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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine novice EFL teachers’ beliefs about teaching and learning, and the relationship between their beliefs and classroom practices. Nine non-native novice EFL teachers teaching at a private university in Northern Cyprus participated in this nine month long study. Data collection consisted of semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, post-lesson reflection forms, and stimulated recall interviews. The findings of the study showed that novice teachers’ previous experiences as students’ have an impact on the formation of their initial beliefs about teaching and learning. The results also revealed that when teachers became aware of the incongruence between their beliefs and practices, they attempted to align their beliefs more closely with their practices. Lastly, the study found that due to students’ expectations, teachers were willing to perform certain practices which were contrary to their beliefs. Recommendations for future research and implications of the findings are discussed.

Keywords

• Novice teachers, beliefs and practices

Novice EFL Teachers' Beliefs about Teaching and Learning, and their Classroom Practices

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, mesleğinin ilk yıllarındaki İngilizce öğretmenlerinin öğretme ve öğrenme ile ilgili inançlarını ve uygulamalarını incelemektir. Bu dokuz aylık çalışmaya, Kuzey Kıbrıs’ta özel bir üniversitede mesleğinin ilk yıllarında olan dokuz İngilizce öğretmeni katılmıştır. Veri toplama yöntemleri yüz yüze yapılan yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmeler, ders gözlemleri, gözlem sonrası yansıtıcı forumlar ve öğretmenlere anımsamayı sağlayan görüşmeler oluşmaktadır. Çalışmanın sonuçları öğretmenlerin inançlarının öğrencilik yıllarında oluştuğunu göstermektedir. Bulgular inançlarının ve uygulamalarının çatıştığının farkına vardıklarında, inançlarını uygulamalarına uyarlama girişiminde bulunduklarını göstermektedir. Bu çalışmada ortaya çıkan bir başka bulgu ise öğretmenler örgencilerinin beklentileri doğrultusunda inançlarına ters de olsa bazı uygulamalar yapmaya gönüllü olmalarıdır. Bulgular doğrultusunda öğretmen eğitim programlarına önerilerde bulunulmuştur.

Keywords

• Yeni öğretmenler, inançlar ve uygulamalar

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