A Tale of English Language Polytechnic Lecturers’ Decision Making
Keywords:
decision making, language teaching, TVET institution, polytechnic lecturers
Abstract
Teacher decision making involves a selection of options that leads to thinking processes, underlying teaching in language classroom contexts. Due to this, as a small part of an on-going postgraduate research, this exploratory case study shares the initial findings on the lecturers’ decision-making effects on their classroom orientation. Four lecturers in a local polytechnic were purposively selected as research participants. The primary data was collected through non-participatory classroom observations. Manual constant comparative analysis across the cases was run to obtain the results. Later, the results were triangulated with the responses from informal semi-structured interviews and reflective journal entries. The qualitative analysis revealed that participants did share a similar teaching pattern, i.e. active teaching. The participants employed learner-focused-orientation approach as their common teaching practice. They worked on their planning decisions as well as their interactive decisions in order to harmonize their teachings to students’ response, proficiency, and attitude. This finding informs some instructional concerns regarding language teaching and learning process in polytechnics’ context (as a Technical and Vocational Education and Training, or TVET, higher education institution in Malaysia) to other English educators in different types and levels of learning institutions.References
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Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approches. Singapore: SAGE Publications.
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Ellis, E. M., (2006). Language learning experience as a contributor to ESOL teacher cognition. TESL-EJ, 10(1), 1-16.
Farrell, T. S. C., & Bennis, K. (2013). Reflecting on ESL teacher beliefs and classroom practices : A Case Study. RELC Journal, 44(2), 163–176. http://doi.org/10.1177/0033688213488463
Gutierrez, M. R. C. (2004). Studying teacher cognition: The interplay of teacher beliefs and instructional practice. Kritika Kultura, 4. 53-78.
Han, X., & Song, L. (2011). Teacher Cognition of Intercultural Communicative Competence in the Chinese ELT Context. Intercultural Communication Studies, XX(1), 175–192.
Harun, M. & Al-Amin, S.. (2013). Continuous teacher development through reflective teaching and action research. Bangladesh Research Publications Journal, 8(1), 69–78.
Hora, M. T. (2012). A Situative analysis of the relationship between faculty beliefs and teaching practice: Implications for instructional improvement at the postsecondary level (WCER Working Paper No. 2012-10). Retrieved on 4 April 2016 from http://www.wcer.wisc.edu/publications/workingPapers/papers.php
Johnston, B. (2003). Values in English Language Teaching. New Jersey: Laurence Erlbaum Associates Publisher.
Larsen-Freeman, D., & Anderson, M. (2011). Techniques and principles in language teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Lavigne, A. L. (2014). Beginning teachers who stay : Beliefs about students. Teaching and Teacher Education, 39, 31–43. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2013.12.002
Marwan, A. (2009). ESP teaching challenges in an Indonesian vocational higher institution. The English Teacher, XXXVIII, 1–12.
Nurusus, E. et al. (2015). Exploring teachers’ beliefs in teaching grammar. The English Teacher, XLIV(1), 23-32.
Richards, J. C. (2008). Second language teacher education today. RELC Journal, 39(2): 158-177.
Richards, J. C. (2010). Competence and performance in language teaching. RELC Journal, 41(2), 101-122.
Richards, J. C., & Lockhart, C. (1996). Reflective Teaching in Second Language Classrooms. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Suhaily, A., & Faizah, A. M. (2013). Reflection on language teaching practice in polytechnic : Identifying sources of teachers’ beliefs. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 90, 813–822.
Susilo, S. (2015). Curriculum of EFL Teacher Education and Indonesian Qualification Framework: A Blip of the Future Direction. Dinamika Ilmu, Vol. 15 No 1, 2015
Woods, D. (1997). Decision-making in language learning: A lens for examining learner strategies. The Language Teacher Online, 21(10), 1-7.
Published
2016-06-01
How to Cite
Abdullah, S., & Abd Majid, F. (2016). A Tale of English Language Polytechnic Lecturers’ Decision Making. Dinamika Ilmu, 16(1), 135-147. https://doi.org/10.21093/di.v16i1.436
Section
Articles
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