This thesis deals primarily with teaching styles - a topic that has not been greatly discussed in Czech pedagogical literature so far. Based on both Czech and foreign sources, this paper identifies and describes in detail various aspects of teaching styles and presents several approaches to study them. Moreover, it puts the above-mentioned topic in a context of other related concepts, such as teaching method, teachers' beliefs etc. It provides an overview of several teaching styles typologies designed by mostly American authors. The empirical part introduces an original research based on both quantitative and qualitative approach. It presents a detailed study of six selected teachers of the English language and based on their responses identifies certain aspects of different teaching styles. The thesis also reveals some of their views and opinions of their profession.

In this qualitative case study, the beliefs and practices regarding codeswitching in the EFL classroom are compared between selected teachers of English in upper-secondary and compulsory school (school years 7-9) from Sweden. Through semi-structured interview questions, the data were collected from six teachers from each of the respective levels of education. The interviews were conducted by the researcher on a one-to-one basis with the informants of the study. The answers showed several differences and similarities between the teachers. While both groups of teachers said that codeswitching was to varying extent necessary, the upper-secondary school teachers seemingly had a more negative view towards codeswitching in the EFL classroom. Most of the upper-secondary school teachers codeswitched when for example teaching difficult areas such as grammar by making direct comparisons to the Swedish language. The compulsory school English teachers were less negative towards the use of the L1 and often stated that codeswitching was necessary and had several uses in the EFL classroom.  According to the compulsory school English teachers, codeswitching could aid when giving complex instructions, feedback or be used to show student comprehension. When the teachers were asked about whether the guideline documents affected their choice of language in the classroom, four out of six of the upper-secondary school teachers said that their language selection was affected by the directives to varying extent. The compulsory school English teachers’ selection of language was not affected by their guideline documents, which was expected since these do not give directives regarding language selection. / I den här kvalitativa fallstudien jämförs tron ​​och bruk gällande kodväxling i engelskundervisningen mellan ett antal av gymnasieskolans engelsklärare och högstadiets engelsklärare från Sverige. Genom semistrukturerade intervjufrågor samlades data från sex lärare från respektive skolnivå. Intervjuerna utfördes av forskaren på en-till-en-basis med varje lärare som deltog i studien. Svaren visade flera skillnader och likheter mellan lärarna. Medan båda grupperna av lärare sågs att kodväxling i varierande utsträckning var nödvändigt, visade gymnasielärarna en mer negativ syn på koderna i engelskklassrummet. De flesta gymnasieskolelärare bytte kod när de exempelvis undervisade om svåra områden så som grammatik genom att göra direkta jämförelser med det svenska språket. De högstadielärarna var mindre negativa mot användningen av förstaspråket och anförde att kodbytande var nödvändiga och hade användning i engelskklassrummet. Enligt de högstadielärarna kan kodväxling hjälpa till när man ger komplexa instruktioner, återkoppling eller användas för att visa studentförståelse. När lärarna frågades om huruvida riktlinjedokumenten påverkade deras språkval i klassrummet, sade fyra av sex av gymnasieskolelärarna att deras språkval påverkades i varierande grad av direktiven. Högstadielärarnas val av språk påverkades inte av deras riktlinjer, vilket var förväntat då dessa inte nämner lärarens språkanvändning.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-22T17:26:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Patta Alves.pdf: 946799 bytes, checksum: 7cde5c03d3fac4fda62b03a67fcefb54 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-30 / This research study investigates how Form-Focused Instruction, following the taxonomy proposed by Rod Ellis (2001), occurs in an EFL school in Southern Brazil. In addition to this, it aimed to identify in the English classes of two teachers, if their practices were permeated by technical knowledge, practical knowledge or both kinds of knowledge on Form-Focused Instruction (FFI), as well as at which moment of their teacher development this knowledge was originated. The data were collected from the audio and video recordings of two consecutive classes taught by each professional, as well as from a semi-structured questionnaire and a stimulated recall interview. The results from this investigation showed that, in the act of teaching, such professionals made use, primarily, of their practical knowledge (intuitive and implicit knowledge that is built during the practice), and that their beliefs about formal instruction were originated during their development as teachers / Este trabalho investiga como se dá a Instrução Focada na Forma no Ensino de Inglês como Língua Estrangeira sob a luz das taxionomias propostas por Rod Ellis (2001), num ambiente de curso particular de Inglês. Além disso, buscou-se identificar, nas duas professoras pesquisadas, P1 e P2, se suas aulas eram permeadas pelo conhecimento técnico, teórico ou ambos, acerca da Instrução Focada na Forma (IFF), bem como em que momento de sua formação tal conhecimento foi originado. Os dados foram obtidos a partir da gravação em áudio e vídeo de duas aulas consecutivas de cada profissional, da aplicação de um questionário semi-estruturado e de uma entrevista com lembrança estimulada. Os resultados desta investigação mostraram que, no ato da IFF, as profissionais fizeram uso, principalmente, de seu conhecimento prático (conhecimento desenvolvido durante a prática, sendo implícito e intuitivo), e que suas crenças acerca do ensino formal se originaram, inconscientemente, durante suas formações como professoras o

Este estudo situa-se no âmbito das propostas sintonizadas com novos paradigmas de formação inicial de professores, onde a profissionalização docente é vista como um processo dinâmico e interativo que se apóia em saberes específicos. O contexto investigado foi a disciplina Estágio I do Curso de Ciências Biológicas de uma Universidade Federal, cuja estrutura baseou-se na perspectiva Ecológica de Formação, na qual o ambiente de supervisão leva em conta que a aprendizagem da docência implica redes de saberes, reconhecendo a importância dos contextos profissionalizantes significativos para o licenciando (a instituição de formação, a sala de aula e a escola). Partindo desses pressupostos, o foco dessa investigação visou compreender de que maneira os processos instaurados em um Ambiente de Supervisão, planejado em uma perspectiva Ecológica de formação, são capazes de confrontar as crenças dos futuros professores sobre a prática docente e contribuir para a elaboração de conhecimentos e saberes profissionais dos licenciandos. Utilizamos nesse estudo a estratégia metodológica do estudo de caso, analisando três sujeitos. Dividimos essa investigação em fases (pré-ativa, ativa e pós-ativa) visando facilitar o acesso ao pensamento do licenciando ao longo da disciplina. Durante este período, acompanhamos seus movimentos por meio de suas reflexões escritas sob forma de diário virtual, das reuniões entre supervisor e licenciando e entrevistas e apresentações gravadas em áudio e vídeo e, áudio, além de instrumentos específicos para crenças educacionais (DASTT) e para o aferimento de crenças de eficácia (STEBI). A análise dos dados foi realizada sob a perspectiva do interacionismo interpretativo, o que implica assumir a relação entre pesquisador, sujeitos e objeto de pesquisa como intrinsecamente subjetiva, onde a compreensão de um dado fenômeno só é possível a partir de processo mútuo e socialmente compartilhado, dos quais emergem os significados e os sentidos. Nossos resultados mostram que houve aprendizagem da docência na interação e adaptação dos indivíduos ao seu ambiente de atuação, no qual articularam, por meio do raciocínio pedagógico, suas crenças anteriores sobre seus professores, suas vivências como alunos, os dilemas experienciados em situações inesperadas na prática, acabando por definir sua posição didática durante a transposição do tópico de ensino em sala de aula. Evidenciaram assim, elementos relativos ao Conhecimento pedagógico do conteúdo, e conseqüentemente, os saberes docentes inerentes aos aspectos didáticos gerais e pessoais, disciplinares e sobre o contexto. Esse estudo demonstra que o diálogo entre teoria e prática dentro de um ambiente de supervisão ecológico viabiliza a concretização de processos reflexivos sistemáticos nas ações empreendidas pelos licenciandos, de forma que suas crenças educacionais possam ser acessadas, suas crenças de eficácia se fortaleçam, e sua articulação em um raciocínio pedagógico possa construir saberes docentes. Outra contribuição é auxiliar na definição de um nicho de pesquisa específico sobre as crenças educacionais dos futuros professores de Ciências e Biologia, de forma que outros estudos na mesma direção possam compor uma fundamentação sólida, que implique em programas de formação cuja visão holística tenha impacto no desenvolvimento inicial dos futuros professores, repercutindo na melhoria do ensino e da aprendizagem. / This study locates in the extent of the proposals attuned to new paradigms of teachers initial formation, where professionalization is seen as a dynamic and interactive process. The context of this study was the subject Estágio (Traineeship) I of the Course of Biological Sciences in a University, whose structure was based on an Ecological Training perspective, where the supervision environment takes into account that the learning to teach involves networks of knowledge and knowing, recognizing the importance of professional meaningful contexts for trainee (teacher formation institutions, the classroom and Traineeship schools). Assuming these assumptions, the focus of this research aimed to understand how the proceedings planned in a Supervision environment from the ecological training perspective are able to confront the preservice teachers beliefs on teaching practice, and contribute to elaboration of the future science teachers professional knowledge and knowing. Aiming to answer the proposed question, we used in this research the case study as a methodological strategy for examining three subjects. This investigation was structured in blocks, (Teaching Training, Workshop on Environmental Education (EE) Training, and Research Training), whose the structural core was the systematic reflection. It was divided into phases (pre-active, active and post-active), to facilitate access to the trainees thoughts along the course. During this period, we followed the trainees movements, through their reflections written in the virtual diary form, meetings between supervisor and trainee, presentations and interviews recorded in audio, video and audio only, as well as specific tools to educational beliefs (DASTT), and for efficacy measures benchmarking (STEBI). The data analysis was performed from the perspective of interpretive interactionism, thereby assuming the relationship between researcher, subject and object as inherently subjective, in which the understanding of a particular phenomenon is only possible through mutual process socially shared of which emerge from the meanings and senses. Our results show that has been teaching learning in the individuals interaction and adaptation to their environment of acting, in which articulated through the pedagogical reasoning, their prior beliefs about their teachers, their experiences as a student, the dilemmas experienced in unexpected in practical situations, and ultimately define their teaching position at the didactic transposition in the classroom. Thus, they revealed issues related to pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), and, consequently, the teacher\'s knowledge inherent to personal and general instructional aspects, disciplinary action and the context. This study shows that the dialogue between theory and practice within an ecological supervision environment, enables the implementation of systematic reflexive processes in actions taken by trainees, in such a way that their educational beliefs can be accessed, their efficacy beliefs can be improved, and, their articulation in a consistent pedagogical reasoning can build their knowledge and teachers experiences. Another contribution is to assist in defining a specific research niche on the preservice science teachers educational beliefs, so that other researches in the same direction can compose a solid foundation, involving training programs, whose impact on a holistic view will enable the professional development of trainees, resulting in improvements in teaching and learning.

Este estudo situa-se no âmbito das propostas sintonizadas com novos paradigmas de formação inicial de professores, onde a profissionalização docente é vista como um processo dinâmico e interativo que se apóia em saberes específicos. O contexto investigado foi a disciplina Estágio I do Curso de Ciências Biológicas de uma Universidade Federal, cuja estrutura baseou-se na perspectiva Ecológica de Formação, na qual o ambiente de supervisão leva em conta que a aprendizagem da docência implica redes de saberes, reconhecendo a importância dos contextos profissionalizantes significativos para o licenciando (a instituição de formação, a sala de aula e a escola). Partindo desses pressupostos, o foco dessa investigação visou compreender de que maneira os processos instaurados em um Ambiente de Supervisão, planejado em uma perspectiva Ecológica de formação, são capazes de confrontar as crenças dos futuros professores sobre a prática docente e contribuir para a elaboração de conhecimentos e saberes profissionais dos licenciandos. Utilizamos nesse estudo a estratégia metodológica do estudo de caso, analisando três sujeitos. Dividimos essa investigação em fases (pré-ativa, ativa e pós-ativa) visando facilitar o acesso ao pensamento do licenciando ao longo da disciplina. Durante este período, acompanhamos seus movimentos por meio de suas reflexões escritas sob forma de diário virtual, das reuniões entre supervisor e licenciando e entrevistas e apresentações gravadas em áudio e vídeo e, áudio, além de instrumentos específicos para crenças educacionais (DASTT) e para o aferimento de crenças de eficácia (STEBI). A análise dos dados foi realizada sob a perspectiva do interacionismo interpretativo, o que implica assumir a relação entre pesquisador, sujeitos e objeto de pesquisa como intrinsecamente subjetiva, onde a compreensão de um dado fenômeno só é possível a partir de processo mútuo e socialmente compartilhado, dos quais emergem os significados e os sentidos. Nossos resultados mostram que houve aprendizagem da docência na interação e adaptação dos indivíduos ao seu ambiente de atuação, no qual articularam, por meio do raciocínio pedagógico, suas crenças anteriores sobre seus professores, suas vivências como alunos, os dilemas experienciados em situações inesperadas na prática, acabando por definir sua posição didática durante a transposição do tópico de ensino em sala de aula. Evidenciaram assim, elementos relativos ao Conhecimento pedagógico do conteúdo, e conseqüentemente, os saberes docentes inerentes aos aspectos didáticos gerais e pessoais, disciplinares e sobre o contexto. Esse estudo demonstra que o diálogo entre teoria e prática dentro de um ambiente de supervisão ecológico viabiliza a concretização de processos reflexivos sistemáticos nas ações empreendidas pelos licenciandos, de forma que suas crenças educacionais possam ser acessadas, suas crenças de eficácia se fortaleçam, e sua articulação em um raciocínio pedagógico possa construir saberes docentes. Outra contribuição é auxiliar na definição de um nicho de pesquisa específico sobre as crenças educacionais dos futuros professores de Ciências e Biologia, de forma que outros estudos na mesma direção possam compor uma fundamentação sólida, que implique em programas de formação cuja visão holística tenha impacto no desenvolvimento inicial dos futuros professores, repercutindo na melhoria do ensino e da aprendizagem. / This study locates in the extent of the proposals attuned to new paradigms of teachers initial formation, where professionalization is seen as a dynamic and interactive process. The context of this study was the subject Estágio (Traineeship) I of the Course of Biological Sciences in a University, whose structure was based on an Ecological Training perspective, where the supervision environment takes into account that the learning to teach involves networks of knowledge and knowing, recognizing the importance of professional meaningful contexts for trainee (teacher formation institutions, the classroom and Traineeship schools). Assuming these assumptions, the focus of this research aimed to understand how the proceedings planned in a Supervision environment from the ecological training perspective are able to confront the preservice teachers beliefs on teaching practice, and contribute to elaboration of the future science teachers professional knowledge and knowing. Aiming to answer the proposed question, we used in this research the case study as a methodological strategy for examining three subjects. This investigation was structured in blocks, (Teaching Training, Workshop on Environmental Education (EE) Training, and Research Training), whose the structural core was the systematic reflection. It was divided into phases (pre-active, active and post-active), to facilitate access to the trainees thoughts along the course. During this period, we followed the trainees movements, through their reflections written in the virtual diary form, meetings between supervisor and trainee, presentations and interviews recorded in audio, video and audio only, as well as specific tools to educational beliefs (DASTT), and for efficacy measures benchmarking (STEBI). The data analysis was performed from the perspective of interpretive interactionism, thereby assuming the relationship between researcher, subject and object as inherently subjective, in which the understanding of a particular phenomenon is only possible through mutual process socially shared of which emerge from the meanings and senses. Our results show that has been teaching learning in the individuals interaction and adaptation to their environment of acting, in which articulated through the pedagogical reasoning, their prior beliefs about their teachers, their experiences as a student, the dilemmas experienced in unexpected in practical situations, and ultimately define their teaching position at the didactic transposition in the classroom. Thus, they revealed issues related to pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), and, consequently, the teacher\'s knowledge inherent to personal and general instructional aspects, disciplinary action and the context. This study shows that the dialogue between theory and practice within an ecological supervision environment, enables the implementation of systematic reflexive processes in actions taken by trainees, in such a way that their educational beliefs can be accessed, their efficacy beliefs can be improved, and, their articulation in a consistent pedagogical reasoning can build their knowledge and teachers experiences. Another contribution is to assist in defining a specific research niche on the preservice science teachers educational beliefs, so that other researches in the same direction can compose a solid foundation, involving training programs, whose impact on a holistic view will enable the professional development of trainees, resulting in improvements in teaching and learning.

There are many different perceptions when it comes to teachers’ instructional language choice in the EFL classroom. Some argue for maximum use of the target language while others believe that judicious use of the L1 can benefit the students’ second language learning. The aim of this study is to investigate what research says about teachers’ target language use and first language use in upper level EFL classrooms, as well as teachers’ attitudes and beliefs regarding the choice of instructional language. The findings from this systematic literature review show that teachers mainly used L1 to save time, to explain grammar and vocabulary and to create a positive classroom atmosphere. Furthermore, the results also showed that teachers’ choice to use L1 heavily depended on students’ level of proficiency. Lastly, the results indicate that teachers not always use the L1 for pedagogical reasons, but in many cases for pragmatical reasons, individual beliefs and out of concern for students’ well-being.

This study aims to expand studies on ESL/EFL teachers’ beliefs by investigating the relationship among Korean teachers’ beliefs about English language education in Korea, sources of their beliefs, their perceptions of the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MOE)-initiated reforms in English language education, and the degree of implementation of the reforms in their classroom teaching. Toward that end, the study employed both quantitative and qualitative research instruments: a survey with a questionnaire, interviews, and observations. The study surveyed 158 in-service teachers. Among these 158 teachers, 10 were selected for interviews and observations. Each of the 10 teachers was interviewed three times and his/her classroom teaching observed twice. The findings of the study indicate: a) the beliefs held by the majority of the participants were based on the communication-oriented approaches (COA) to English language teaching, which has been recommended by the MOE in its efforts to reform English language education in Korea; b) major sources of the participants’ beliefs seemed to be their experiences as learners in overseas English programs and domestic in-service teacher education programs with practical curricula; c) the teacher participants’ perceptions of the reforms’ general direction were largely consistent with their COA-based beliefs, but their perceptions of specific reform policies and measures were dictated by their concerns with realities of EFL education and their positions; and d) not the participants’ beliefs but their negative perceptions of reform policies and measures AND the constraints they cited were the main obstacles to the implementation of the reform policies and measures in their classroom teaching. The findings reveal gaps and mismatches among the participants’ beliefs, perceptions, and practices. The study interprets such gaps and mismatches not as inconsistencies but as symptoms of a transitional stage through which English language education in Korea has been going. The study discusses the implications of the findings for Korean EFL teachers, EFL/ESL teacher education programs, and reform agents. The study ends with four suggestions for future research.

No description available.

This research was conducted to determine what the nature of teachers’ educational beliefs about teaching, knowledge and learning are, whether there is a relation between their educational beliefs and the way in which they instruct, and if a relation exists, what the nature of such a relation is. Teachers’ educational beliefs about the way in which learners learn and what they are supposed to learn, have a major influence on how the teacher instructs and on how the learners achieve. Educational beliefs are a comprehensive phenomenon and include beliefs about everything. Educational beliefs generally refer to beliefs about teaching, knowledge and learning. The construct epistemological beliefs are actually also used in the literature and can be seen as the more restricted construct that only includes beliefs about knowledge and learning. Both constructs are used in this study. The phenomenon of educational beliefs is used concerning the beliefs about teaching, knowledge and learning, whilst the phenomenon of epistemological beliefs are used when concerned with the beliefs about knowledge and learning. Educational beliefs vary from naïve to sophisticated. Teachers are characterised according to their educational beliefs about teaching as more teacher–centered or more learner–centered. Teachers who are more teacher–centered have more naïve epistemological beliefs and promote superficial learning, which leads to lower academic performances. Conversely, teachers who are more learner–centered have more sophisticated epistemological beliefs that promote an in depth approach to learning, which leads to higher academic performances. The implementation of Outcomes Based Education (OBE) requires inter alia a learner–centered teaching approach and more sophisticated epistemological beliefs. These requirements of OBE poses a major challenge to teachers with more naive epistemological beliefs, because beliefs develop over years and are deeply rooted and difficult to change. With this study it was found that the participants’ epistemological beliefs could be typified as a system including more and less sophisticated epistemological beliefs, thus they did not only have naïve or sophisticated epistemological beliefs. It was also found that the participants of this study were more learner–centered than teacher–centered. Participants with more naïve epistemological beliefs were more teacher–centered compared to participants who had less naïve, thus more sophisticated epistemological beliefs that were more learner–centered. A relation was found between teachers with more naïve epistemological beliefs and a teacher–centered approach and teachers with less naïve epistemological beliefs (thus more sophisticated epistemological beliefs) and a learner–centered approach. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

This research was conducted to determine what the nature of teachers’ educational beliefs about teaching, knowledge and learning are, whether there is a relation between their educational beliefs and the way in which they instruct, and if a relation exists, what the nature of such a relation is. Teachers’ educational beliefs about the way in which learners learn and what they are supposed to learn, have a major influence on how the teacher instructs and on how the learners achieve. Educational beliefs are a comprehensive phenomenon and include beliefs about everything. Educational beliefs generally refer to beliefs about teaching, knowledge and learning. The construct epistemological beliefs are actually also used in the literature and can be seen as the more restricted construct that only includes beliefs about knowledge and learning. Both constructs are used in this study. The phenomenon of educational beliefs is used concerning the beliefs about teaching, knowledge and learning, whilst the phenomenon of epistemological beliefs are used when concerned with the beliefs about knowledge and learning. Educational beliefs vary from naïve to sophisticated. Teachers are characterised according to their educational beliefs about teaching as more teacher–centered or more learner–centered. Teachers who are more teacher–centered have more naïve epistemological beliefs and promote superficial learning, which leads to lower academic performances. Conversely, teachers who are more learner–centered have more sophisticated epistemological beliefs that promote an in depth approach to learning, which leads to higher academic performances. The implementation of Outcomes Based Education (OBE) requires inter alia a learner–centered teaching approach and more sophisticated epistemological beliefs. These requirements of OBE poses a major challenge to teachers with more naive epistemological beliefs, because beliefs develop over years and are deeply rooted and difficult to change. With this study it was found that the participants’ epistemological beliefs could be typified as a system including more and less sophisticated epistemological beliefs, thus they did not only have naïve or sophisticated epistemological beliefs. It was also found that the participants of this study were more learner–centered than teacher–centered. Participants with more naïve epistemological beliefs were more teacher–centered compared to participants who had less naïve, thus more sophisticated epistemological beliefs that were more learner–centered. A relation was found between teachers with more naïve epistemological beliefs and a teacher–centered approach and teachers with less naïve epistemological beliefs (thus more sophisticated epistemological beliefs) and a learner–centered approach. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.