Practicing lesson study in a Turkish education context: Considering the challenges, suggestions and benefits from EFL teachers’ perspectives
International Journal for Lesson and Learning Studies
ISSN: 2046-8253
Article publication date: 11 February 2019
Issue publication date: 11 February 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to touch upon the unaddressed points regarding the practice of lesson study (LS) in the field of language teacher development in a Turkish education context by considering the challenges faced and observed by the EFL teachers, their suggestions to design a process like LS practice and benefits that LS practice could provide them in terms of teaching and professional development.
Design/methodology/approach
The analysis is based on the data from five EFL teachers’ collaborative work in an arrangement of lesson and learning study and from the researcher’s observations during meetings and discussions throughout the process. The data consist of interviews with participant teachers (pre and post), video recordings of the teacher workshops, field notes of the researcher and video recordings of the research lessons. The analysis was carried out through content analysis beginning with listing the responses of participants, identifying the frequency of citations, collecting similar responses under a common category to determine the categories and at last placing codes into the related categories.
Findings
The results show that the teachers had some concerns about LS practice both before and after practicing the model in the study context. They stated their concerns mostly about time, increasing responsibility and effort, being a demanding process. However, the practice seemed to meet their expectations, lead to improvements in knowledge, teaching practices and perspectives, contribute to the personal and professional development of teachers and triggered enthusiasm and a desire for students to participate actively in learning process.
Originality/value
This paper serves as an explicit example of LS practice with its plus and minuses in a Turkish education context as teachers’ views and the researcher’s personal reflections in the current study can guide the process of change and provide evidence and practical suggestions on the feasibility of the program for the ones attempting to experience it. Besides, the teachers’ perceptions and suggestions regarding LS practice in the present study can enable other teachers, organizers of professional development programs and the researchers an opportunity to lead future practices.
Keywords
Citation
Karabuğa, F. and Ilin, G. (2019), "Practicing lesson study in a Turkish education context: Considering the challenges, suggestions and benefits from EFL teachers’ perspectives", International Journal for Lesson and Learning Studies, Vol. 8 No. 1, pp. 60-78. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLLS-05-2018-0036
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited