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:: Volume 19, Issue 2 (9-2016) ::
IJAL 2016, 19(2): 61-86 Back to browse issues page
EFL Teacher Education Programs in Iran: The Absence of Teachers’ Involvement
Somayeh Baniasad-Azad , Mansour Tavakoli , Saeed Ketabi
University of Isfahan, Isfahan
Abstract:   (7651 Views)
This study investigated the nature of EFL teacher education programs with respect to implementation, practicality, and approach to teacher learning. The data were collected through observation of two teacher education programs and interviews with 8 teacher trainers. The results attested to the transmission orientation of the programs. It was found that a pre-specified body of teaching knowledge is transferred from the trainers to the teachers. Teachers’ creativity, prior knowledge, and experience, the role of teaching context, and the population of learners are not considered in program development. The results of interviews with teacher trainers supported the results of the observations. It was found that even the trainers are not involved in the process of program development, as they are only transmitting the materials presented by textbook authors. The findings also indicated that what teachers considered beneficial for their development was different from what was incorporated in the programs. The existing gap between macro plans and teachers’ practices and preferences results from the centralized education system in Iran in which practicing teachers are not involved in the policy-making process. Implications for teacher education in general and EFL teacher education programs in particular are discussed.    
Keywords: EFL Teacher education programs, English teachers, Teacher trainers, Teacher development
Full-Text [PDF 439 kb]   (2783 Downloads)    
Type of Study: Research | Subject: Special
Received: 2016/01/3 | Accepted: 2016/08/25 | Published: 2016/09/21
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Baniasad-Azad S, Tavakoli M, Ketabi S. EFL Teacher Education Programs in Iran: The Absence of Teachers’ Involvement. IJAL 2016; 19 (2) :61-86
URL: http://ijal.khu.ac.ir/article-1-2728-en.html


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Volume 19, Issue 2 (9-2016) Back to browse issues page
Iranian Journal of Applied Linguistics
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