Post-Pandemic Teacher Education: Opinions of English Teacher Educators on Hybrid System
Dündar, Esin
The wave of change in the educational landscape started with Emergency Remote Teaching due to the pandemic and was followed by the hybrid system adopted in higher education institutions. The present study is an attempt to evaluate the effects of the hybrid system on English teacher education and get the reflections of English teacher educators regarding its post-effects on teacher candidates. To this end, 18 English teacher educators from 10 different state universities were reached to evaluate postpandemic teacher education. Adopting a qualitative research design, the participants were asked to complete a survey that included nine questions about different learner types that emerged due to online instruction, the effects of the hybrid system on teacher educators and teacher candidates, an...
Uncovering the role of English language teaching coursebooks in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage / Explorando el rol de los libros de texto de inglés para salvaguardar el patrimonio cultural inmaterial
Dündar, Esin
UNESCO and local organizations raise concern over the threats towards Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) and continue their efforts to get help from any field possible for introducing ICH elements and raising awareness. Education is one of those fields. Considering the relation between culture and English language teaching, ICH can be incorporated into English classrooms. Besides, being the primary source of input in a language classroom, ELT coursebooks can serve as a bearer of culture. In this regard, this paper discusses the role of English language teaching coursebooks in the safeguarding of ICH by revealing the representation of ICH elements in locally produced coursebooks from 16 different countries: Bulgaria, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysi...
‘Like an imprisoned robin’: Similes by English language teachers on teaching in and beyond the times of COVID‐19
Dündar, Esin
This qualitative study captured the reflections of 53 English language teachers from 40 different contexts including Bangladesh, Colombia, France, India, Scotland, Taiwan, Türkiye and the United Kingdom on teaching English during the times of COVID-19 and its post-effects on their practices. Data were collected through an online form consisting of three stems and the participants were asked to create similes about teaching English before, during and after the pandemic. By conducting thematic analysis, images created for each phase were categorized under occupational well-being, digital transformation, transactional distance, gap of communication and social isolation. Teachers pointed out work overload, lack of administrational support, instructions' not making sense, decreasing level of pa...
5th Grade English Language Teaching Curricula in Turkey: Expectations vs. Realities
Dündar, Esin
This study aims to reveal the opinions of English teachers, advisors and a member of Curriculum Development Committee of Ministry of National Education about 5th grade English Language Curricula in Turkey. To this end, 100 English teachers were given Curriculum Opinion Scales. Fifteen English teachers, three advisors, and a member of Curriculum Development Committee were also interviewed through semi-structured interviews in order to add to the quantitative findings. The curricula were evaluated in terms of learning objectives and content, assessment and evaluation, coursebook as an instructional material, language skills, principle of appropriateness, and continuum of learning. Furthermore, participants shared their opinions on curriculum literacy, class hours, methodological perspectives...
The Synergistic Effect of Cognitive and Emotional Intelligence in Foreign Language Learning: Concepts and Pedagogical Perspectives
Muzaffer Pınar Babanoğlu | Reyhan Ağçam | Muhammet Fatih Adıgüzel | Tuçe Öztürk Karataş | Esin Dündar
This conceptual review examines the synergistic relationship between cognitive intelligence and emotional intelligence in the context of second/ foreign language learning. This relationship is considered vital in terms of revealing the effects of these intelligences on language education from a pedagogical perspective. Cognitive intelligence involves analytical reasoning, memory, and linguistic aptitude which are all significant factors for understanding grammar, vocabulary and language structure. Contrarily, emotional intelligence comprises self awareness, empathy, motivation and social competence that play a pivotal role in effective communication, building confidence, and demonstrating cultural sensitivity. The dynamic interplay between cognitive and emotional intelligences consider...
Investigating EFL Coursebook Research in Turkey: Trends in Graduate Theses of the 2001-2013 Period
Dündar, Esin
The transformation of coursebook publishing into an industrial giant has brought about variety, choice, and difficulty of decision making. As coursebook selection profoundly influences the quality of foreign language instruction in Turkey, it is essential to investigate what kind of instruments are used, which method is followed, what criteria are sought and how relevant parties are affected by its results. Therefore, 54 graduate theses evaluating EFL coursebooks in the 2001-2013 period were taken from the CoHE Thesis Center. The documentary data were subjected to content analysis by using the thesis categorisation form for describing research trends, determining shared evaluative criteria and variable patterns, and providing recommendations for the future. It was revealed that: (i) studie...
On the Trail of Future’s Conscious English Teachers: Recycling and Zero-waste Awareness and Practices of ELT Students
Muzaffer Pınar Babanoğlu | Reyhan Ağçam | Muhammet Fatih Adıgüzel | Esin dündar | Tuçe Öztürk Karataş | Nebahat Badem | Özge Kutlu Demir
Sustainability in English Language Teaching (ELT) is a current paradigm that entails language education as a vehicle for empowering individuals to address environmental challenges on global platforms and to cultivate environmental consciousness and socially responsible mindsets. EFL teacher candidates have critical roles in shaping future generations’ habits for sustainability while teaching English as a lingua franca. As educators-in-training, their personal sustainability habits such as zero waste and recycling can reflect on their teaching strategies and set powerful examples for their students. This study aims to investigate EFL teacher candidates’ awareness and attitudes towards zero waste and recycling practices, and to highlight their role in promoting sustainability in education....
Particularised checklists in materials evaluation: Developing contextually relevant criteria for Turkish EFL classes
Dündar, Esin
The major trend in ELT materials evaluation has been the measurement of general satisfaction levels against borrowed items from previous checklists. However, their real quality can be accurately assessed through contextually relevant criteria. In this study, 85 English teachers, and 500 seventh-graders evaluated the effectiveness of their locally-produced English coursebook with standardised, particularised, and importanceweighted Likert-type checklists. The extent of consumer dissatisfaction in their primary focus areas was found much greater than the overall evaluation alone had yielded. The teachers’ evaluations were yet unaffected by gender, experience, and length of textbook use. The top teacher-preferred criteria focused on accommodating different proficiency levels, and learner type...