Experiences of pre-service English teachers gained through community service learning in kindergartens

Gülşah Külekçi

doi:10.17275/per.14.04.1.1

EN

Experiences of pre-service English teachers gained through community service learning in kindergartens

Abstract

Many authors agree that community service learning should be integrated into pre-service teacher education in order to achieve the maximum positive impact on the next generation of teachers. This study aims at inquiring the experiences of pre-service English teachers gained through community service learning. The study is based on qualitative case study design. Qualitative data were collected using participant portfolios from 40 pre-service English teachers in ELT Department who kept portfolios throughout their observations of eleven weeks. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis method by coding and creating categories/themes. Results showed that pre-service teachers faced some problems during the process of community service. However, their practices through community service learning in kindergartens helped them gain various experiences which will contribute a lot to their future teaching careers. The evaluative feedback stressed marked improvement in the quality of the student learning and engagement experiences. It is hoped that the experiences of pre-service English teachers engaged in the portfolio development process will help other educators who are implementing portfolios within teacher education programs. The results of this study also provide important information for both policy-makers interested in the reform of pre-service teacher education and practicing teacher educators focused on achieving the goals of pre-service teacher education through the use of community service learning.

Keywords

Pre-service English teachers,community service learning,kindergartens

References

Anderson, J. & Guest, K. (1993, April). Linking campus and community: Seattle University’s community service internship for preservice teachers. Paper presented at the National Service-learning Conference. Minneapolis, MN.
Biricik, E. & Özkan, Y. (2012). The Role of Teacher Attitude in Preschool Language Education. Çukurova University Faculty of Education Journal, 41(1), 70-86.
Boyle-Baise, L. (1997). Community service learning for multicultural education: An exploratory study with preservice teachers. Paper presented at the College and University Faculty Assembly of the National Council for the Social Studies, Cincinnati, OH.
Breslin, C. M., Morton, J. R. & Rudisill, M. E. (2008). Implementing a physical activity curriculum into the school day: Helping early childhood teachers meet the challenge. Early Childhood Education Journal, 39(5), 429-437.
Brown, D. (2000). Teaching by principles: An interactive approach to language pedagogy (4th ed.). White Plains, New York: Longman.
Cairn, R. W. & Kielsmeier, J. C. (Eds.). (1991). Growing hope: A sourcebook on integrating youth service into the school curriculum. Roseville, MN: National Youth Leadership Council.
Cameron, L. (2001). Teaching Languages to Young Learners. UK: Cambridge University Press.
Chambers, G. N. (1999). Motivating Language Learners. UK: Multilingual Matters Ltd
Closson, R. & Mullins Nelson, B. (2009). Teaching social justice through community engagement. International Journal of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 3(1), 1-20.
Creswell, J. (2002). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating qualitative and qualitative research. Upper Saddle River, N. J.:Merrill.

Griva, E. & Sivropoulou, R. (2009). Implementation and Evaluation of an Early Foreign Language Learning Project in Kindergarten. The Early Childhood Journal,37(1), 79-87.
Koller, M. K. (2006). Editor’s notes. English Teaching Forum, 44(2), 1.
Krashen, S., Long, M. & Scarcella, R. (1979). Age, rate, and eventual attainment in second language acquisition. TESOL Quarterly, 13, 573-582.
Lile, W. T. (2002). Motivation in the ESL Classroom. TESL Journal 8, 1.
Long, M. (1990). Maturational constraints on language development. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 12, 251-285.
Ministry of National Education (2013). Elementary Schools Curriculum for Teaching English. Ankara: Board of education of Ministry of National Education.
Moon, J. (2000). Children learning English. Oxford: Macmillan Heinemann.
Read, C (2005) Managing Children Positively, English Teaching Professional, Issue 38 (18), Modern English Publishing.
Root, S. (1997). School-based service: A review of research for teacher educators. In Erickson, J. A., & Anderson, J. B. (eds.). Learning with the Community: Concepts and Models for Service-Learning in Teacher Education. Washington, D. C.: American Association for Higher Education.
Scott, W. A. & Ytreberg, L. H. (1990). Teaching English to Children. London: Longman.
Scott, W. A. & Ytreberg, L. H. (2001). Teaching English to Children. (14th ed.) New York: Longman.
Seigel, S. (1995). Community Service Learning As Empowered Pedagogy: Implications for Middle School Teachers. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Shin, J. K. (2006). Ten helpful ideas for teaching English to young learners. English Teaching Forum, 44(2), 2-13.
Strage, A. (2004). Long-term academic benefits of service learning: When and where do they manifest themselves? College Student Journal, 38(2), 257-261.
Vale, D. & Feunteun, A. (2003). Teaching children English. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press.
Wade, R. C. (1995). Developing active citizens: Community service-learning in social studies teacher education. Social Studies, 86(3), 122-128.
Wade, R. C. (1997). Empowerment in Student Teaching Through Community Service Learning. Theory into Practice, 36(3), 184-191.
Wade, R. C. & Yarbrough, D. B. (1997). Community service-learning in student teaching: Toward the development of an active citizen. Michigan Journal of Community Service-Learning, 4, 42-55.
Weglarz, S. G. & Seybert, J. A. (2004). Participant perceptions of a community college service-learning program. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 28, 123-132.
Yolageldili, G. & Arıkan, A. (2010). Effectiveness of using games in teaching grammar to young learners. Elementary Education Online, 10(1), 219-229.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Studies on Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Gülşah Külekçi ^*

Publication Date

June 1, 2014

Submission Date

May 4, 2014

Acceptance Date

June 5, 2014

Published in Issue

Year 2014 Volume: 1 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.17275/per.14.04.1.1

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA44FN28BE

APA

Külekçi, G. (2014). Experiences of pre-service English teachers gained through community service learning in kindergartens. Participatory Educational Research, 1(1), 65-78. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.14.04.1.1

AMA

1.Külekçi G. Experiences of pre-service English teachers gained through community service learning in kindergartens. PER. 2014;1(1):65-78. doi:10.17275/per.14.04.1.1

Chicago

Külekçi, Gülşah. 2014. “Experiences of Pre-Service English Teachers Gained through Community Service Learning in Kindergartens”. Participatory Educational Research 1 (1): 65-78. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.14.04.1.1.

EndNote

Külekçi G (June 1, 2014) Experiences of pre-service English teachers gained through community service learning in kindergartens. Participatory Educational Research 1 1 65–78.

IEEE

[1]G. Külekçi, “Experiences of pre-service English teachers gained through community service learning in kindergartens”, PER, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 65–78, June 2014, doi: 10.17275/per.14.04.1.1.

ISNAD

Külekçi, Gülşah. “Experiences of Pre-Service English Teachers Gained through Community Service Learning in Kindergartens”. Participatory Educational Research 1/1 (June 1, 2014): 65-78. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.14.04.1.1.

JAMA

1.Külekçi G. Experiences of pre-service English teachers gained through community service learning in kindergartens. PER. 2014;1:65–78.

MLA

Külekçi, Gülşah. “Experiences of Pre-Service English Teachers Gained through Community Service Learning in Kindergartens”. Participatory Educational Research, vol. 1, no. 1, June 2014, pp. 65-78, doi:10.17275/per.14.04.1.1.

Vancouver

1.Gülşah Külekçi. Experiences of pre-service English teachers gained through community service learning in kindergartens. PER. 2014 Jun. 1;1(1):65-78. doi:10.17275/per.14.04.1.1