Reflection and Feedback: Primary School Teachers of English Take Control

Paper presented at: "One World: World Englishes"
CamTESOL, National Institute of Education, Phnom Penh.
27-28 February 2010.

Paper published in Humanising Language Teaching, Year 15, Issue 5, October 2013.

ISSN 1755-9715

http://www.hltmag.co.uk/oct13/mart01.htm

Abstract

South East Asia has experienced an influx of methodologies over the years resulting in governments passing legislation designed to move the teaching of English forward into the 21st century. Unfortunately, there seems little explanation as to how this new focus can be implemented, especially in rural areas. This paper recounts the main discussion points from feedback sessions of a project based in north eastern Thailand, designed to give rural teachers the confidence to plan their own development from the bottom up; rather than rely on the top down approach that is endemic in Thailand. From the subjects that were raised, it is evident that these teachers, who do not have formal English language training, are in the process of taking control of their own personal development with a view to integrating communicative activities and learner centeredness into their classrooms.

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