This paper suggests that English as a Second Language （ESL） pre-service teachers＇ views and opinions about Teaching Practices be used by faculty to make TP more effective and interesting for the professional deve...This paper suggests that English as a Second Language （ESL） pre-service teachers＇ views and opinions about Teaching Practices be used by faculty to make TP more effective and interesting for the professional development of teachers. The main objective was to study the motivational dimensions of Teaching Practice （TP）, analyze trainees perception of the strength of their content courses （knowledge base） and pedagogy programme （psychology, teaching methods）, and investigate the quality of TP orientation program supervision and assessment by faculty （teacher trainers）. A survey was carried out to determine procedures and processes for minimizing anxieties and fears concerning TP and the relationship between faculty and trainees, mentoring and monitoring procedures, the giving of feedback and utilization of the views of students. Questionnaires were used to obtain information on the content courses or subjects which students found difficult, irrelevant or not adequately taught, what faculty should do to make TP experience better and rewarding to make them become professional teachers. Participants in the study found pedagogy courses relevant to their training and quite enjoyable. They also acknowledge that the courses help them to develop learner centered instructional skills and competence in classroom management. On the contrary, participants confessed they were weak in grammar and spoken English because these were not adequately taught, they also limited exposure to reading and writing. Focused group discussion with students revealed that TP Orientation Programs were too crowded and ill-organized to meet their needs and reduce their anxiety. The points of focus of the orientation-dress code, comportment in schools-were not as crucial as some issues-mentoring, relationship between faculty and students-which were left out. Respondents rated TP supervision and assessment very low because of inadequacies in the number of visits, lack of feedback and low level interaction with their trainers. Some of the students used peer interaction, self-development and self-study skills to improve their skills and cope with TP. The results suggest that knowledge base of students in ESL courses need to be strengthened and enriched. Orientation program should be geared towards trainee＇s needs. Also supervision and assessment require a lot of improvement while faculty should give prompt feedback and utilize trainees＇ opinions and views for meeting students＇ needs and improving TP.展开更多
文摘This paper suggests that English as a Second Language （ESL） pre-service teachers＇ views and opinions about Teaching Practices be used by faculty to make TP more effective and interesting for the professional development of teachers. The main objective was to study the motivational dimensions of Teaching Practice （TP）, analyze trainees perception of the strength of their content courses （knowledge base） and pedagogy programme （psychology, teaching methods）, and investigate the quality of TP orientation program supervision and assessment by faculty （teacher trainers）. A survey was carried out to determine procedures and processes for minimizing anxieties and fears concerning TP and the relationship between faculty and trainees, mentoring and monitoring procedures, the giving of feedback and utilization of the views of students. Questionnaires were used to obtain information on the content courses or subjects which students found difficult, irrelevant or not adequately taught, what faculty should do to make TP experience better and rewarding to make them become professional teachers. Participants in the study found pedagogy courses relevant to their training and quite enjoyable. They also acknowledge that the courses help them to develop learner centered instructional skills and competence in classroom management. On the contrary, participants confessed they were weak in grammar and spoken English because these were not adequately taught, they also limited exposure to reading and writing. Focused group discussion with students revealed that TP Orientation Programs were too crowded and ill-organized to meet their needs and reduce their anxiety. The points of focus of the orientation-dress code, comportment in schools-were not as crucial as some issues-mentoring, relationship between faculty and students-which were left out. Respondents rated TP supervision and assessment very low because of inadequacies in the number of visits, lack of feedback and low level interaction with their trainers. Some of the students used peer interaction, self-development and self-study skills to improve their skills and cope with TP. The results suggest that knowledge base of students in ESL courses need to be strengthened and enriched. Orientation program should be geared towards trainee＇s needs. Also supervision and assessment require a lot of improvement while faculty should give prompt feedback and utilize trainees＇ opinions and views for meeting students＇ needs and improving TP.
