While complaining is ubiquitous in everyday interactions, it can seem out of place when a teacher complains within a setting devoted to reflective practice and professional development. In this article, we show examples of a novice teacher's complaints to her mentor within post-observation meetings, making the case that these complaints raise…

In recent years there have been persistent calls for teachers to explore their teaching contexts in order to become more aware of them and to understand them. Doing so would enable teachers to make more informed decisions about their practice and their students' learning. This article outlines a narrative approach for exploring context. A…

This article describes a strategy employed on a teacher training course in Hong Kong involving the use of lesson transcriptions. Transcriptions from two course participants' English lessons were used to arouse greater classroom language awareness and promote reflection in one of the teachers, who was initially very reluctant to accept comments and…

This paper considers teaching practice in short, intensive, pre-service TESOL certificate courses, drawing upon outcomes of recent research into the experiences of participants on courses offered internationally by a UK-based provider. Qualitative methodology led to the identification of 26 critical issues, including several related to the…

The article reports on a project conducted with a group of MA-ELT students during their teaching practicum. Many student-teachers, like many teachers in general, rarely see and hear themselves or experience the lessons they conduct from the other side of the fence. When teachers themselves are asked to do the things they normally assign to their…

Describes how data from English language teaching (ELT) classroom research can be exploited in teacher development activities. The contribution data-based activities can make to teacher development is outlined, and examples that illustrate the principles underlying their design are presented. A case is made for using such activities to facilitate…

Distinguishes two types of materials evaluation: a predictive evaluation designed to make a decision regarding what materials to use, and a retrospective evaluation to examine materials already used. Describes a procedure for conducting task evaluations, suggesting that they constitute a kind of action research that can contribute to reflective…

Describes a small-scale study conducted with a group of Malaysian teachers on a short language learning course. The teachers kept diaries of their language learning experience, which were analyzed according to themes of barriers to learning and supports to learning. (Author/JL)

Describes the aims of an evolving teaching resources database, TeleTeach, which is part of a computer-based teacher support network called TeleNex. The article discusses how TeleTeach's unique features may contribute toward building an electronic community of reflective teachers, suggesting that teaching materials are potentially complementary to…