Teacher professional development

1. Why is teacher professional development important? We all know that great teachers will create great students. Teachers today are under growing pressure to perform. But most new teachers are not adequately prepared to meet the needs of their students, and many experienced teachers have yet to adapt to new standards. Therefore, teachers should participate in teacher professional development training courses. In my opinion, there are many reasons why teacher professional development is important. However, I only focus some main reasons in this paper such as adding the most recent information to individuals knowledge of a subject in light of recent advances in the area; updating individuals skills, attitudes and approaches in light of the development of new teaching techniques and objectives, new circumstances and new educational research; allowing individuals to apply changes or strategies made to curricula or other aspects of teaching practice; exchanging information and expertising among teachers and others, e.g. academics, industrialists; gaining teaching experience also the same as transferring these ideas to the less experienced teachers and helping weaker teachers become more effective. 2. What is the form of teacher professional development that you think is the most feasible for you do to in your (teaching) situation, and why?

Le Thi Thanh Phuoc MA (2012 2014)

Teacher professional development

Mentoring and peer observation form is the most feasible for me to do in my teaching. Because I think that I have less experience. I have not had good teaching methods so I need to get experiences and exchange information from experienced persons by observing their class. I will receipt some good and useful teaching methodologies to apply on my classroom. For example, most students in my classroom felt tired and unwilling to study but I dont know the way to change my teaching method. However, after observing my colleagues class I realized that I should have a 15 minutes interesting warm-up activity beginning of each class. Because I saw my colleague was very successful in her class with game for beginning class. I applied that way and I felt satisfied because now my students always feel happy to study on my classroom. Another example, when I have just graduated, I felt unqualified. My speaking skill was very bad so I decided to observe my old teacher at Huong Thuy high school through the semester. By the end of the semester I felt more confident in my language skills. I think that there is no good ways as practice, practice and practice. Practice is the best master. Because these reasons above, I think that mentoring and peer observation form is the most feasible for me to develop my English teaching skills.

3. Name THREE articles about teacher professional development that I have read. Choose one article tell how this article strikes you (what do you learn from the article? Why do you think this article is significant?...)

Le Thi Thanh Phuoc MA (2012 2014)

Teacher professional development

Identifying Our Approaches to Language Learning Technologies: Improving Professional Development Eyes on English Classroom Activities

Among these articles above, I like Classroom Activities article the most. Therefore, I have read and read again this article several times. Through this article I also learn a lot of useful things. Firstly, I get knowledge about some games to apply on my classroom such as Word Garden game, Gardening Grammar game, Growing Gardening Metaphors game, ect. I have not ever taught grammars or structures for my students by playing game but when I read this article I see that they are very important and useful to play and study. For example, in Word Garden game, I can guide my students to familiarize wit simple sentence structures or practice the simple tense. If so, students will understand the lesson quickly. Secondly, I know the way to control the game and give feedback. Thirdly, I can adjust the activities to fit the age of my class. For instance, I will use Word Garden game for upper beginner, Gardening Grammar game for intermediate. Finally, I know the way to set up time for each game appropriately. The Classroom Activities article is significant because as I mentioned in the first question such as great teachers will create great students. Uncle Ho said: Learn more and more. Therefore I need to research and study myself some useful articles related
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Le Thi Thanh Phuoc MA (2012 2014)

Teacher professional development

their teaching to become good teacher. Furthermore, to be successful in my job I need to continually improve my existing skills as well as acquire new ones. So I think that this article appropriates for me to apply. Through this article teacher will master some useful game activities to apply in the classroom. The activities can easily be used to set up or lead into new learning. Then I think that the lesson wont success unless there are some games. As we all know that the game activities increase motivation learning for learners so they will be more interested in studying. Therefore the lesson will become more successful.

4. After taking this course, what can you say about it? What are the area(s) of professional development you wish to engage in, why? I think that this course is very useful for me to participate. After finishing the course firstly I have a wide knowledge about teacher professional development. Secondly, I know some problems in teacher education in Vietnam. Finally I collect some ways to promote professional development amongst EFL teachers in Vietnam in particular and in other countries in general. I completely agree with Dr. Pham that Vietnamese teachers of English have little opportunity to obtain further training in teaching methodology after graduation. So I think that this is the main reason why many teachers lack confidence in teaching methodology. Therefore, I would like to say that we are teachers, we never stop learning. We must always research and study to develop my teaching skill. We may study from teacher professional development
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Le Thi Thanh Phuoc MA (2012 2014)

Teacher professional development

training courses or from my colleagues, ect. For example, when Hang has a chance to go abroad or other places to study for a degree or attend training workshops. When she is back she will have full of new ideas to share them with me. I will get these ideas to apply on my classroom. On the other hand, I should share my ideas with others.

There are many areas of professional development such as motivating students, designing classroom activities, engaging students in learning, managing student behavior, ect. Among them, I wish to engage in motivating students area. Some of my students arent motivated. I dont know the way to resolve. Sometimes I feel tired with these situations. Therefore, I want to engage in this area to find out some useful ways or ideas for increasing students desire to work hard at the learning tasks they need.

Le Thi Thanh Phuoc MA (2012 2014)