Teaching research methods in foreign language teacher training: Results from expert interviews

Abstract

The university training departments for foreign language teachers are faced with the central task of training teachers who not only effectively use modern methods of foreign language teaching but are also able to empirically research problems that arise in their lessons and develop evidence-based solutions. In this context, the training of "research teachers" has established itself as an international educational goal. Against this background, a case study on teaching research methods in the context of foreign language didactics was carried out at the University of Vienna, which is considered one of the pioneers in the training of research teachers. The aim was to gain insights for the data-based development of effective teaching environments for teaching research methods in the context of postgraduate German as a foreign language teaching programs in Turkey. As part of the study, expert interviews were conducted with eight academics from foreign language didactics. The data collected were subjected to a content analysis evaluation using the MAXQDA software. The analysis results provide valuable impulses and practice-oriented suggestions that can be used as a reference source, especially for the effective teaching of research methods in foreign language teacher training.

The university training departments for foreign language teachers are faced with the central task of training teachers who not only effectively use modern methods of foreign language teaching but are also able to empirically research problems that arise in their lessons and develop evidence-based solutions. In this context, the training of "research teachers" has established itself as an international educational goal. Against this background, a case study on teaching research methods in the context of foreign language didactics was carried out at the University of Vienna, which is considered one of the pioneers in the training of research teachers. The aim was to gain insights for the data-based development of effective teaching environments for teaching research methods in the context of postgraduate German as a foreign language teaching programs in Turkey. As part of the study, expert interviews were conducted with eight academics from foreign language didactics. The data collected were subjected to a content analysis evaluation using the MAXQDA software. The analysis results provide valuable impulses and practice-oriented suggestions that can be used as a reference source, especially for the effective teaching of research methods in foreign language teacher training.