Prospective Foreign Language Teacher Professional Education in the Target-Language Countries and the Republic of Kazakhstan

2.1 Content of the Foreign Language Teacher Professional Education

LEAD-IN

1 Read the following opinion.

‘Great teachers help create great students. In fact, research shows that an inspiring and informed teacher is the most important school-related factor influencing student achievement, so it is critical to pay close attention to how we train and support both new and experienced educators’.

[33]Edutopia, 2008.

2 Analyze the situation. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the opinion stated? What ways of FL teacher preparation do you know? Which one do you consider to be the most effective and why? Give reasons to support your stance.

CONCEPT STUDY

1 Look at the concept map and speak on your associations.

2 Read the text and say what the concept of ‘teacher education’ refers to, and what stages teacher education is often divided into.

Teacher Education

Teacher education refers to the policies and procedures designed to equip prospective teachers with the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and skills they require to perform their tasks effectively in the classroom, school and wider community.

Although ideally it should be conceived of, and organized as, a seamless continuum, teacher education is often divided into these stages:

• initial teacher training / education (a pre-service course before entering the classroom as a fully responsible teacher);

• induction (the process of providing training and support during the first few years of teaching or the first year in a particular school);

• teacher development or continuing professional development (CPD) (an in-service process for practicing teachers).

Note also:

• Induction (the whole process whereby employees adjust or acclimatize to their jobs and working environment);

• Orientation (a part of induction, a specific course or training event that new starters attend);

• Socialization (the way in which new employees build up working relationships and find roles for themselves within new teams)

• On boarding (the whole process from an individual contact with the organization before they formally join through to understanding the ways of profession working and getting up to speed in their jobs).

[34]Teacher Education. Wikipedia, 2016

3 Generate ideas and say what forms can each of the teacher education stages take, give examples to illustrate your answer.

4 State what the difference between ‘teacher training’ and ‘teacher development’ is.

INFORMATION-ACCUMULATION: READING

1 Work in groups of three, read the extracts (A-C), and then share the information about what Initial Teacher Education is.

Initial Teacher Education Text a: Organization

In many countries, Initial Teacher Education (also known as preservice teacher training) takes place largely or exclusively in institutions of Higher Education. It may be organized according to two basic models.

In the 'consecutive' model, a teacher first obtains a qualification in one or more subjects (often an undergraduate bachelor's degree), and then studies for a further period to gain an additional qualification in teaching (this may take the form of a post-baccalaureate credential or master's degree).

In the alternative 'concurrent' model, a student simultaneously studies both one or more academic subjects, and the ways of teaching that subject, leading to a combined bachelor's degree and teaching credential to qualify as a teacher of that subject.

Other pathways are also available. In some countries, it is possible for a person to receive training as a teacher by working in a school under the responsibility of an accredited experienced practitioner.