‘Unruly pupils’ in pre-service English language teachers’ teaching practicum experiences

In recent times, more attention has been directed towards identifying international trends and ‘best’ practice for assessing pre-service teachers’ classroom performance. Previous attempts to assess Oman’s preservice teachers were based on adopting a psychometric/measurement assessment practice, whereby performance was measured by grades. Such an approach, in recent times, has been viewed as being fundamentally flawed in its attempts to measure pre-service teachers’ classroom practices. This is primarily due to its inability to authentically assess teacher’s learning in the classroom setting. Further underpinning this problem, is that Omani pre-service teachers are expected to undertake an International English Language Testing System (commonly referred to as IELTS), as a measurement of their English proficiency. This approach is problematic, in principle, as it is positioned after graduation and therefore forms no connection to the pre-service teachers’ school experience nor does it add to quality teaching and assessment. This recent shift in thinking, as to the idea that educational assessment should be based on psychometric measurements and grades, has evolved into assessment practices which encourage the integration of assessment into the learning and teaching environment. This thesis is concerned with how the pre-service English Language teacher’s classroom performance is assessed in Oman. Drawing on the work of Gipps (1999, 2002), this thesis adopted a sociocultural perspective to investigate the phenomenon of assessment practices associated with evaluating pre-service teacher’s classroom performance during school-based professional experience (also known as teaching practicum). Understanding assessment practices from a sociocultural perspective and its current practices such as authentic assessment and Assessment for Learning (AfL) assists pre-service teachers to learn so as to become professional, qualified teachers. To achieve the aims of this study, the thesis adopted a qualitative hermeneutic phenomenology approach to investigate the assessment phenomenon and to gain a deep understanding from the key stakeholders involved in the phenomenon. To enable this, the data collected from three higher education institutions, namely Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), Rustaq-College of Applied Sciences (CAS) and Nizwa University and their participating schools. A range of different data sources obtained: assessment texts which position pre-service English Language teachers; three-series of interviews with the different stakeholders: three pre-service teachers, three cooperating teachers and four university supervisors to reveal their experiences; and observing the phenomenon in situ to triangulate with the aforementioned data. Implementing hermeneutic phenomenology, the obtained data analysed using two approaches: Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) so that the existing practices for assessing pre-service English language teachers’ classroom performance in Oman were captured. The analyses revealed that each institution has its assessment practices influenced by its socio-political structure, yet SQU, unlike Rustaq-CAS and Nizwa University, is distinguished in relation to its pre-determined set of professional standards for graduating teachers; explicit assessment criteria that are shared and discussed with pre-service teachers; collaboration between all stakeholders in the assessment process; a clearly defined role for the cooperating teacher as mentor; effective feedback provided to the pre-service teacher; using portfolios to record and document the pre-service teachers achievements; and effective self- and peer-assessment strategies. These practices are mostly experienced by stakeholders at SQU due to its international accreditation under the influence of the standards based on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). The findings suggest that SQU assessment practices are more aligned with the indicators of international best practice, compared to that of Rustaq-CAS and Nizwa University. Similarly, SQU had a better understanding of assessment practices from a sociocultural perspective. This means that within the context of assessing pre-service teachers’ classroom performance in Oman, the findings are not about each higher education institution but about producing quality teacher graduates by reforming the Omani assessment practices. Having SQU as a model in Oman, the key recommendations for policy and practice from this study are to: 1) set a national professional standards for teachers; 2) have explicit assessment criteria that align with the professional standards; 3) share the assessment criteria for success between all stakeholders in the phenomenon; 4) strengthen the collaboration between schools and universities as well as university supervisors and cooperating teachers,5) make the role of the portfolio more explicit in terms of monitoring and enhancing pre-service teacher development and learning; 6) empower the cooperating teacher to provide a more meaningful mentoring role to pre-service teachers; 7) provide explicit training in effective peer and self-assessment strategies for pre-service teachers in the classroom context and 8) provide explicit training in understanding and delivering quality feedback on classroom performance for all stakeholders.

Information Communications and Technology (ICT) was first introduced through the Smart School project in 1997. Results from past studies on teachers’ use of ICT were mixed whereby their confidence in using ICT and their use and integration of ICT in their classroom practice were incoherent. Hence, this study intends to investigate the confidence level and skills of current pre-service teachers in teaching the English language through the use of ICT. Forty six pre-service English language teachers were selected purposively from a local university and a teacher training college, based on these few criteria set within the limitations of this study. This atudy adopted and adapted the questionnaires from the ICT Integration Survey (Spazak, 2010) and Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) by Mishra and Koehler (2006). These questionnaires are adopted for the purpose of understanding the pre-service teachers’ technological skills, as well as their content and pedagogical knowledge of English language teaching at the point in time when the data was collected. The data collected were analysed using the Statistical Packet for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results showed that pre-service English language teachers are confident users of ICT, both for their own personal interests and to integrate ICT in their teaching. However, it is also found that pre-service teachers are skilled in ICT because they have been exposed to it since young. Further results that have emerged from this study revealed that there is no relationship between the time used in ICT and the confidence or skills in using ICT.

Microteaching, one of the teacher training techniques in-use to help pre-service teachers gain knowledge and experience with teaching, is conventionally provided on-campus. However, the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a switch to remote education, thereby moving teacher training practices to online platforms. This novel situation indicated a need to understand pre-service English language teachers’ experiences of their microteaching practices conducted on online platforms. To this end, this study adopted a qualitative research design. Over a semester, 62 pre-service English language teachers provided written reflective papers after they delivered their microteaching online. Thematic analysis of the data revealed that the participants attributed positive qualities to their online microteaching; however, the challenges they met outnumbered these qualities. The most frequently stated qualities involved valuable experience with online teaching, improved technology use and knowledge, and reduced anxiety. On the other hand, the main drawbacks were poor internet connection, low engagement in classes, and limited interaction. The significance of these findings lies in the fact that several courses of action are available to improve the effectiveness of the praxis and highlight its strong sides. Therefore, the findings were discussed in line with the relevant literature, and recommendations were offered for both pre-service teachers and teacher educators.

The research investigated the effectiveness of using a Semantic Web-based program in developing pre-service English Language teachers’ teaching competencies. The research’s instruments included a teaching competencies checklist and a competencies test and the Semantic Web-based program. Thirty-four major students at Hurghada Faculty of Education participated in the research as pre-service English language teachers. The participants studied the Semantic Web-Based program during the second semester of the academic year 2022/2023 at Hurghada Faculty of Education. They were post-tested to identify the effectiveness of the proposed program. The findings showed statistically significant differences between participants' mean scores in the pre-post testing favoring the post-testing in lesson planning, implementation and assessment. The results indicated that the Semantic Web was effective for pre-service English Language teachers because it provided interactive, diverse resources that enhanced engagement and facilitated personalized learning experiences. This approach significantly improved their competencies in lesson planning, implementation, and assessment by integrating theory with practical application. Recommendations suggested that customizing programs for varied educational contexts and investing in technological infrastructure were advised to enhance the effectiveness of Semantic Web tools in teaching..

As the pandemic has brought in a paradigm shift in the way we educate and interact with our students, it has also had profound impacts on the practicum of pre-service teacher education. Focusing on the case of 14 South Korean student teachers who completed their teaching practicum in Spring 2020, this paper explores how the new form of teaching practicum, triggered by the current outbreak, affected student teachers’ professional development and their views on teaching practice and profession. In particular, it examines the ways by which teaching practicums conducted under unpredictable circumstances negatively or positively affect student teachers’ professional identities as teaching practitioners and their motivation to become a teacher. The findings of this study show that the teaching practicum conducted in times of crisis enabled pre-service English language teachers to develop a positive image toward teachers and teaching profession, and realize their potential as innovative and inspiring teachers in the post COVID-19 era.

Although the teaching of English can significantly contribute to the teaching of environmental topics, the integration of ecological literacy into language teaching is not supported by English teachers because they feel uneducated in this field. In the current study, we aimed to explore the experiences of preservice English language teachers as they learn to integrate ecological literacy into their teaching practices. The study utilises Ecopedagogy as a framework to emphasize the role of English teachers in promoting environmental awareness and contributing to a sustainable society. The study was conducted as part of an eleven-week program aimed at enhancing the ecological literacy skills of 11 preservice English language teachers enrolled in an undergraduate course on modern teaching approaches. Data were collected through two reflection papers and individual semi-structured interviews. The thematic analysis focused on shifts in the preservice English language teachers’ understanding of environmental issues and their roles in promoting environmental sustainability within their future classrooms. The results revealed significant changes in the preservice English language teachers’ perspectives regarding environmental issues and their responsibilities as educators in fostering sustainability. These shifts highlight the potential of integrating ecological literacy into English language teaching practices. Additionally, the study underscores the need to incorporate ecological education into teacher training programs to prepare future educators for fostering an environmentally conscious and sustainable society. Finally, the study suggests that enhancing ecological literacy in teacher preparation can play a crucial role in shaping future generations' environmental awareness.

<span lang="EN-US">Previous research on pre-service teachers’ motivation to pursue a career in teaching found different results. Some research found altruistic motivation dominant in determining career decisions, while others suggest extrinsic or intrinsic motivation. The current study extended the topic by relating pre-service English teachers’ motivation to teach to English-speaking self-efficacy. There were 94 pre-service English teachers of different semesters participated in this study. Data were collected with a Likert-type questionnaire. Pre-service English teachers have a high motivation to pursue a career in teaching, and extrinsic motivation was the most dominant motive. The nobility of the profession, sustainability of job demand, inspiration from the teachers, and flexible working hours are among the extrinsic motives. The pre-service teachers also have a high level of English-speaking self-efficacy. However, they still have problems with anxiety, the use of idioms, the use of accurate grammar and vocabulary, and fluency. Between motivation to teach and their speaking self-efficacy lies a significant positive correlation at a moderate level. This moderate level of the relationship suggests that English-speaking self-efficacy is not a determining factor in motivating pre-service English teachers to have a career in teaching. Consequently, some English teachers may have inadequate proficiency in the language they teach.</span>

This exploratory case study contributes to the ongoing “methodological consolidation” in Applied Cognitive Linguistics (Wirag et al. 2022). It does so by examining the relationship between pre-service English language teachers’ attitudes toward grammar teaching and their acceptance of an innovative pedagogical approach to the Count/Mass Distinction (CMD) inspired by Cognitive Grammar (CG). Eleven first-year college students at a teacher-training University College in Belgium participated in the study. A questionnaire was used to determine the participants’ beliefs about grammar and grammar teaching. Elements of a CG approach to the CMD were integrated into a lesson plan and presented to the participants. The participants were then divided into two random focus groups. The interviews followed a semi-structured format, and a thematic analysis was performed on the transcripts. The data suggests that the participants’ prior knowledge and experience, the ecological validity of the innovation, and their perceived capacity to integrate the resource into their practice, all affect their assessment of a CG-informed innovation, with the latter being the most likely to impede application. The study sheds light on how pre-service teachers’ beliefs impact the adoption of innovative pedagogical methods for teaching grammar and suggests ways to make CG more accessible to practitioners.

ABSTRACTThis study aims to understand how pre-service teachers’ activities shape (and are shaped) by the norms of schooling embedded in the national educational system from an activity theory lens. The data are obtained from video-recordings and bi-weekly reflective journals in microteaching sessions, lesson plans, classroom observations, and post feedback sessions. The analysis points to the stages, micro- and macro-networking levels that lead to the collaborative teacher development, and the emergence of a model in the growth of pre-service teachers. Overall, it is found that the development of pre-service teachers depends largely on the norms of schooling embedded in the national curriculum and the nature of training they received at undergraduate level. The paper concludes by confirming Engeström’s statement that understanding the evolution and historical change of pre-service teacher education in a special context might help investigate how activities change, develop, and interconnect with social and material structures.

This study examines pre-service English language teachers’ grounds and connections between the use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in EFL writing skills and future prospects to integrate them into their teaching practices. Employing a qualitative research paradigm, a researcher-developed survey was used to elicit the perspectives of 28 pre-service English language teachers and 10 teacher trainers. The stages of qualitative data analysis were followed, emergent ideas embedded in the responses were labeled and the codes were clustered into broader themes to obtain a description of their reflections. This study documented reflections on the transformative impact of generative AI in EFL writing. Benefits were reported considering the use of AI tools to overcome writer’s block and get language support, and instantaneous and personalized feedback to the texts. Foregrounding concerns regarding academic misconduct, a need was highlighted for ethical guidelines and enhancement to AI literacy to ensure the validity of AI-generated content. Further, they suggested reformulating assessment and evaluation in EFL writing skills and moving away from result-oriented exams suggesting the adoption of performance-based and process-oriented assessments. Accordingly, ethical and pedagogical implications were offered to adopt a critical stance to improve AI literacy skills in EFL writing development.

This study explores the English Language preservice teachers (PST)’ stages of concern (SoC) for Web 2.0 technology integration in the Learning Technology by Design (LBD) based course. It aims to identify and better understand PSTs’ concerns. Understanding the concerns has advantages of describing and addressing the needs of PSTs prior to actual in-service experiences. SoC model, a component of the Concerns-Based Adoption Model, was used as the theoretical framework. An embedded mixed methods design was implemented, which included 24 English language PSTs. The PSTs attended a semester-long course in which they were involved in LBD activities that included Web 2.0 technologies. While the quantitative data were collected through the SoC questionnaire, the qualitative data were gathered from the focus group and individual interviews. According to the findings, the PSTs improved their knowledge and skills regarding Web 2.0 technology integration and increased the Consequence stage’s intensity significantly. Namely, the PSTs gained an understanding of how to design technology-integrated lesson activities that can promote learning. The findings further identified that the Unconcerned, Informational, and Personal stages’ intensities remained predominant and unchanged over the semester. Recommendations for addressing the PSTs’ concerns include: integrating LBD activities into the English language teaching curriculum and reinforcing the LBD activities with modeling, mentoring, or teaching practices to assure PSTs’ commitments for technology integration.

Often lauded for its role in language education, very little is said or written about the integration of intercultural education into language teacher training. This research spotlighted different approaches to interculturality as well as focusing on the processes that pre-service English language teachers went through during their intercultural training. The context of this study was one particular English Teacher Education Department in Turkey. The methodology rested on the use of focus-group interviews. 3 categories and 8 themes emerged from the analysed data indicated the importance of raising pre-service English language teachers’ awareness of different approaches to interculturality, including these approaches in language teacher training as and relating them to pre-service English language teachers’ future practice.

One of the main challenges in pre-service English Language Teacher training is to open space in course curricula to include professional practice content, bridging theory and praxis, which is the main goal of the Languages without Borders Program's training that takes place in the Language Centers of the universities that participate in the Program. The present study aimed to investigate about pre-service English Language Teachers views regarding the development of the five competences in their training under the LwB Program, according Almeida The methodology adopted was the case study, in an interpretative research, adopting both qualitative and quantitative methods. After studying the theoretical framework about competences, a questionnaire with the following three sections was prepared: (i) the first section based on studies by Bergsmann et al ( The questionnaire was applied to all scholarship pre-service English Language Teacher who were linked to the LwB Program until April 2019, with 284 participants in total, that is, 95% of these teachers. In light of the results, most agree that the training in the Language Centers collaborates to develop especially their professional, applied and implied competences, and that autonomy and critical-reflexive thinking are encouraged. Almost all agree that they will be prepared to act in classroom at the end of the training, and that the assignments carried out during this process have a great impact on their professional development and their teaching practice's competences. In short, according to these teachers' point of view, the formative process in the context of the LwB Program has contributed to the development of the five competences, improving their pedagogical practice and providing quality English teaching-learning process in the country.

As many EFL countries introduce digital textbooks and AI-based language education, the importance of enhancing pre-service language teachers’ Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) in language teacher education is increasingly being emphasized. This qualitative case study examined how 13 pre-service English teachers applied various elements of TPACK through their participation in a chatbot-integrated course designed to provide hands-on, design-based experience. Analysis of participants' weekly reflection journals revealed their evolving engagement with TPACK elements, Design Knowledge, and contextual considerations. As the semester progressed, the pre-service English teachers demonstrated enhanced TPACK contribution through their growing capacity to integrate technology in language instruction and deeper understanding of pedagogical implications. The preservice teachers were also able to better combine chatbot and language teaching and became more confident in situating themselves as effective English teachers through the course. The study provides a comprehensive TPACK-based framework for language teacher educators to evaluate and develop preservice teachers' technological, pedagogical, and content competencies in technology-enhanced instruction. These findings offer practical implications for language teacher educators seeking to incorporate TPACK-informed approaches in their course design and professional development programs.

This study explored pre-service English teachers’ emotional experiences and professional identity construction during their teaching practicum in Indonesia. Using a qualitative approach, narrative inquiry was employed to gather data from two pre-service teachers through semi-structured interviews and reflective diaries. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify themes related to their emotional experiences, such as anxiety, self-doubt, and motivation, and how these emotions influenced their teacher identities. Findings revealed that positive emotions like enthusiasm and empathy facilitated professional identity formation, while negative emotions such as anxiety and fear of making mistakes posed challenges. Mentor teachers played a crucial role in both alleviating and exacerbating these emotional responses. The study highlights the importance of emotional management and identity development in teacher preparation programs. However, the study’s limitation lies in its small sample size, focusing on two participants from a private university in Indonesia. Future research could expand the sample size and explore the emotional dynamics of pre-service teachers in different contexts or academic fields.