The Perceptions and Views of Prospective ELT Teachers on Teaching English in Preschools: A Microteaching Lesson Study and Practical Experiences

Öz

The perceived importance teaching English to younger learners has increased in the last few decades. For the need of studying on early language learning, various studies have been undertaken over many years. In these studies, nearly all aspects such as those relating to learners, teachers, parents, education systems, policy-makers, school administrators, environmental factors etc. have been considered by researchers. However, not just in-service teachers but also prospective teachers should be listened to improve the foreign language teaching process. Consequently, the views and perceptions of prospective English Language Teaching (ELT) teachers on teaching English to very young learners are discussed in the present study. In terms of the main aims of this study, it is examined the prospective ELT teachers’ current knowledge, common views, suggestions for improvement via microteaching, practical experiences in real classrooms and suggestions with regard to early language teaching. These aspects have been analyzed in the light of related studies. A total of 64 prospective ELT teachers who have been studying in the ELT Department at Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University during the 2022-2023 academic year were involved as participants. Using a semi-structured interview protocol, these individuals were asked about the research aims, and the data were analyzed using qualitative data analysis methods. The findings of the study show that the prospective ELT teachers had positive attitudes and views with regard to early language teaching; however, they suggested that they needed to be trained in teaching English to very young/young learners in order to develop themselves professionally.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• preschool education
• Prospective ELT teachers
• Microteaching
• Very young learners
• English Language Teaching (ELT)

Aday İngilizce Öğretmenlerinin Okul Öncesinde İngilizce Öğretimine İlişkin Algıları ve Görüşleri: Bir Mikro Öğretim Çalışması ve Pratik Deneyimler

Öz

Çocuklara yabancı dil eğitimi son birkaç yılda giderek önemini arttırmıştır. Erken dil öğrenimi üzerine uzun yıllar boyunca çeşitli araştırmalar yapılmıştır. Bu çalışmalarda öğrenenler, öğretmenler, veliler, eğitim sistemleri, politika yapıcılar, okul yöneticileri, çevresel faktörler vb. gibi hemen hemen tüm unsurlar araştırmacılar tarafından dikkate alınmıştır. Ancak yabancı dil öğretim sürecinin iyileştirilmesi için sadece öğretmenlerin değil, öğretmen adaylarının da dinlenmesi gerekmektedir. Bu nedenle, İngilizce Öğretmenliği (ELT) öğretmen adaylarının okul öncesi dönemde İngilizce öğretme konusundaki görüş ve algıları bu çalışmada tartışılmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, ELT öğretmeni adaylarının mevcut bilgileri, ortak görüşleri, mikro öğretim yoluyla iyileştirme önerileri, gerçek sınıflardaki uygulama deneyimleri ve erken dil öğretimi ile ilgili önerileri incelenmiştir. 2022-2023 Eğitim-Öğretim yılında Erzincan Binali Yıldırım Üniversitesi İngilizce Öğretmenliği Bölümü'nde öğrenim görmekte olan 64 İngilizce Öğretmeni adayı katılımcı olarak yer almıştır. Yarı yapılandırılmış bir görüşme protokolü kullanılarak nitel veri toplanmış ve nitel veri analizi yöntemleri kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Araştırmanın bulgularına göre ELT öğretmen adaylarının erken dil öğretimi ile ilgili olumlu tutum ve görüşlere sahip olduğu görülmüştür; ancak öğretmen adaylarının kendilerini profesyonel olarak geliştirmek için çocuklara İngilizce öğretme konusunda eğitim almaları gerektiğini ifade ettikleri belirlenmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• okul öncesi eğitim
• mikroöğretim
• yabancı dil eğitimi
• aday öğretmen

Kaynakça

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