Practices in Less Commonly Taught Languages: Factors that Shape Teachers’ Beliefs and Guide Their Practices

• Main Author: Farid Saydee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages 2016-10-01
• Series: Journal of the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages
• Online Access: http://www.ncolctl.org/files/jncolctl-vol-20/Practices%20in%20Less%20Commonly%20Taught%20Languages%3A%20Factors%20that%20Shape%20Teachers%E2%80%99%20Beliefs%20and%20Guide%20Their%20Practices.pdf

In this qualitative study, the researcher investigated teachers’ perceptions about effective teaching and learning methodologies and discovered the factors that shape teachers’ beliefs and lead them to prefer certain methodologies. Data was collected through interviews of Arabic, Chinese, Dari, Pashto, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, and Persian teachers (N=25) and their adult students, ten per teacher (N=241) at institutions of higher education in Southern California. In general, the teachers had similar views about effective teaching strategies and similar factors influenced their views- all the teachers emphasized the languages they teach differ from commonly taught languages; and, therefore, teaching and learning strategies should also be different. Knowing the factors that shape teachers’ beliefs significantly contributes to the field of teacher education. In particular, educators will become more cognizant of content to include in their teacher training program curriculum to better influence teachers and alter their instructional methodologies.