Opinions of Pre-service English Teachers on Distance Practicum in the Covid-19 period: An example from Turkey

Abstract

Within the context of distant practicum procedures implemented during the coronavirus (COVID-19) period, the aim of this study is to highlight the experiences and views of pre-service English teachers on e-practicum. The study also examines whether pre-service teachers’ experiences contrasted with what they expected from the standard practicum procedures. The participants of the study included 20 fourth-year prospective English teachers studying at a Turkish university. Data were collected through standardized open-ended interview questions and content analysis was used to categorize the responses. The findings of this study in general show that teaching practicum is a significant part of teacher education programs as pre-service teachers believe that it particularly supports gaining teaching experience in a real school environment. However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has led teaching practicum to be sustained as a part of distance education which has caused certain drawbacks especially in terms of lacking face-to face teaching experience. Findings revealed that distant practicum during the COVID-19 had more negative sides for the participants than positive ones. Participants expressed their demands for e-practicum regulations that address all aspects of the teaching profession and give them the opportunity to put theory into practice.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• language teacher education
• practicum
• pre-service teachers

İngilizce Öğretmen Adaylarının Covid-19 Döneminde Uzaktan Öğretmenlik Uygulamasına İlişkin Görüşleri: Türkiye'den Bir Örnek

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, koronovirüs (COVID-19) döneminde uygulanan uzaktan öğretmenlik uygulaması süreci bağlamında, İngilizce öğretmen adaylarının çevrimiçi öğretmenlik uygulaması hakkında deneyimlerini ve görüşlerini ortaya çıkarmaktır. Çalışma aynı zamanda İngilizce öğretmen adaylarının deneyimlerinin daha önceki öğretmenlik uygulaması kapsamındaki beklentilerinden farklı olup olmadığını incelemektedir. Çalışmanın katılımcıları Türkiye'de bir üniversitede öğrenim gören 20 dördüncü sınıf İngilizce öğretmen adayından oluşmaktadır. Çalışmada veriler, standartlaştırılmış açık uçlu görüşme sorular yoluyla toplanmış ve verilen yanıtları kategorizeleştirmek için içerik analizi kullanılmıştır. Bu araştırmanın bulguları genel olarak, öğretmenlik uygulamasının özellikle öğretmen adaylarının gerçek bir okul ortamında öğretmenlik deneyimi kazanmayı desteklediğine inandıklarını, dolayısıyla öğretmen yetiştirme programlarının önemli bir parçası olduğunu gösterdiğini ortaya çıkarmıştır. Ancak, COVID-19 salgınının ortaya çıkması, öğretmenlik uygulamasının özellikle yüz yüze öğretmenlik deneyiminin yapılamaması açısından bazı dezavantajlara neden olan uzaktan eğitimin bir parçası olarak sürdürülmesine yol açmıştır. Katılımcılar, pandemi döneminin uzaktan öğretmenlik uygulamasını olumsuz açıdan etkileyerek genel anlamda öğretmenlik deneyiminden beklentileriyle çeliştiğini ifade etmişlerdir. Bulgular aynı zamanda, COVID-19 döneminde uzaktan öğretmenlik uygulamasının katılımcılara göre olumlu yönlerinden çok olumsuz yönlerinin daha fazla olduğunu ortaya çıkarmıştır. Katılımcılar, öğretmenlik mesleğinin tüm yönlerini ele alan ve onlara teoriyi pratiğe geçirme fırsatı veren çevrimiçi uygulama düzenlemeleri isteklerini dile getirmişlerdir.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• öğretmen adayları
• öğretmenlik uygulaması
• yabancı dil öğretmen eğitimi

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