Fostering pre-service teachers’ perceived ability to implement dialogic teaching in Turkey: Examining the contributing factors of an intensive short-term teacher education program from the teacher-learners’ vantage point

Abstract

This study reports the design, implementation, and evaluation of a 3-day intensive short-term teacher education program that was specifically designed and implemented with the aims of fostering English as a foreign language (EFL) teacher-learners’ ability to enact dialogic teaching in their teaching practices. Thirty pre-service English teachers from 13 different universities across Turkey participated in the program and their perspectives of the effectiveness of the program in reaching its objectives were investigated to examine: (1) to what extent they felt their ability to implement dialogic teaching practices had improved, and (2) which specific factors from the program they felt specifically contributed to their development. Data were collected over a 4-week period, and included pre/post-course self-evaluation scales, during-course session evaluation forms, post-course evaluation forms, and interviews. Overall, the findings suggest the importance of intensive short-term teacher education programs with similar objectives consisting of: (1) instructors who are both knowledgeable and good models of what they are teaching in the context they are preparing teachers for; (2) content that is up to date, contextually related, and organized in a way that builds up both knowledge and practical skills; and (3) methods and activities in which teacher-learners experience what they are being taught both from a student’s and teacher’s perspective. The findings of this study hold important implications for various stakeholders involved in English teacher education, and teacher education program development, thus, practical suggestions are discussed regarding how future teacher education programs with related objectives may be designed and implemented to better foster attendees’ ability to apply what they learn at the classroom level.