ERIC Number: EJ1111627
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1535-0517
EISSN: N/A
Conducting Action Research in a Practicum: A Student Teacher's Perspective
Kasula, Alex
CATESOL Journal, v27 n2 p229-237 2015
This article looks at my reflection as a teacher during a master's degree practicum for a Second Language Studies Program. This particular practicum differs from the other common student teacher-training courses found in master's programs as it incorporated a teacher-training session on conducting action research (AR) in the classroom, a practice that has recently become a decisive element of TESOL programs (Ho, 2012). I taught for 8 weeks at a university in Thailand where my class met 4 times a week for 1 hour, and I also partook in teacher-training courses, 1 specifically on teaching training (3 hours a week) and the other specifically on conducting AR in the classroom. Through the AR methodology I was able to conduct meaningful research that contributed to a greater understanding of myself as a teacher, to improve the classroom environment, and also to bring insight into current research in the field of second language (L2) learning through grounding the AR in current theory. Through following the cyclical process of AR, I was able to gain a deeper insight into my own classroom, teaching, and abilities to conduct meaningful research. This reflective article acts as a reference for other student teachers who may be interested in applying a similar framework to their practicum experience, empowering them to go beyond just understanding teaching practice but also to potentially develop research grounded in L2 theory.
Descriptors: Action Research, Practicums, Student Teacher Attitudes, English (Second Language), Language Tests, Second Language Learning, Foreign Countries, Reflective Teaching, Teacher Education, Masters Programs, Critical Incidents Method, Teacher Improvement, Self Efficacy, Classroom Techniques, Student Research
CATESOL. P.O. Box 9200-338, Fountain Valley, CA 92708. Tel: 714-907-4033; Fax: 888-832-0501; e-mail: catesoljournal@gmail.com; Web site: http://www.catesoljournal.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Thailand
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Test of English as a Foreign Language
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A