Teachers Evaluate the New Curriculum in English: Views regarding Evaluation and Evaluation Tools

Abstract

English is solidly entrenched in Israel as the ‘first foreign language’, as defined in the Policy on Language Education in Israeli Schools. The English curriculum published in 2001 expresses the view that English is the world's most important language and therefore requires the highest standards of teaching. This research examined how English teachers perceive the curriculum and how they see their roles as evaluators of the curriculum. The research also examined how the professional knowledge which the designated in-service training course (NBA training) provided affected their role perception. The results of the research show that the new curriculum was missing key elements; most teachers had never studied curriculum evaluation; there is a gap between teachers and curriculum authors in the interpretation of curriculum flexibility; teachers did not perceive textbook potential. Finally, the research suggests that ascertaining teachers' perceptions can contribute to theoretical and practical aspects of curriculum planning.