No abstract

Studies of reflective practices among pre-service teachers focus mostly on teaching practice and very rarely on the acquisition of academic knowledge. The aim of this study was to examine the reflections of 25 pre-service teachers in online forums and weblogs focused on their learning in two literary pedagogical courses. A total of 97 online forum entries and 189 weblog entries were analysed. Semi-structured interviews and document analysis were also undertaken. A five-level framework for reflection in response to a literary text was derived from the reflective entries. Although this study indicated a positive outcome in reflective quality, the number of reflections at the highest level of reflection (Transformation) was low. It is suggested that the mixed outcomes of the project were related in part to the mismatch of syllabi and learning outcomes, and the medium of reflection (online forums and weblogs).

This study examines an English language teacher’s beliefs and practices within the context of implementation of school-based curriculum in Eastern Indonesia. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between teacher belief and practice in the school-based curriculum through two research questions: “What are the teacher’s beliefs about teaching English in a school-based curriculum setting?” and “How does the school-based curriculum influence the teacher’s beliefs and practices?”. This case study adopts purposeful sampling involving a volunteered public junior high school English language teacher. It derives its qualitative data from semi-structured interviews, observation field notes and lesson plans. It identifies two themes of this teacher’s belief: “pragmatic views of teaching” and “conformity to practice”. When the beliefs were examined in relation to the practices, another two themes emerged, and they were “negotiation between expectations and practices” and “tension between conformity and practice”. The findings of this study indicate that negotiation was a constant practice while teaching within the context of the school-based curriculum. Although the teacher demonstrated autonomy in classroom management and teaching strategies, the freedom was not extended to the selection of teaching materials and activities. The identified tensions between conformity and practice highlight issues in teacher readiness and teacher support on the implementation of school-based curriculum. Keywords: Classroom practice, English language teacher, Indonesia, school-based curriculum, teacher belief. Cite as: Too, W. K. & Saimima, E. J. (2019). Teacher belief and practice in a school-based English language classroom in eastern Indonesia. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 4(1), 211-231. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol4iss1pp211-231

No abstract

This article reports research on the implementation of the Malaysia Education Blueprint, 2013-2025, drawing on 49 extended interviews with senior policy makers at federal, state and district levels, and school principals, informed by a systematic review of international and Malaysian literature. The findings show that the reforms are poorly understood by officials and school leaders, leading to partial and unenthusiastic enactment. The paper concludes that such ambitious reforms need to be acceptable, to ensure 'ownership' of the reform agenda, and feasible, to avoid disenchantment by officials, school leaders and teachers.