Classroom Action Research for the Continuous Professional Development of Language Teachers

Description

This keynote addresses two interrelated and critical factors that produces quality English Language teachers, which are classroom action research (CAR) and continuous professional development (CPD). CAR contributes to the CPD of the teacher; at the same time, it is also a form of continuous professional development. From the perspective of CPD, it can be viewed as a product, that is, a focus on what a teacher can do as a result of CPD activities. For the English Language teachers, the product of CPD can be observed in how they develop their competence in aligning practice with policies, improving learning outcomes through Innovation and change in their teaching and therefore improving their prestige as language teachers. More importantly, CPD enhances the quality of teachers. It has been established through research that the most important school-related factor influencing student achievement is teacher quality. Hence the importance of CPD in impacting the standard of language education. Realizing the significance, schools and education departments offer various types of CPD for teachers. Typically, CPD can be structured, reflective or unstructured. CAR exhibits the characteristics of CPD in all these three types of CPD. CAR for English Language teachers can be a structured training programme, like the SCLT. But to be sustainable as a CPD, CAR should also be reflective, unstructured and self-directed. The “4R 2S” (relevant, reflective, realistic, refine, support and sharing) encapsulates the essential features of CAR which sustain the language teacher’s professional development towards change, continuous improvement and growth.

Period	24 Nov 2022
Event title	SEAMEO Regional Centre for Quality Improvement for Teachers and Education Personnel in Language: Webinar on Classroom Action Research (CAR) in Language Education
Event type	Other
Degree of Recognition	International