This edited collection explores the use of Exploratory Practice (EP) by language teachers in classrooms. Written by practitioners, the chapters showcase unique examples of each principle of EP, with topics ranging from mentoring practitioner researchers, to teaching and learning in EAP, and investigating curriculum development in language teaching programs. The book provides example EP studies and gives voice to practitioners’ experiences of the challenges they experienced as well as the benefits. Examples include tackling intercultural communication in linguistically and culturally diverse classrooms; pedagogy and curriculum design in language teaching; explorations of continuing professional development in language education. In doing so, it offers tools that can be transferred to other classroom contexts and used to aid teacher development. The concluding chapter highlights critical aspects of Exploratory Practice which emerge in the studies and examines how practitioners advanced their understandings. This book will appeal to those working in Applied Linguistics, TESOL research, as well as language teachers and teacher educators.

This book explores the use of Exploratory Practice (EP) as a tool for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) by language teachers, and responds to the increasing demand for teachers to engage in research. It presents the results of a unique two-year longitudinal study that critically examines the implementation of EP by teachers of English and modern foreign languages. Through these case studies, the authors provide a critical account of EP as a form of practitioner research that bridges the divide between theory and practice. It emphasizes the centrality of teacher and learner learning in language education curriculum improvement, and gives a voice to teachers’ perspectives on using EP in the classroom. This book will be of interest to language education professionals and scholars working in Applied Linguistics and Language Education.

This book tracks the development of Exploratory Practice since the early 1990s as an original form of practitioner research in the field of English language teaching. Drawing on case studies, vignettes and narratives from teachers and learners around the world as they experienced Exploratory Practice in their different contexts, Hanks examines the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of the Exploratory Practice framework and asks what the principles really mean in practice. For language professionals considering investigating their classrooms and their teaching/learning practices rigorously and thoughtfully, this book breaks new ground, arguing for a fresh perspective: (exploratory) practice-as-research. Judith Hanks is Lecturer in TESOL at the University of Leeds, UK. Her work bridges specialist areas in language teacher education, intercultural communication, TESOL and EAP.

Papers presented at the first Oxford-Kobe English Education Seminar, sponsored by the Kobe Institute, Kobe, Japan, and held at the Institute from 14-17 March, 2007.

This book focuses on mentoring in English language education internationally, as it applies to students, language teachers, practitioner researchers and research mentors themselves. It aims to provide an in-depth understanding of current mentoring practices in diverse contexts worldwide, drawing on case studies from Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru, and the USA; China, India, Japan, Nepal, and Vietnam; Australia; parts of Africa; Oman and the UAE; North Macedonia, Turkey and the UK. Areas of focus include peer mentoring, mentor courses, cross-cultural issues, and modalities such as face-to-face or online mentoring, and the chapters also highlight the value of different methodological tools for exploring mentoring situations, including cultural-historical activity theory and conversation analysis. The book’s conclusion highlights the potential of mentoring to widen access to learning and therefore address issues that relate to social injustice and inequality, particularly in, but not limited to, under-resourced contexts. This volume will be of particular interest to teacher educators, pre-service and in-service language teachers, and students and scholars of applied linguistics and English language teaching.

This book provides tips and guidelines for teachers and learners of modern foreign languages in higher education institutions, drawing on the authors' experiences of teaching languages including Turkish, Japanese and Korean to suggest strategies and approaches that promote effective use of the online environment. As well as shedding light on modern languages that are typically under-studied and under-represented in the literature, this book demonstrates how the online sphere is increasingly fundamental to language use, change and contact. The authors provide practical guidance to help teachers and learners capitalise on the opportunities presented by a virtual educational context, and offer a more resilient blended approach that will increase teachers' and students' preparedness for changing circumstances and institutional priorities in the future. This book is primarily aimed at teachers and students of foreign languages within HE settings, but its focus on new perspectives will also be of interest to scholars researching the online shift in language education, applied linguistics, curriculum design and educational technology.

A follow-up to the successful 2013 publication about OER and language teaching, this book celebrates the many ways in which language teachers and learners around the globe are embracing the concept of ‘openness’ in and beyond the language classroom. Divided into three sections (creating and using OERs, working in open spaces, and openness and teacher development), these short, practical case studies provide first-hand information on how openness can facilitate language teaching and learning. The editors hope it will inspire teachers to explore open tools, practices, and teacher development as part of their language teaching practice.

This book advances the theory of action research, analyzing how it can be used to develop autonomy among language teachers. Although acknowledging that the research process is not always linear, the authors proceed according to a clear progression which teachers can adapt to their needs. They provide examples, narratives, questions and tasks, and give multiple ideas for establishing research questions, choosing appropriate methodologies, adapting to existing contexts, and collecting data. They also suggest possible instruments, and give clear instructions for carrying out the most common kinds of statistical procedures, and ideas for presenting, discussing, and writing up research findings. In spite of its practical bias, the book is theoretically and ethically rigorous, and contains an extensive glossary for quick and easy reference. It will appeal to trainee teachers, in-service teachers wanting to expand their own professional horizons or working for a higher qualification, and is an invaluable reference for teacher-educators and scholars.

This book-length treatment of Exploratory Practice introduces five propositions about learners as practitioners of learning who are capable of developing their expertise through conducting research in and on their own classroom learning lives.

The Routledge Handbook of English Language Teacher Education provides an accessible, authoritative, comprehensive and up-to-date resource of English language teacher education. With an overview of historical issues, theoretical frameworks and current debates, this handbook provides unique insights into a range of teacher education contexts, focusing on key issues relating to teacher and learner priorities, language and communication, current practices, reflective practice, and research. Key features include: a cross-section of current theories, practices and issues, providing readers with a resource which can be used in a variety of contexts; the use of data, transcripts and tasks to highlight and illustrate a range of practices, including examples of ‘best practice’; ‘snapshots’ of ELTE from a number of contexts taken from all around the world; and examples of current technological advances, contemporary thinking on reflective practice, and insights gained from recent research. This wide-ranging and international collection of chapters has been written by leading experts in the field. The Routledge Handbook of English Language Teacher Education is sure to be core reading for students, researchers and educators in applied linguistics, TESOL and language education.