Looking at the “mental picture of reality” of an efl teacher: a systemic functional analysis Looking at the “mental picture of reality” of an efl teacher: a systemic functional analysis

• Main Author: Luciani S. de O Malatér
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina 2008-04-01
• Series: Ilha do Desterro
• Subjects: EFL teacher; reflective interview; systemic functional linguistics
• Online Access: http://www.periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/desterro/article/view/7401

In this study, I analyze an interview conducted with a Brazilian EFL teacher. Through the analysis of transitivity, I aim at understanding how he2 encodes his teaching xperience and professional roles. The study highlights some of
 the potentialities of systemic functional linguistics (SFL) (Halliday, 1994) as a theoretical framework to be used to categorize teachers’ discourse, making both the discussion and interpretation of data more systematic. Analysis of
 the research participant’s discourse reveals, on the one hand, his concerns with the quality and development of his teaching practice, as well as with his learners’ needs. The analysis also shows, on the other hand, that he does not seem to share his professional responsibilities collaboratively with his 
 colleagues and students. These findings may be helpful to debates in language teacher education for the benefit of both prospective and practicing teachers. In this study, I analyze an interview conducted with a Brazilian EFL teacher. Through the analysis of transitivity, I aim at understanding how he2 encodes his teaching xperience and professional roles. The study highlights some of
 the potentialities of systemic functional linguistics (SFL) (Halliday, 1994) as a theoretical framework to be used to categorize teachers’ discourse, making both the discussion and interpretation of data more systematic. Analysis of
 the research participant’s discourse reveals, on the one hand, his concerns with the quality and development of his teaching practice, as well as with his learners’ needs. The analysis also shows, on the other hand, that he does not seem to share his professional responsibilities collaboratively with his 
 colleagues and students. These findings may be helpful to debates in language teacher education for the benefit of both prospective and practicing teachers.