Early Language Learning and Teacher Education

Language teacher education is widely identified as one of the most important areas that needs addressing in order to improve early language instruction, yet research into teacher education for early language teachers remains relatively sparse. This volume responds to this gap by compiling studies with diverse methodological tenets from a wide range of geographical and educational contexts around the world. The volume aims to enhance understanding of early language teacher education as well as to address the need to prepare early language teachers and assist them in their professional development. The chapters focus on the complexity of teacher learning, innovations in mentoring and teacher supervision, strategies in programme development and perceptions, and knowledge and assessment in early language learning teacher education. The volume offers comprehensive coverage of the field by addressing various aspects of teacher education in different languages. The contributions highlight examples of research into current practice in the professional enhancement of early language learning teachers, but with an emphasis on the implications for practitioners.

Subhan Zein (PhD, Australian National University) teaches at the University of Queensland, Australia. He is the lead editor of English Language Teacher Preparation in Asia: Policy, Research and Practice (Routledge) and editor of Teacher Education for English as a Lingua Franca: Perspectives from Indonesia (Routledge).

Sue Garton is Reader in English Language (TESOL) at the School of Languages and Social Sciences, Aston University, UK. She is Series Editor of the Palgrave series International Perspectives on English Language Teaching and has recently edited The Routledge Handbook of Teaching English to Young Learners (both with Fiona Copland).