How Can a Teacher Become the Better Version of Oneself?

Year 2019, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 852 - 880, 01.07.2019

Özlem Utku

https://doi.org/10.18039/ajesi.583809

Cited By: 1

Abstract

In order to improve
professionally, teachers need to question themselves throughout their teaching
because one can get feedback from oneself as well instead of listening to
others’ comments, suggestions or questions. On the other hand, getting feedback
from colleagues and learners is invaluable for professional improvement. This
study was conducted as a self-study by a novice teacher. It was aimed at
exploring the teaching practice of the teacher by focusing on the motivation
issue specifically. Two critical friends actively participated in the study
whereas the students of the teacher were passively involved in this self-study,
too. The data were collected through weekly diaries, Teacher Sense of Efficacy
Scale, Student Trust in Teacher Survey and written reflections of critical
friends. Content analysis was utilized to analyses qualitative data and
quantitative data were analyzed through SPSS, descriptive statistics were
computed to reveal quantitative results. The findings showed that teacher
self-efficacy is crucial to sustaining a productive teaching environment and a
healthy teacher-student relationship. In addition, it was found out that
teachers have various roles and responsibilities, which may sometimes overlap,
both in and outside the classroom. Regarding the self-study methodology and
critical friendship, it was concluded that conducting a self-study is extremely
helpful for professional development of a teacher because evaluation and
criticism allow teachers to question themselves in a critical manner and
investigate what has been done and what could have been done for the betterment
of their teaching and professional being.

Keywords

Self-study, self-efficacy, motivation, English language teacher

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