Here is a collection of papers exploring fron an interdisciplinary standpoint recent developments in teaching English as a second language. Insights into teaching methodologies, language adquisition adn applied linguistics encompass the use of literature and cultural studies in educational research, in order to provide teachers and scholars with a state-of-the-art account of the current progresses in foreing language education.
This book focuses on current trends, potential challenges and further developments of teacher education and professional development from a theoretical, empirical and practical point of view. It intends to provide valuable and fresh insights from research studies and examples of best practices from Europe and all over the world. The authors deal with the strengths and limitations of different models, strategies, approaches and policies related to teacher education and professional development in and for changing times (digitization, multiculturalism, pressure to perform).
Language teaching approaches, methods and procedures are constantly undergoing reassessment. New ideas keep emerging as the growing complexity of the means of communication and the opportunities created by technology put language skills to new uses. In addition, the political, social and economic impact of globalisation, the new demands of the labour market that result from it, the pursuit of competitiveness, the challenges of intercultural communication and the diversification of culture have opened new perspectives on the central role that foreign languages have come to play in the development of contemporary societies. This book provides an insight into the latest developments in the field and discusses the new trends in foreign language teaching in four major areas, namely methods and approaches, teacher training, innovation in the classroom, and evaluation and assessment.
This book presents the latest research on understanding language teacher identity and development for both novice and experienced researchers and educators, and introduces non-experts in language teacher education to key topics in teacher identity research. It covers a wide range of backgrounds, themes, and subjects pertaining to language teacher identity and development. Some of these include the effects of apprenticeship in doctoral training on novice teacher identity; the impacts of mid-career redundancy on the professional identities of teachers; challenges faced by teachers in the construction of their professional identities; the emerging professional identity of pre-service teachers; teacher identity development of beginning teachers; the role of emotions in the professional identities of non-native English speaking teachers; the negotiation of professional identities by female academics. Advances and Current Trends in Language Teacher Identity Research will appeal to academics in ELT/TESOL/applied linguistics. It will also be useful to those who are non-experts in language teacher education, yet still need to know about theories and recent advances in the area due to varying reasons including their affiliation to a teacher training institute; needs to participate in projects on language teacher education; and teaching a course for pre-service and in-service language teachers.
Educational Trends Exposed explains and critically reviews eighteen of the most prevalent trends sweeping schools, colleges and universities over the last decade and beyond. Amid the buzz from news outlets, websites and social media peddling ‘this works’ approaches and ‘quick fix’ solutions, this book provides educators with a practical tool to help answer important questions such as: what does this trend actually involve? Is it worth the investment of time and resources? Does it work – what does research say? Do the claimed benefits to students outweigh any downsides? In this timely book, David Armstrong and Gill Armstrong cast a critical, expert eye over these trends, referencing the latest research and offering a framework for considering educational trends, empowering readers as informed critical consumers. They argue that trends disclose deeper truths about the state and direction of contemporary public education in Australia, England and the US and provide original, thought-provoking analysis. This book demonstrates that a greater understanding of trends can teach some important lessons, including how parents, teachers and educational decisions makers can agitate and collaborate for a modernised and more socially equitable education system. Educational Trends Exposed is essential reading for pre- and in-service teachers, and all educational decision makers who are faced with a choice of which trend, if any, to follow.
This edited book is a comparative study on teacher education across ten major Englishspeaking regions of the world (USA, English Canada, England and Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand). The focus on individual regions is reflective of a comparative approach with a long tradition going back to the turn of the twentieth century. This approach is still valid at the present time as it provides one of the best ways of initially structuring our understanding of teacher education at the macro level in order to facilitate communication of the situation crossnationally and prepare the way for higher levels of analyses. To this end, the book has twelve chapters: An introductory chapter details the focus of the book. This is followed by a chapter on each of the ten regions. Each of these chapters, written by an expert in the field: focuses on general trends in teacher education rather than on any specific aspect of it; focuses primarily on pre-service teacher education at the primary and post-primary levels, although some reference is also made to continuing professional development; strikes a balance between past, present and future trends; deals broadly with access to, the processes involved in, and the structure of, teacher education; has a unique structure rather than one based upon a formulaic approach. In the final chapter major themes are distilled from the case studies. It also outlines how the book furthers understanding of teacher education internationally, considers other groupings of regions ripe for consideration along similar lines, and indicates initiatives arising out of the case studies worthy of consideration for the improvement of teacher education cross-nationally.
Bringing together a comprehensive range of extended research-based chapters, English Language Teacher Preparation in Asia provides comprehensive insight into policy, research, and practical aspects of teacher preparation for English teachers at pre-service level across multiple contexts in Asia. Written by local and international scholars specialising in TESOL Teacher education, and acknowledging the increasingly complex demands made on teachers of English in view of globalisation, the book explores the multiple factors which are key to effective professional learning. Chapters consider how pre-service teachers are best prepared for the diverse contexts in which English is learnt and taught in settings throughout Asia and draw on in-depth research studies to provide rich, fully contextualised coverage of aspects of teacher preparation including curriculum design, programme development, policy, professional learning communities, assessment education, and teaching practicum. A timely contribution to the field of teacher preparation, this text will be an invaluable resource for teacher educators, pre-service teachers and academics involved in the preparation of English teachers in Asia.
Traditional classrooms are fast becoming a minority in the education field. As technologies continue to develop as a pervasive aspect of modern society, educators must be trained to meet the demands and opportunities afforded by this technology-rich landscape. The Handbook of Research on Teacher Education in the Digital Age focuses on the needs of teachers as they redesign their curricula and lessons to incorporate new technological tools. Including theoretical frameworks, empirical research, and best practices, this book serves as a guide for researchers, educators, and faculty and professional developers of distance learning tools.
With chapter contributions from seminal scholars in the field of comparative and international education (CIE), this book examines the ways in which comparative education is being taught, or advocated for, in teacher education within higher education institutions worldwide. A particular concern raised by the authors - in locations as diverse as Germany, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States - is the utilitarian approach in teacher education, where that which is valued is that which is measurable. The implications for what and how CIE should be taught is examined in light of the ideological, sociocultural, political, and economic trends influencing education worldwide. The main questions posed in the book include: What are the challenges and opportunities for CIE, and its practice, now and in the future?
This volume offers a comprehensive, empirical and methodological view over new scenarios recently emerged in language teaching and learning, such as blended learning, e-learning, ubiquitous, social, autonomous or lifelong learning, and also over some new (ICT-based) approaches that can support them (CALL, MALL, CLIL, LMOOCs).
