A Comprehensive Overview of Foreign Language Teachers' Professional Development: Self-directed and Institutional Professional Development Activities of English Teachers in Türkiye
Makaleler > Tam Makale · 2024
Yazarlar: Çağrı Özköse Bıyık, Öner USLU
Education and Science, Uluslararası, Wos, 2024, cilt 49, ss 127-161
Özet
When the literature on the professional development of English asa foreign language (EFL) teachers is examined, professionaldevelopment predominantly encompasses institutional activities.This study critically examines conventional definitions andpractices related to the professional development of EFL teachers,arguing that in line with the demands of the era, teachers'professional development should also include self-directedindividual activities. However, for professional developmentactivities to contribute to the ultimate goal of student learning, it isimportant for the organizational culture in which teachers aresituated to be supportive of their professional development. Toseek answers to research questions about how the institutional andself-directed activities carried out by EFL teachers in Türkiye andthe organizational culture influence these activities, an exploratorysequential strategy was employed in the research. First, qualitativedata were collected, and then quantitative data were collectedthrough a survey tool developed based on the qualitative data.Comprehensive individual interviews were conducted with a totalof 28 teachers across Türkiye, and survey data were collected from819 teachers. The findings are presented as self-directed(unstructured) professional development activities (e.g., use ofsearch engines, reading news websites, watching videos/series,etc.) and institutional (structured) professional developmentactivities (participation in national and international conferences,etc.). The necessity of foreign language teachers being involved inmany individual activities through self-direction, beyond theirparticipation in activities planned by institutions, for theprofessional development of a foreign language teacher isdiscussed. The study proposes a comprehensive perspective on theconcept of professional development related to EFL teachers andoffers recommendations for the field of foreign language teachereducation.