Problems Encountered by Student-Teachers During Their Practicum Studies

Abstract

This study tries to scrutinize the potential problems student-teachers encounter during their practicum studies and suggest ways to cope with them. In order to get valid and reliable data, these intern-teachers (n=59 in the public primary schools: n=39 and secondary schools: n=12 for Public High School and n=8 for Public Anatolian High School), at the end of their intern-teachers' practicum studies), were administered a questionnaire adapted from Ersen Yanik (2008: 131), modified by the researcher, and edited and approved by a team of experts in the field. The survey mainly questions (a) lack of support in terms of materials and equipments, (b) problems resulting from the course book, (c) problems resulting from the students, (d) problems resulting from the curriculum, and (e) problems resulting from the classroom environment. It is hypothesized that most of the problems take place due to the lack of mainly audio-visual materials, other supplementary materials needed, pronunciation, translation, reading, speaking, writing activities. Lastly, it is agreed that overcrowded classrooms and sitting arrangement impede the effectiveness of foreign language instruction. At the end of the study, some recommendations are made for foreign language educators, researchers, and teachers to cope with these problematic situations. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.