Continuing language teacher education: L2 experienced teachers engage in the craft of creative writing

Abstract

Written self-expression in a foreign or second language (L2) is highly important for the 21st century yet the most difficult and underdeveloped of the four language skills. A promising direction to ensure L2 teacher motivation and writing skills is for them to experience the process of developing their own expressive writing.  Experienced L2 teachers, many non-native English-speaking teachers (NNESTS) worldwide, often lack opportunities and motivation to improve their own L2 expressive writing. This exploratory study investigated the professional development (PD) of 15 experienced L2 teachers in an M.Ed. program who engaged with unique CW craft tools in a semester workshop course. Creative writing (CW) has been shown to contribute to L2 learner language development but has been ignored as a PD tool for L2 teachers. Mixed methods, using written open and closed pre-posttest questions, written final portfolio reflections and instructor field notes, assessed teacher changes.  Three major themes emerged: changes in the teacher as a writer; changes in teachers’ cognition about CW; changes as L2 teachers of expressive writing. The third theme will be addressed in a different paper. Teachers underwent changes in the following areas: increased written proficiency; more effective beliefs and knowledge about CW; improved cognition, i.e., increased appreciation for the process and products of CW. Examples of course units and CW craft tools are included.