Inquiry And Research Skills For Language Teachers

This book equips pre-service language teachers with research and inquiry skills which they can use in the course of their classroom teaching. Research is presented not as an additional burden in teachers’ busy lives but as an integrated tool for satisfying their curiosity, developing an investigative stance, and strengthening the links between theory and practice. Over the course of the book, the authors introduce and encourage the use of pedagogically exploitable pedagogic-research activities (PEPRAs) to develop a deeper understanding of pedagogic issues in an engaging, supportive, and collaborative way. This book will be of interest to students and instructors on TESOL and related courses, as well as practitioners working in the teacher training sector.

A practical guide to the methodologies used in language teaching and learning research, providing expert advice and real-life examples from leading TESOL researchers Research Methods in Language Teaching and Learning provides practical guidance on the primary research methods used in second language teaching, learning, and education. Designed to support researchers and students in language education and learning, this highly accessible book covers a wide range of research methodologies in the context of actual practice to help readers fully understand the process of conducting research. Organized into three parts, the book covers qualitative studies, quantitative studies, and systematic reviews. Contributions by an international team of distinguished researchers and practitioners explain and demonstrate narrative inquiry, discourse analysis, ethnography, heuristic inquiry, mixed methods, experimental and quasi-experimental studies, and more. Each chapter presents an overview of a method of research, an in-depth description of the research framework or data analysis process, and a meta-analysis of choices made and challenges encountered. Offering invaluable insights and hands-on research knowledge to students and early-career practitioners alike, this book: Focuses on the research methods, techniques, tools, and practical aspects of performing research Provides firsthand narratives and case studies to explain the decisions researchers make Compares the relative strengths and weaknesses of different research methods Includes real-world examples for each research method and framework to highlight the context of the study Includes extensive references, further reading suggestions, and end-of-chapter review questions Part of the Guides to Research Methods in Language and Linguistics series, Research Methods in Language Teaching and Learning is essential reading for students, educators, and researchers in all related fields, including TESOL, second language acquisition, English language teaching, and applied linguistics.

On Teacher Inquiry could be read as an answer to the question, “Teacher research: What’s in it for the students?” This book offers a framework, examples, and practical guidelines for teacher researchers on how to design and conduct individual and collaborative inquiries that build new knowledge and theories about teaching and learning. “What a jewel of a book!” —Ann Lieberman, Senior Scholar at Stanford University “On Teacher Inquiry is for those who cherish what the editors call ‘the habit of inquiry’ because they understand that teaching is always about learning, both theirs’ and their students’.” —Sonia Nieto, Professor Emerita, University of Massachusetts, Amherst “Bringing to life what it means to create a web of meaning for students and collaborative learning communities for teachers, the book portrays how teacher research fosters both reflective teaching and affirmative experiences for diverse students.” —Ann Lewin-Benham, author of Powerful Children “Teacher researchers have long endeavored to bring the heartbeats and breathing of living classrooms to the educational community. This volume continues in that great tradition.” —Bob Fecho, University of Georgia “Both as a resource for those new to teacher inquiry and for the more experienced, the book makes a very important contribution to this exceptional series.” —Susan L. Lytle, Founding Director, Philadelphia Writing Project, Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania

Doing Teacher Research is one volume of the authoritative 13-title TeacherSource series. The author examines the issue from three distinct perspectives: Teachers' Voices, which are authentic accounts of teacher's experiences; Frameworks, which are comprehensive discussions of theoretical issues; and Investigations, which are inquiry-based activities.

Narrative Inquiry in Language Teaching and Learning Research provides an entry-level introduction to research methods using stories, as data or as a means of presenting findings, that is grounded in published empirical research within the field of language teaching and learning. It discusses basic definitions and concepts in narrative inquiry, explains how and why narrative methods have been used in language teaching and learning research, and outlines the different approaches and topics covered by this research. It also examines the different ways of eliciting, analyzing, and presenting narrative inquiry data.Narrative inquiry offers exciting prospects for language teaching and learning research and this book is the first focused and practical guide for readers who are interested in understanding or carrying out narrative studies.

Offering preservice and inservice teachers a guide to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of English Language Arts education, this book provides a fresh perspective on what it means to be a teacher researcher in ELA contexts. Inviting teachers to view inquiry and reflection as intrinsic to their identity and mission, Buckelew and Ewing walk readers through the inquiry process from developing an actionable focus, to data collection and analysis to publication and the exploration of ongoing questions. Providing thoughtful and relevant protocols and models for teacher inquiry, this book establishes a theoretical foundation and offers practical, ready-to-use tools and strategies for engaging in the inquiry process in the context of teachers’ communities. Action Research for English Language Arts Teachers: Invitation to Inquiry includes a variety of examples and scenarios of ELA teachers in diverse contexts, ensuring that this volume is relevant and accessible to all educators.

This landmark volume provides a broad-based, state-of-the-art overview of current knowledge and research into second language teaching and learning. Fifty-seven chapters are organized in eight thematic sections: *social contexts of second language learning; *research methodologies in second-language learning, acquisition, and teaching; *contributions of applied linguistics to the teaching and learning of second language skills; *second language processes and development; *teaching methods and curricula; *issues in second or foreign language testing and assessment; *identity, culture, and critical pedagogy in second language teaching and learning; and *important considerations in language planning and policies. The Handbook of Research in Second Language Teaching and Learning is intended for researchers, practitioners, graduate students, and faculty in teacher education and applied linguistics programs; teachers; teacher trainers; teacher trainees; curriculum and material developers; and all other professionals in the field of second language teaching and learning.