Yang’s stories highlight the dynamic and evolving process of professional identity development, characterized by continuous negotiation, adjustment, and reflection at each stage of the practicum. Additionally, this paper offers practical recommendations for educational institutions, placement schools, and preservice teachers. By integrating these findings, future teacher education programs can better prepare aspiring educators to navigate the complexities of professional identity development, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of EFL teacher training in China.

Facilitating Indonesian EFL pre-service teachers’ professional development through the “Kampus Mengajar” program

Research on the Kampus Mengajar program has revealed challenges for teachers, particularly in advancing their professional development. However, other studies suggest that the program holds the potential for a significant positive impact on teacher professional growth. This study explores how the Kampus Mengajar program contributes to the professional development of pre-service teachers, focusing on their perspectives and experiences. This narrative case study involved four pre-service teachers from a private university in Surabaya, Indonesia. Data were collected through reflective notes and semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis deductively to explore prominent themes. The findings indicate that the Kampus Mengajar program supports pre-service teachers' professionalism by enhancing their pedagogical knowledge, teaching skills, and problem-solving abilities. Participants appreciated the program for boosting their self-efficacy and helping them master the 4C skills: critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. This study underscores the value of teaching practicums in fostering future teachers' professionalism. Despite some challenges in the program's implementation, the empirical evidence suggests that the Kampus Mengajar program should be continued.

The Impact of Teacher and Peer Support on Preservice EFL Teachers' Work Engagement in Their Teaching Practicum: The Mediating Role of Teacher L2 Grit and Language Teaching Enjoyment.

The academic study of work engagement among pre-service teachers during their practicum has been notably sparse, with even fewer investigations examining the influence of environmental stimuli on their engagement levels and the role of individual psychological and emotional factors throughout the practicum. To address this research gap, the present study, informed by the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) theory, has developed a structural equation model. This model posits teacher support and peer support as stimuli, L2 grit and the foreign language teaching enjoyment as the organism, and the work engagement of pre-service teachers as the behavioral response. A quantitative survey was conducted among 516 preservice EFL teachers to examine the relationships among variables in the model. Findings showed direct predictions of work engagement by teacher support, L2 grit, and FLTE. L2 grit and FLTE sequentially mediated the relationship between teacher and peer support and work engagement. This study identified the factors influencing preservice EFL teachers' work engagement, contributing to a deeper understanding of their psychological characteristics and emotional experiences during the teaching practicum. Additionally, the study offers practical implications for universities and internship schools to enhance preservice teachers' work engagement during the practicum.

EXPLORING INDONESIAN EFL PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS’ EXPERIENCES IN AI-ASSISTED TEACHING PRACTICUM: BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in educational settings is rapidly evolving, presenting both opportunities and challenges for pre-service English teachers. This case study explored three Indonesian EFL pre-service teachers’ experiences in using AI technologies and the implications for their pedagogical practices during teaching practicum. Several AI tools, namely ChatGPT, Copilot, Twee, and Quizizz AI, were used to help the pre-service teachers in planning, creating learning content, and assessing students. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews, reflective reports, and artifacts from the three Indonesian pre-service teachers majoring in English language education joining a teaching practicum program in a local school for 6 weeks. The qualitative data analysis revealed that the Indonesian EFL pre-service teachers saw three essential benefits of AI-assisted teaching practicum: (1) AI assists them with brainstorming and ideation process, (2) AI makes teaching preparation more time efficient, and (3) AI assists them in crafting tailor-made English materials for students. Meanwhile, they also addressed some challenges in the process, namely (1) overreliance, (2) ethical violation, and (3) fabricated and misleading contents.

Investigating the Relationship between EFL Pre-Service Teachers’ Professional Self-Image and their Teaching Performance

Investigating the Relationship between EFL Pre-Service Teachers’ Professional Self-Image and their Teaching Performance

Investigating Pre-service EFL Teachers’ Strategies to Overcome Speaking Anxiety during the Shift from Online to Offline Learning in the Post-COVID-19 Era

Investigating Pre-service EFL Teachers’ Strategies to Overcome Speaking Anxiety during the Shift from Online to Offline Learning in the Post-COVID-19 Era

Cómo mejorar la enseñanza de inglés como lengua extranjera: creencias y actitudes de los profesores en formación sobre los materiales didácticos

Introduction: Teaching materials lay at the core of both effective instruction and successful learning of foreign languages (FL). This study investigates pre-service EFL teachers' beliefs about the effectiveness of teaching resources. Methodology: The participants were 84 students of teaching degrees enrolled in an English programme at a university in Spain. To collect the data, a survey was passed that inquired participants about their previous EFL learning experience, and both about their beliefs about teaching resources and how they would use them in the future. A mixed methods approach was used to analyse the data. Results: The participants had found the teaching resources of EFL inappropriate for the successful learning of this language, and were unanimous at the necessity of having criteria to select materials that meet the needs of students and teachers. Discussion: The participants had undergone a frustrating EFL learning experience both due to the resources that had been used, and to the way those resources had been implemented by their teachers. Conclusions: The design of innovative resources seems to be the way to make EFL learning accessible to everyone.

Video-based Reflective Practice on Online Teaching: Korean EFL Pre-service Teachers

Video-based Reflective Practice on Online Teaching: Korean EFL Pre-service Teachers