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Reforming English Language Teaching Undergraduate Programs for Age Divisions in Türkiye: Perspectives of In-Service English Language Teachers

Year 2024, , 1 - 16, 28.06.2024
https://doi.org/10.51726/jlr.1338286

Abstract

As opposed to their counterparts in many other countries (such as the USA, Poland, Finland, South Korea, China, Japan, etc.) and many other subject teachers (such as Science, Turkish Language, Mathematics, etc.), in-service English language teachers in Turkey are entitled to teach at all levels of schools. In this respect, the aim of the study is to; a) shed light on the degree to which their undergraduate training prepares in-service English language teachers for the school levels they work at, and b) reveal whether in-service English language teachers think that English Language Teaching (ELT) undergraduate programs should be reformed as ‘ELT for young learners’ and ‘ELT for teenagers/adults’ by employing a qualitative research design. The findings of the study clearly demonstrate that a great majority of in-service English language teachers feel neither prepared and/or competent enough for nor willing to teach at pre-primary and primary school levels. In addition, it has been concluded that, from the perspectives of in-service English language teachers, ELT undergraduate programs in Turkish context need to be reformed in line with the school levels specified by the Ministry of National Education (MoNE).

References

  • Abazaoğlu, İ., Yıldırım, O. & Yıldızhan, Y. (2016). Teacher training in Turkish educational system from past to present. International Journal of Turkish Education Sciences, 4(6), 143-160.
  • Akdemir, A. S. (2013). A history of teacher training programmes and their problems in Turkey. Turkish Studies - International Periodical For The Languages, Literature and History of Turkish or Turkic, 8(12), 15-28.
  • Altmisdort, G. (2016). An analysis of language teacher education programs: A comparative study of Turkey and other European countries. English Language Teaching, 9(8), 213-223.
  • Aslan, A. K. (2003). Eğitim fakültelerinin yeniden yapılandırılmalarına ilişkin bir değerlendirme. Balıkesir Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 6(9), 23-37.
  • Aydın, A. (1998). Eğitim fakültelerinin yeniden yapılandırılması ve öğretmen yetiştirme sorunu. Kuram ve Uygulamada Eğitim Yönetimi, 4(15), 275-286.
  • Barduhn, S. & Johnson, J. (2009). Certification and professional qualifications, in Burns, A. & Richards, J. C. (Eds.). The Cambridge guide to second language teacher education, 59-65, CUP.
  • Başkan, G. A. (2001). Teaching profession and re-structuring in teacher education. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 16, 16-25.
  • Bland, J. (2019). Teaching English to young learners: More teacher education and more children’s literature! CLELEjournal, 7(2), 79-103.
  • Büyüköztürk, Ş. (2005). Anket geliştirme. Türk Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi, 3(2), 133-151.
  • Cameron, L. (2001). Teaching languages to young learners. Cambridge University Press.
  • Copland, F., Garton S. & Burns, A, (2014). Challenges in teaching English to young learners: Global perspectives and local realities. TESOL Quarterly, 48(4), 738-762.
  • Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches, 3rd ed. Sage publications.
  • Creswell, J. W. (2012). Educational research: Planning, conducting and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Pearson Education Inc.
  • Denzin, N. K. (1978). The research act: A theoretical orientation to sociological methods. McGraw- Hill.
  • Dönmez, B. (1998). Eğitim fakültelerinin yeniden yapılandırılması üzerine bazı eleştiriler. Kuram ve Uygulamada Eğitim Yönetimi Dergisi, 13, 71-78.
  • Dörnyei, Z. (2007). Research methods in applied linguistics: Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodologies. OUP.
  • Enever, J. (2014). Primary English teacher education in Europe. ELT Journal, Volume 68, Issue 3, July 2014, Pages 231–242, https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/cct079
  • Erdoğan, P. & Savaş, P. (2022). Investigating the selection process for initial English teacher education: Turkey. Teaching and Teacher Education, 110(2022), 1-18.
  • Ghosn, I-K. (2019). Materials for early language learning, in Garton, S. & Copland, F. (Eds.). The Routledge handbook of teaching English to young learners, 374-388, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
  • Gürsoy, E., Korkmaz, S.Ç. & Damar, A. E. (2013). Foreign language teaching within 4+4+4 education system in Turkey: Language teachers’ voice. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, 53, 59-74.
  • Hancock, R. D. & Algozzine, B. (2006). Doing case study research. Teachers College Press. Higher Education Council (HEC) (1998a). Eğitim fakülteleri öğretmen yetiştirme programlarının yeniden düzenlenmesi.
  • Higher Education Council (HEC) (1998b). Eğitim fakültesi ögretmen yetiştirme lisans programları. https://www.yok.gov.tr/Documents/Yayinlar/Yayinlarimiz/egitim-fakultesi-ogretmenyetistirme- lisans-programlari-mart-1998.pdf
  • Higher Education Council (HEC) (2007). Teacher training and faculties of education (1982-2007). Higher Education Council Publication, 2007-5.
  • Higher Education Council (HEC) (2018). Öğretmen yetiştirme lisans programları. https://www.yok.gov.tr/Documents/Kurumsal/egitim_ogretim_dairesi/Yeni-Ogretmen- Yetistirme-Lisans-Programlari/AA_Sunus_%20Onsoz_Uygulama_Yonergesi.pdf
  • Hodgson, C. (2017). Educational psychology: Theory and practice. Library Press. Jo, S. (2008). English education and teacher education in South Korea. Journal of Education for Teaching, 34(4), 371-381.
  • Johnstone, R. (2019). Languages policy and English for young learners in early education, in Garton, S. & Copland, F. (Eds.). The Routledge handbook of teaching English to young learners, 13- 29, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
  • Karahan, N. (2008). Öğretmen yetiştirme düzeni ve Türkiye örneği. [MA Thesis, Beykent University, Institute of Social Sciences].
  • Kavcar C. (2002). Cumhuriyet döneminde dal öğretmeni yetiştirme. Ankara Üniversitesi Eğitim Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi. 35(1-2), 1-14.
  • Kızılçaoğlu, A. (2006). Eğitim fakültelerinde yeniden yapılandırma sürecine ilişkin eleştiriler ve öneriler. Balıkesir Üniversitesi, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 8(14), 132-140.
  • Kic-Drgas, J. & Comoglu, I. (2017).A comparison of English language teacher education programs in Poland and Turkey, Batı Anadolu Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi, 8(2), 112-121.
  • Larzén‐Östermark, E. (2009) Language teacher education in Finland and the cultural dimension of foreign language teaching – a student teacher perspective. European Journal of Teacher Education, 32(4), 401-421.
  • Mahalingappa, L. J. & Polat, N. (2013) English language teacher education in Turkey: Policy vs academic standards. European Journal of Higher Education, 3(4), 371-383.
  • Maxwell, J. A. (2005). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach. Sage Publications.
  • Merriam, S.B. (2001). Qualitative research and case study applications in education. Jossey-Bass Publishers.
  • Mertens, D. (1998). Research methods in education and psychology. Sage Publications.
  • Miles, M. B. & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook. Sage Publications.
  • Mirici, İ. H. (1999). Some significant factors in designing a foreign language programme for children. Gazi Üniversitesi Endüstriyel Sanatlar Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 7(7), 53-64.
  • Nergis, A. (2011). Foreign language teacher education in Turkey: A historical overview. Procedia- Social and Behavioral Sciences, 15, 181-185.
  • Nguyen, C. D. (2017). Creating spaces for constructing practice and identity: innovations of teachers of English language to young learners in Vietnam. Research Papers in Education, 32(1), 56- 70.
  • Nunan, D. (1992). Research methods in language learning. Cambridge University Press.
  • Öztürk, G. & Aydın, B. (2019). English language teacher education in Turkey: Why do we fail and what policy reforms are needed? Anadolu Journal of Educational Sciences International, 9(1), 181-213.
  • Papp, S. (2019). Assessment of young English language, in Garton, S. & Copland, F. (Eds.). The Routledge handbook of teaching English to young learners, 389-408, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
  • Patton, M. Q. (2005). Qualitative research. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
  • Rich, S. (2014). International perspectives on teaching English to young learners. Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Rich, S. (2019). Early language learning teacher, in Garton, S. & Copland, F. (Eds.). The Routledge handbook of teaching English to young learners, 44-59, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
  • Ries, F., Cabrera, C. Y., & Carriedo, R. G. (2016). A study of teacher training in the United States and Europe. The European Journal of Social and Behavioural Sciences, 16, 2029-2054.
  • Seferoglu, G. (2004). A study of alternative English teacher certification practices in Turkey. Journal of Education for Teaching, 30(2), 151-159.
  • Shin, J. K. (2000). Teaching English to young learners. University of Maryland.
  • Singleton, D. & Pfenninger, S. E. (2019). The age debate: a critical, in Garton, S. & Copland, F. (Eds.). The Routledge handbook of teaching English to young learners, 30-43, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
  • Sözen, S. & Çabuk, A. (2013). Türkiye, Avusturya ve Almanya öğretmen yetiştirme sistemlerinin incelenmesi. Uşak Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 14, 213-230.
  • Strauss, A. L. & Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory producers and techniques. Sage Publications.
  • Ur, P. (2002). The English teacher as professional, in Richards, J. C. & Renandya, W. A. (Eds.) Methodology in language teaching: An anthology of current practice, 388-392, Cambridge University Press.
  • Uztosun, M. S. (2018) In-service teacher education in Turkey: English language teachers’ perspectives. Professional Development in Education, 44(4), 557-569.
  • Üstüner, M. (2004). Geçmişten günümüze Türk eğitim sisteminde öğretmen yetiştirme ve günümüz sorunları. İnönü Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 5(7), 63-82.
  • Üstünlüoğlu, E. (2008). What can Turkey learn from other countries regarding English language. Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 37(179), 322-332.
  • Yıldırım, A. & Şimşek, H. (2011). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri. Seçkin Yayıncılık.
  • Yıldız, Y. (2015). Branş değiştirerek ilköğretim matematik öğretmenliğine geçen öğretmenlerin geçiş sürecinde yaşadikları: Öyküleyici bir çalışma. [MA Thesis, Karadeniz Technical University, Institute of Educational Sciences].
  • Yin, R. (1984). Case study research: design and methods (3rd Ed.). Sage Publications.
  • Zein, S. (2019). Classroom management for teaching English to young learners, in Garton, S. & Copland, F. (Eds.). The Routledge handbook of teaching English to young learners, 154-168, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
Year 2024, , 1 - 16, 28.06.2024
https://doi.org/10.51726/jlr.1338286

Abstract

References

  • Abazaoğlu, İ., Yıldırım, O. & Yıldızhan, Y. (2016). Teacher training in Turkish educational system from past to present. International Journal of Turkish Education Sciences, 4(6), 143-160.
  • Akdemir, A. S. (2013). A history of teacher training programmes and their problems in Turkey. Turkish Studies - International Periodical For The Languages, Literature and History of Turkish or Turkic, 8(12), 15-28.
  • Altmisdort, G. (2016). An analysis of language teacher education programs: A comparative study of Turkey and other European countries. English Language Teaching, 9(8), 213-223.
  • Aslan, A. K. (2003). Eğitim fakültelerinin yeniden yapılandırılmalarına ilişkin bir değerlendirme. Balıkesir Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 6(9), 23-37.
  • Aydın, A. (1998). Eğitim fakültelerinin yeniden yapılandırılması ve öğretmen yetiştirme sorunu. Kuram ve Uygulamada Eğitim Yönetimi, 4(15), 275-286.
  • Barduhn, S. & Johnson, J. (2009). Certification and professional qualifications, in Burns, A. & Richards, J. C. (Eds.). The Cambridge guide to second language teacher education, 59-65, CUP.
  • Başkan, G. A. (2001). Teaching profession and re-structuring in teacher education. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 16, 16-25.
  • Bland, J. (2019). Teaching English to young learners: More teacher education and more children’s literature! CLELEjournal, 7(2), 79-103.
  • Büyüköztürk, Ş. (2005). Anket geliştirme. Türk Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi, 3(2), 133-151.
  • Cameron, L. (2001). Teaching languages to young learners. Cambridge University Press.
  • Copland, F., Garton S. & Burns, A, (2014). Challenges in teaching English to young learners: Global perspectives and local realities. TESOL Quarterly, 48(4), 738-762.
  • Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches, 3rd ed. Sage publications.
  • Creswell, J. W. (2012). Educational research: Planning, conducting and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Pearson Education Inc.
  • Denzin, N. K. (1978). The research act: A theoretical orientation to sociological methods. McGraw- Hill.
  • Dönmez, B. (1998). Eğitim fakültelerinin yeniden yapılandırılması üzerine bazı eleştiriler. Kuram ve Uygulamada Eğitim Yönetimi Dergisi, 13, 71-78.
  • Dörnyei, Z. (2007). Research methods in applied linguistics: Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodologies. OUP.
  • Enever, J. (2014). Primary English teacher education in Europe. ELT Journal, Volume 68, Issue 3, July 2014, Pages 231–242, https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/cct079
  • Erdoğan, P. & Savaş, P. (2022). Investigating the selection process for initial English teacher education: Turkey. Teaching and Teacher Education, 110(2022), 1-18.
  • Ghosn, I-K. (2019). Materials for early language learning, in Garton, S. & Copland, F. (Eds.). The Routledge handbook of teaching English to young learners, 374-388, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
  • Gürsoy, E., Korkmaz, S.Ç. & Damar, A. E. (2013). Foreign language teaching within 4+4+4 education system in Turkey: Language teachers’ voice. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, 53, 59-74.
  • Hancock, R. D. & Algozzine, B. (2006). Doing case study research. Teachers College Press. Higher Education Council (HEC) (1998a). Eğitim fakülteleri öğretmen yetiştirme programlarının yeniden düzenlenmesi.
  • Higher Education Council (HEC) (1998b). Eğitim fakültesi ögretmen yetiştirme lisans programları. https://www.yok.gov.tr/Documents/Yayinlar/Yayinlarimiz/egitim-fakultesi-ogretmenyetistirme- lisans-programlari-mart-1998.pdf
  • Higher Education Council (HEC) (2007). Teacher training and faculties of education (1982-2007). Higher Education Council Publication, 2007-5.
  • Higher Education Council (HEC) (2018). Öğretmen yetiştirme lisans programları. https://www.yok.gov.tr/Documents/Kurumsal/egitim_ogretim_dairesi/Yeni-Ogretmen- Yetistirme-Lisans-Programlari/AA_Sunus_%20Onsoz_Uygulama_Yonergesi.pdf
  • Hodgson, C. (2017). Educational psychology: Theory and practice. Library Press. Jo, S. (2008). English education and teacher education in South Korea. Journal of Education for Teaching, 34(4), 371-381.
  • Johnstone, R. (2019). Languages policy and English for young learners in early education, in Garton, S. & Copland, F. (Eds.). The Routledge handbook of teaching English to young learners, 13- 29, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
  • Karahan, N. (2008). Öğretmen yetiştirme düzeni ve Türkiye örneği. [MA Thesis, Beykent University, Institute of Social Sciences].
  • Kavcar C. (2002). Cumhuriyet döneminde dal öğretmeni yetiştirme. Ankara Üniversitesi Eğitim Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi. 35(1-2), 1-14.
  • Kızılçaoğlu, A. (2006). Eğitim fakültelerinde yeniden yapılandırma sürecine ilişkin eleştiriler ve öneriler. Balıkesir Üniversitesi, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 8(14), 132-140.
  • Kic-Drgas, J. & Comoglu, I. (2017).A comparison of English language teacher education programs in Poland and Turkey, Batı Anadolu Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi, 8(2), 112-121.
  • Larzén‐Östermark, E. (2009) Language teacher education in Finland and the cultural dimension of foreign language teaching – a student teacher perspective. European Journal of Teacher Education, 32(4), 401-421.
  • Mahalingappa, L. J. & Polat, N. (2013) English language teacher education in Turkey: Policy vs academic standards. European Journal of Higher Education, 3(4), 371-383.
  • Maxwell, J. A. (2005). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach. Sage Publications.
  • Merriam, S.B. (2001). Qualitative research and case study applications in education. Jossey-Bass Publishers.
  • Mertens, D. (1998). Research methods in education and psychology. Sage Publications.
  • Miles, M. B. & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook. Sage Publications.
  • Mirici, İ. H. (1999). Some significant factors in designing a foreign language programme for children. Gazi Üniversitesi Endüstriyel Sanatlar Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 7(7), 53-64.
  • Nergis, A. (2011). Foreign language teacher education in Turkey: A historical overview. Procedia- Social and Behavioral Sciences, 15, 181-185.
  • Nguyen, C. D. (2017). Creating spaces for constructing practice and identity: innovations of teachers of English language to young learners in Vietnam. Research Papers in Education, 32(1), 56- 70.
  • Nunan, D. (1992). Research methods in language learning. Cambridge University Press.
  • Öztürk, G. & Aydın, B. (2019). English language teacher education in Turkey: Why do we fail and what policy reforms are needed? Anadolu Journal of Educational Sciences International, 9(1), 181-213.
  • Papp, S. (2019). Assessment of young English language, in Garton, S. & Copland, F. (Eds.). The Routledge handbook of teaching English to young learners, 389-408, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
  • Patton, M. Q. (2005). Qualitative research. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
  • Rich, S. (2014). International perspectives on teaching English to young learners. Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Rich, S. (2019). Early language learning teacher, in Garton, S. & Copland, F. (Eds.). The Routledge handbook of teaching English to young learners, 44-59, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
  • Ries, F., Cabrera, C. Y., & Carriedo, R. G. (2016). A study of teacher training in the United States and Europe. The European Journal of Social and Behavioural Sciences, 16, 2029-2054.
  • Seferoglu, G. (2004). A study of alternative English teacher certification practices in Turkey. Journal of Education for Teaching, 30(2), 151-159.
  • Shin, J. K. (2000). Teaching English to young learners. University of Maryland.
  • Singleton, D. & Pfenninger, S. E. (2019). The age debate: a critical, in Garton, S. & Copland, F. (Eds.). The Routledge handbook of teaching English to young learners, 30-43, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
  • Sözen, S. & Çabuk, A. (2013). Türkiye, Avusturya ve Almanya öğretmen yetiştirme sistemlerinin incelenmesi. Uşak Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 14, 213-230.
  • Strauss, A. L. & Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory producers and techniques. Sage Publications.
  • Ur, P. (2002). The English teacher as professional, in Richards, J. C. & Renandya, W. A. (Eds.) Methodology in language teaching: An anthology of current practice, 388-392, Cambridge University Press.
  • Uztosun, M. S. (2018) In-service teacher education in Turkey: English language teachers’ perspectives. Professional Development in Education, 44(4), 557-569.
  • Üstüner, M. (2004). Geçmişten günümüze Türk eğitim sisteminde öğretmen yetiştirme ve günümüz sorunları. İnönü Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 5(7), 63-82.
  • Üstünlüoğlu, E. (2008). What can Turkey learn from other countries regarding English language. Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 37(179), 322-332.
  • Yıldırım, A. & Şimşek, H. (2011). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri. Seçkin Yayıncılık.
  • Yıldız, Y. (2015). Branş değiştirerek ilköğretim matematik öğretmenliğine geçen öğretmenlerin geçiş sürecinde yaşadikları: Öyküleyici bir çalışma. [MA Thesis, Karadeniz Technical University, Institute of Educational Sciences].
  • Yin, R. (1984). Case study research: design and methods (3rd Ed.). Sage Publications.
  • Zein, S. (2019). Classroom management for teaching English to young learners, in Garton, S. & Copland, F. (Eds.). The Routledge handbook of teaching English to young learners, 154-168, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
There are 59 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Language Studies (Other)
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Ahmet Önal 0000-0002-5325-4958

Atilla Özdemir 0000-0003-4775-4435

Publication Date June 28, 2024
Published in Issue Year 2024

Cite

APA Önal, A., & Özdemir, A. (2024). Reforming English Language Teaching Undergraduate Programs for Age Divisions in Türkiye: Perspectives of In-Service English Language Teachers. Journal of Language Research, 8(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.51726/jlr.1338286
AMA Önal A, Özdemir A. Reforming English Language Teaching Undergraduate Programs for Age Divisions in Türkiye: Perspectives of In-Service English Language Teachers. JLR. June 2024;8(1):1-16. doi:10.51726/jlr.1338286
Chicago Önal, Ahmet, and Atilla Özdemir. “Reforming English Language Teaching Undergraduate Programs for Age Divisions in Türkiye: Perspectives of In-Service English Language Teachers”. Journal of Language Research 8, no. 1 (June 2024): 1-16. https://doi.org/10.51726/jlr.1338286.
EndNote Önal A, Özdemir A (June 1, 2024) Reforming English Language Teaching Undergraduate Programs for Age Divisions in Türkiye: Perspectives of In-Service English Language Teachers. Journal of Language Research 8 1 1–16.
IEEE A. Önal and A. Özdemir, “Reforming English Language Teaching Undergraduate Programs for Age Divisions in Türkiye: Perspectives of In-Service English Language Teachers”, JLR, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 1–16, 2024, doi: 10.51726/jlr.1338286.
ISNAD Önal, Ahmet - Özdemir, Atilla. “Reforming English Language Teaching Undergraduate Programs for Age Divisions in Türkiye: Perspectives of In-Service English Language Teachers”. Journal of Language Research 8/1 (June 2024), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.51726/jlr.1338286.
JAMA Önal A, Özdemir A. Reforming English Language Teaching Undergraduate Programs for Age Divisions in Türkiye: Perspectives of In-Service English Language Teachers. JLR. 2024;8:1–16.
MLA Önal, Ahmet and Atilla Özdemir. “Reforming English Language Teaching Undergraduate Programs for Age Divisions in Türkiye: Perspectives of In-Service English Language Teachers”. Journal of Language Research, vol. 8, no. 1, 2024, pp. 1-16, doi:10.51726/jlr.1338286.
Vancouver Önal A, Özdemir A. Reforming English Language Teaching Undergraduate Programs for Age Divisions in Türkiye: Perspectives of In-Service English Language Teachers. JLR. 2024;8(1):1-16.