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Similar but Different: The Beliefs of Foreign Language Teachers
Author(s) -
Kissau Scott P.,
Algozzine Bob,
Yon Maria
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
foreign language annals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.258
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1944-9720
pISSN - 0015-718X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1944-9720.2013.12001.x
Subject(s) - foreign language , psychology , mathematics education , scale (ratio) , english as a foreign language , pedagogy , quantum mechanics , physics
Using data from a large‐scale, mixed‐method study involving 222 K–12 foreign language (L2) teachers and their supervisors (see Kissau , Yon, & Algozzine, 2011), in this article the researchers explore differences in beliefs across four demographic groups: experienced and inexperienced teachers, teachers with L2 teacher training and those without, teachers of different foreign languages, and immersion and traditional L2 teachers. While survey responses were similar in each of the comparisons, interview data emphasized that members of each group faced unique challenges that influenced their beliefs and classroom practices. The results speak to the need to tailor training to meet the needs of different groups of L2 teachers and for contextual factors to be incorporated into future research related to teacher beliefs .