Dear Colleagues,
A request for help with MA research regarding `teachers adapting to new contexts and roles’
Could you spare some time to complete a brief questionnaire?
Explanatory Statement
I am a member of IATEFL and a student on the Masters in ELT at
Nottingham Trent University. I am currently researching my dissertation,
investigating the process of how teachers adapt to new teaching contexts and roles.
It is for this reason that I am appealing for participants to complete
the attached questionnaire. Please feel free to forward a copy to any teaching colleagues that may be happy to assist.
If you would like any more information regarding this research project,
please contact me at: [email protected] (darrenrelliott at yahoo dot co dot uk) I can also forward this questionnaire directly as a word attachment.
Thank you in anticipation.
Kind regards,
Darren Elliott
PLEASE RETURN THE COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRE TO:
[email protected] (darrenrelliott at yahoo dot co dot uk)
BY WEDNESDAY 30th DECEMBER 2006
If you would prefer to send the questionnaire by post, please return to:
Darren Elliott
62 Peverells Wood Avenue
Chandler’s Ford
Eastleigh
Hampshire
SO53 2BW
UNITED KINGDOM
Your name will remain confidential and details of your responses will
only be disclosed with your permission.
Questionnaire
1. Brief Biography
Name (or pseudonym):
ELT Qualifications:
Please complete the grid below about your experience as an English Language Teacher.
country length of time context roles
2. Please consider a point in your career when you moved from one context to another and keep it in mind as you answer the following questions. For example, the study was inspired by my own move from private language schools in Asia to the UK Higher Education sector, and how I tried to develop professionally to adapt to new challenges.
Briefly describe the context you left and the context you moved into.
How much did you know about the new context before you started work? How much would you have liked to have known?
How long did it take you to leave your old job behind mentally?
How useful were the following in helping you learn to work in your new context
Please check the boxes.
Tried Didn’t try Not Applicable
very useful useful not at all useful
Observation of your own classes by peers
Observation of your own classes by trainers/ managers
Observation of peers classes
Observation of trainers’/ managers’ classes
Reading (journals, magazines, newsletters, books, online resources)
Courses leading to formal qualifications
In-service training in the workplace
Learner Feedback
Collaboration/ cooperation/ discussion with colleagues at your workplace
Collaboration/ cooperation/ discussion with colleagues through membership of professional organisations
Reflective practice/ diary
Other
Still considering the particular change in context you thought of earlier, please comment on the usefulness of any of the following in your own experience.
Observation of your own classes by peers
Observation of your own classes by trainers/ managers
Observation of peers classes
Observation of trainers’/ managers’ classes
Reading (journals, magazines, newsletters, books, online resources)
Courses leading to formal qualifications
In-service training in the workplace
Learner Feedback
Collaboration/ cooperation/ discussion with colleagues at your workplace
Collaboration/ cooperation/ discussion with colleagues through membership of professional organisations
Reflective practice/ diary
Other
How helpful or unhelpful were the management and/ or institutional structure to you as you adapted to your new context? Is there anything in this regard which might have made your adaptation easier?
3. Finally, consider your career as a whole.
To what extent has your professional development been cyclical or linear? If cyclical, what causes lows in the cycle and how do you deal with them?
Does it become easier or more difficult to adapt professionally?
To what extent do you feel that personal and professional development are linked?
Thank you for your time
Statement of Consent
I agree that the information I provide in the questionnaire may be used
in the study.
I understand that:
• My name will remain confidential and, where possible,
information which could lead to the identification of any individual
will be categorised / organised to protect identities from being made
public.
• I can request a transcript of data concerning me for my
approval before it is included in the write up of the research.
• My participation is voluntary and that I can withdraw at
any stage of the project.
Name:
Signature:
(If questionnaire is completed online, completion of these details will
be understood as providing consent without the need for a signature)
Contact Number (optional):
Contact E-mail (optional):
Date:
If you have any concerns or questions, please contact me at:
[email protected] (darrenrelliott at yahoo dot co dot uk) or on: 0115 9863901
Teachers adapting to new contexts
Moderators: Dimitris, maneki neko2, Lorikeet, Enrico Palazzo, superpeach, cecil2, Mr. Kalgukshi2