This action research study investigates peer teaching as a pedagogical strategy to raise pre- service second language teachers' awareness of autonomy in learning and teaching. Classroom observation, focus group inter...This action research study investigates peer teaching as a pedagogical strategy to raise pre- service second language teachers' awareness of autonomy in learning and teaching. Classroom observation, focus group interviews, and questionnaire were used to (a) explore how the student teachers engaged in the practices of peer teaching and learning and reflected on their relevance to their own future teaching careers and (b) identify the major benefits and challenges of peer teaching from the students' perspectives. Most of the students actively engaged in peer teaching during the course and considered it as a strategy that they might later use in their teaching. Issues such as awareness of teaching elements, opportunities for peer learning, cultural diversity, and English as a medium of instructions brought both benefits and challenges for students in the process of peer teaching. The study points to a research agenda for pre-service teacher education for autonomy that focuses on the long-term impact of students' experiences of a range of pedagogical strategies for autonomy on their future teaching.展开更多
Vocabulary has been the most difficult part language learners encounter in the process of their language learning and their daily communication. Nevertheless vocabulary teaching and learning has not been given due imp...Vocabulary has been the most difficult part language learners encounter in the process of their language learning and their daily communication. Nevertheless vocabulary teaching and learning has not been given due importance and has become the bottleneck in college English instruction although it is central to language learning. Task-based Instruction Approach, noted for its advanced methodology in facilitating vocabulary learning and teaching, is introduced in the vocabulary teaching implementation in this paper. By analyzing the theoretical basis and features of Task-based Instruction Approach, the author puts forward strategies for vocabulary teaching and learning as well as principles in task design with the aim of improving leamers' vocabulary acquiring competence and language competence, fostering learners' emotional and cognitive development, and at the same time providing insights into culture of English language展开更多
文摘This action research study investigates peer teaching as a pedagogical strategy to raise pre- service second language teachers' awareness of autonomy in learning and teaching. Classroom observation, focus group interviews, and questionnaire were used to (a) explore how the student teachers engaged in the practices of peer teaching and learning and reflected on their relevance to their own future teaching careers and (b) identify the major benefits and challenges of peer teaching from the students' perspectives. Most of the students actively engaged in peer teaching during the course and considered it as a strategy that they might later use in their teaching. Issues such as awareness of teaching elements, opportunities for peer learning, cultural diversity, and English as a medium of instructions brought both benefits and challenges for students in the process of peer teaching. The study points to a research agenda for pre-service teacher education for autonomy that focuses on the long-term impact of students' experiences of a range of pedagogical strategies for autonomy on their future teaching.
文摘Vocabulary has been the most difficult part language learners encounter in the process of their language learning and their daily communication. Nevertheless vocabulary teaching and learning has not been given due importance and has become the bottleneck in college English instruction although it is central to language learning. Task-based Instruction Approach, noted for its advanced methodology in facilitating vocabulary learning and teaching, is introduced in the vocabulary teaching implementation in this paper. By analyzing the theoretical basis and features of Task-based Instruction Approach, the author puts forward strategies for vocabulary teaching and learning as well as principles in task design with the aim of improving leamers' vocabulary acquiring competence and language competence, fostering learners' emotional and cognitive development, and at the same time providing insights into culture of English language