Pre-Service Elt Teachers' Concerns About Student Teaching Through Classroom Observations

Abstract

This paper focuses on the concerns of pre-service ELT teachers about the practicum studies of the student-teachers in the ELT departments at tertiary level. 19 student-teachers receiving their pre-service education were observed by their classroom teachers and their university supervisor (the researcher) during their two-class hour teaching in their practicum schools. The observers (the practicum supervisor and the EFL classroom teacher) were asked to respond to a questionnaire (r=.94) which consists of four main sections: (a) knowledge of the field and field education (b) teaching/learning process, (c) evaluation and keeping records, and (d) other professional skills. The main findings indicate that the student-teachers seem to be well-educated in their field of study although they lack in some of the teaching qualities such as (a) making effective use of the technology and providing their students with a safety learning environment, (b) being able to make good transitions from the previously studied point to the new one, motivating their students, taking precautions against possible interruptions and impediments likely to occur in the classroom, having an effective tone of voice, and being able to use both verbal and body language effectively, (c) being able to keep records daily and inform the administration on time, and (d) being aware of the code of laws and regulations. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved