The Reflective Cycle of the Teaching Practicum

This book focuses on the practice cycle, or practicum, of ELT education programs. Practice teaching is a key component of all good education programs, and provides a forum for novice teachers to begin to cross the theory-practice divide in a way which allows them to try out ideas in a classroom setting. This typically happens after a period of theoretical induction and the observation of more experienced teachers, and can often begin in a very scaffolded way through micro- or team-teaching, before moving to more independence. At all stages of this practice-oriented process, reflection is a fundamental and obligatory underlying principle, the integration of which leads to informed decisions on change implementation to improve teaching.

The book begins with a theoretical and research-informed introduction to both Reflective Practice (RP) and the practicum, followed by definitions and typologies. Various tools and sources of evidence to support the RP process during the practicum are investigated, using many data-rich examples from the authors’ own and others’ professional contexts over a number of years. These are applied to observation of more experienced teachers and self-observation of one’s own practice as facilitators of informed decisions for change. Finally, the process of RP as a life-long developmental practice is explored.

Fiona Farr is Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics and TESOL at the University of Limerick. Angela Farrell is Lecturer in Applied Linguistics and TESOL at the University of Limerick.