European Journal of Language Policy

Perception of initial language teacher education in Greece and curriculum evaluation among EFL student teachers

European Journal of Language Policy (2015), 7, (2), 133–164.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3828/ejlp.2015.9
Language
English
Pages
32

Abstract

This paper describes a study which examines EFL (English as a Foreign Language) student teachers’ perception of their initial teacher education and its contribution to their future professional life. The sample comprised 112 student teachers in their fourth year of studies for a bachelor degree in the school of English language and literature in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece. The study was based on the European Profile for Language Teacher Education: A Frame of Reference (Kelly et al. 2004), which identifies 40 items as important elements in foreign language teacher education. Prominent among the findings is student teachers’ perception that the current academic curriculum should place more emphasis on school-based teaching practice, on active learning and on ways of reinforcing communication with other universities and research institutes. The paper concludes by proposing ways of improving the existing curriculum of initial language teacher education.

Ce document décrit une étude qui examine la perception de futurs enseignants d’EFL (Anglais comme Langue étrangère) de leur formation initiale des enseignants et sa contribution à leur future vie professionnelle. L’échantillon comprenait 112 élèves-maîtres dans leur quatrième année d’études pour un baccalauréat au département de langue et littérature anglaise de l’Aristote Université de Thessalonique en Grèce. L’étude a été basée sur le Profil Européen pour la formation des enseignants de langue: un cadre de référence (Kelly et al., 2004), qui identifie 40 articles comme des éléments importants à la formation des enseignants des langues étrangères. Parmi les résultats importants sont la perception de futurs enseignants que le curriculum académique devrait mettre davantage l’accent sur la pratique de l’enseignement en milieu scolaire, sur l’apprentissage actif et sur les moyens de renforcer la communication avec d’autres universités et instituts de recherche. L’article conclut en proposant des moyens d’améliorer le curriculum existant de la formation initiale des enseignants de la langue anglaise.

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Author details

Karatsiori, Marianthi