Beyond Training: Perspectives on Language Teacher Education "Richards, Jack C."

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Beyond Training examines the nature of second language teacher development and how teachers' practices are influenced by their beliefs and principles. It seeks to move discussion of language teacher development beyond the level of "training," which reflects a technical view of specific teaching practices. Instead, it takes a more holistic approach to teacher development built on the notion of the teacher as critical and reflective thinker. The argument pursued throughout is that teacher education needs to engage teachers not merely in the mastery of techniques, but in an exploration of the knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes that underly their teaching practices.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Introduction
• 1 The scope of second language teacher education; Theories of second language teaching
• 2 Theories of teaching in language teacher education
• 3 Teachers' maxims; Perspectives on teacher thinking
• 4 Teacher beliefs and decision-making
• 5 Exploring pedagogical reasoning skills
• 6 What's the use of lesson plans?; Examining teacher education practices
• 7 Textbooks: help or hindrance in teaching?
• 8 Through other eyes: revisiting classroom observation
• 9 Reflective thinking through journal writing; Entering the field of language teaching; 1
• 10 The first year of teaching