Improving Learner Reflection For Tesol

Presenting comprehensive research conducted with learners and educators in a range of settings, this volume showcases self-reflection as a powerful tool to enhance student learning. The text builds on empirical insights to illustrate how language professionals can foster critical self-reflection amongst learners of English as an additional language. This text uses ecologically sensitive practitioner research that addresses issues of both practical and pedagogical significance in the fields of TESOL, language teaching and learning, and teacher education. By synthesizing interdisciplinary research and theory, chapters show how various types of self-reflection—including guided and non-guided; group and individual forms; and written, oral, and technology-mediated reflection—can promote autonomous, self-regulated learning amongst students at various levels. Whilst offering readers a strong grounding in the theoretical and empirical knowledge that supports self-reflection, the volume gives constant attention is given to praxis, with a focus on effective pedagogical strategies and tools needed to implement, encourage, and evaluate critical learner reflection in readers’ own teaching or research. This volume will be a critical resource for language-teaching professionals interested in critical learner reflection, including in-service, pre-service, and teacher educators in the field of TESOL. Scholars and researchers in the fields of applied linguistics and language education more broadly will find this volume valuable.

The need for ongoing teacher development has been a recurring theme in the field of TESOL in recent years. Not everything a language teacher needs to know can be provided at the pre-service level, and the knowledge base of teaching is constantly changing. Based on cutting-edge research illustrated through case studies, this book outlines strategies for professional development through reflective practice in the language classroom. Accessible and comprehensive, the book presupposes no prior knowledge of linguistics or language teaching, and each chapter includes reflective discussion questions to help the reader apply the strategies and procedures discussed. This book will be invaluable to postgraduate students of TESOL and applied linguistics, and in-service language teachers.

Reflective Language Teaching: Practical Applications for TESOL Teachers is an extensively revised and updated second edition of the popular and accessible text Reflective Language Teaching: From Research to Practice originally published in 2008. This fully up-to-date second edition includes: - an expanded preface - updated case studies and new cases throughout that deal with new developments in language teaching and reflective practice - fully updated citations - three brand new chapters, on online reflective practice and teaching young learners, and a new final chapter on developing a 'culture of reflection' As in the first edition, this book outlines strategies for professional development through reflective practice in the language classroom. Accessible and comprehensive, the book presupposes no prior knowledge of linguistics or language teaching, and each chapter includes reflective discussion questions to help the reader apply the strategies and procedures discussed.

This volume takes a holistic view of the current trends and challenges in quality and quality assurance in TESOL and teacher education. Bringing together top scholars in the field from all over the world, the text features invaluable international perspectives with the common objective of improving the quality in TESOL and teacher education in constantly changing and challenging educational contexts globally. Grouped into four wide-ranging, thematic sections – on multilingualism, diversity, teacher education, and future challenges – the book addresses new obstacles faced by educational professionals in today’s rapidly changing educational landscape by offering alternatives to quantitative targets. Chapter authors cover a range of contexts and timely issues, including technology in the classroom, culturally relevant teaching, teaching for continuous improvement, professional development, and monitoring and evaluating quality. Providing a forum of discussion on the intricacies, complexities, and challenges related to the urgent question of quality in the field, this book is a must-read for prospective ESL/EFL teachers and teacher educators.

Taking the concept and the practice of reflective teaching forward, this book introduces a well-structured, flexible framework for use by teachers at all levels of development, from pre-service to novice to the most experienced. The framework outlines five levels of reflective practice—Philosophy; Principles; Theory-of-Practice; Practice; Beyond Practice—and provides specific techniques for teachers to implement each level of reflection in their work. Designed to allow readers to take either a deductive approach, moving from theory-into-practice, or an inductive approach where they start from a practice-into-theory position, the framework can be used by teachers alone, in pairs, or in a group.

This book brings together a wide range of studies, practical applications and reflective accounts written by academics working at a university in Japan to present a cohesive overview of their collaborative efforts to promote learner reflection within their institution. The book contributes to a shift in language education towards promoting learner responsibility and ownership of their learning through developing a deeper sense of awareness of and motivation for the learning process. It makes a convincing case for showing that not only is promoting reflection possible, but it can also be effectively integrated into language learning activities with significant benefits to the learners. The chapters are highly practical for researchers and practitioners, with the research chapters containing instruments which make them ideal for replication studies. The text includes a wealth of practical tools and activities for practitioners, who will be able to experience first-hand how to facilitate student success and increase satisfaction.

The field of TESOL encompasses English teachers who teach English as an additional language in English-dominant countries and those teachers who teach English as a foreign language in countries where a language other than English is the official language. This range of educators teaches English to children, adolescents, and adults in primary, secondary, post-secondary, popular education, and language academies or tutoring centers. The diversity of learners and contexts within the TESOL field presents a unique opportunity for educators to address varied educational and societal needs. This opportunity calls for TESOL educators who can support the whole learner in a range of contexts for the greater social good. There is an urgent need for readily reproducible and step-by-step research-based practices and current standards in TESOL that bridge the gap between critical scholarship and equitable teaching practices. This book would serve as a critical addition to current literature in TESOL. TESOL Guide for Critical Praxis in Teaching, Inquiry, and Advocacy is an essential reference that provides practical and equitable step-by-step guides for TESOL educators through the current best practices and methods for effective and equity-minded teaching, critical inquiry, and transformative advocacy. This book is of particular value as it bridges theories to practices with a critical look at racial and social justice in English language teaching, which will lead to the integration of social justice-focused practice across the new curriculum. Covering topics such as integrated language instruction, equity and inclusivity, critical consciousness, and online learning, this text is essential for in-service and pre-service TESOL educators, education students, researchers, administrators, teacher educators, and academicians.

This book, like others in the series, provides both theory and practical tools for TESOL educators (and others) to use as they guide pre-service teachers of English to reflect in meaningful ways in a service-learning context. Service-learning in TESOL is valuable because it enables pre-service teachers to collaborate with a community partner in implementing projects that benefit culturally and linguistically diverse learners, while concomitantly improving their own academic and professional skills through increased opportunities to practice and reflect on teaching and learning. Effectively reflecting on service-learning experiences helps pre-service teachers develop an inquiring disposition and transform their learning, enabling them to question their beliefs and challenge existing norms and work towards a more just future for learners of English. In this book, interpretations of service-learning are presented along with the crucial role that reflective practice plays in it. Challenges in defining and implementing reflective practice in TESOL service-learning contexts are explored and practical tools and strategies to help address them are shared.