Includes bibliographical references (p. 289-292) and index.

"This book provides an accessible introduction to action research for language teachers, by encouraging teachers to adopt a research attitude to their practice and development. It bridges the gap between theoretical and practical teacher training.

Teachers in Action presents a flexible framework to help teachers investigate those topics that are relevant to their own professional development. The materials are specifically designed to help teachers develop their skills, knowledge and attitudes so that they can become more effective teachers.

This versatile resource book contains a comprehensive range of tasks presented in photocopiable worksheet format which are suitable for many different in-service teacher education and development programmes." (Book Cover)

CONTENTS

Thanks

Acknowledgements

Introduction
Who this book is for
General aims of Teachers in Action
Effective in-service teacher education: background issues
Specific aims of Teachers in Action
How this book is organised
Investigating
The tasks
The worksheets
General suggestions
Further reading

1. Exploring teachers' knowledge
Introduction
1.1 Getting to know each other: What do we expect from the training programme?
1.2. How do I learn? How can we learn together?
1.3 Investigating: an overview
1.4 'It's quite obvious the gardener's a teacher': exploring teachers' metaphors
1.5 Mapping the whole: developing conceptual frameworks for educating, teaching and learning
1.6 Why teach English? Reflecting on the goals of educating, teaching and learning in the language classroom
1.7 Are we speaking the same language? Understanding general terms related to educating, teaching and learning
1.8 Reflecting on the nature of change in education: What helps us to change?
1.9 Innovation in our schools: How can we help to promote it?

2. Identifying topics to investigate
Introduction
2.1 Examining critical incidents
2.2 Effective educating, teaching and learning in the language classroom (1): What are our priorities?
2.3 Effective educating, teaching and learning in the language classroom (2): What are my priorities?
2.4 Our current professional practice: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and benefits
2.5 My best lesson / teaching idea
2.6 General reading survey: a class library, bibliography and open forum
2.7 Keeping a classroom diary
2.8 Our experience of the training programme: discussion based on diaries
2.9 'We can do it!' Self-esteem, us and our learners

3. Exploring a topic
Introduction
3.1 Why, why, why? Examining our assumptions and beliefs about a topic
3.2 What do we understand by the topic 'x'? (What? Why? Who? etc.)
3.3 What do we already do in school or class regarding the topic 'x'? (Find someone who...)
3.4 Do we agree that...?
3.5 Writing about a topic: organising, developing and clarifying my ideas
3.6 Workshop: experiencing teaching ideas as learners
3.7 Understanding key terms related to a topic
3.8 Targeted reading: key extracts
3.9 Debate: understanding the wider implications of a topic

4. Investigating in class
Introduction
4.1 The benefits of investigating in class: teachers' perspectives
4.2 Which data collection method?
4.3 Our learners in action: using photographs of learners
4.4 Consulting our learners (1): using a simple questionnaire
4.5 Consulting our learners (2): What did you learn today?
4.6 Talking about real people: writing a learner profile
4.7 Informal interview with a learner
4.8 Experimenting in class

5. Evaluating learning
Introduction
5.1 Has this task helped me/us to learn?
5.2 Which learning strategies are helping us?
5.3 What I/we most like about our training programme is...
5.4 Making sense: reviewing and finding connections
5.5 Applying our learning: looking back and looking ahead
5.6 Teacher portfolios
5.7 Sharing our learning (1): giving informal presentations
5.8 Sharing our learning (2): joining forces in the wider educational community

6. Resources for the trainer
Introduction
List of resources for the trainer
Sections 6.1-6.39

Worksheets
List of worksheets
Worksheets 1-52

Bibliography

Index

Teachers in Action will be of particular interest to teacher trainers in countries which are undergoing educational reform, or where teacher training is being given special priority by the Government and Ministry of Education.