Autonomy in foreign and second language teaching: Case studies of novice English teachers in Shenzhen and Hong Kong

Autonomy in foreign and second language teaching: Case studies of novice English teachers in Shenzhen and Hong Kong

• Huang, Jing Peter Hong Kong Baptist University
• Lock, Kenny Yau Ning Hong Kong Baptist University

Foreign Language Education, 2016, 234-245, 2016

華中科技大學外國語學院

2016

• M Teachers & Education for Teachers
  • MH Teacher Evaluation : Teacher Effectiveness
• P Social Context of Education
  • PB Comparative Education

Novice Teachers Teacher Autonomy Teacher Agency Affordances Teacher Professional Development

• Shenzhen
• Hong Kong

• 1997.7 onwards

• Post-Secondary Education

Novice teachers are often eager to embark on their journey in the teaching profession after years of teacher education, ready to actualize their educational ideals. Some head towards a smooth start while others encounter a wide range of constraints during their initial years of teaching. Drawing on narrative interviews with a number of novice English teachers in Shenzhen and Hong Kong for at least one academic year and other data sources such as their EFL learning autobiographies and school documents, this paper examines and compares (1) the opportunities and constraints these teachers face in their initial years of teaching and (2) their responses to the perceived opportunities and constraints in their attempts to take control of their teaching, in two different socio-cultural and educational contexts of Shenzhen and Hong Kong. This paper highlights how possibilities for and constraints on teacher autonomy are mediated by teacher agency, teacher identity and teacher beliefs. It also sheds light on how novice teachers can be afforded more opportunities in their struggle to become autonomous practitioners. Copyright © 2016 華中科技大學外國語學院.

• English

Journal Articles

https://bibliography.lib.eduhk.hk/bibs/e24efc89

2023-02-06