Reflective teaching and its impact on Foreign Language Teaching
In the 1970s that educators began to show interest for reflection and inquiry
Reflection in language teaching refers to teachers that:
Can react, examine and evaluate their teaching
In order to make decisions on necessary changes to improve attitudes, beliefs and
teaching practices
There are five components of reflective thinking
1. Recognizing an educational dilemma
2. Responding to a dilemma by recognizing both
the similarities to other situations and special
qualities of the particular situation
3. Framing and reframing the dilemma
4. Experimenting with the dilemma to discover the
consequences and implications of various solutions
5. Examining the intended and unintended
consequences of an implemented solution and
reevaluating the solution by determining whether the
consequences are desirable or not.
A reflective practitioner should possess a set of attitudes towards teaching practice
Based upon broader understandings of
self, society and moral purposes
This attitude involves:
slowing down
noticing
examining
stopping
analyzing
inquiring
All this directed on some aspects that could take place in differents situations
The reflective teaching in relation the link between the theory and practice
Has been compromised since always, given that
Most of the teachers opt to choose one side and do not
find the necessary balance between both of them, so that
Effective teaching its created
It is clear that if teachers adopt a reflective posture, reflective teaching
The results would be overwhelming as it would narrow the gap between theory and learning and would
ensure more effective and selfconfident instructors in the field of ESL/EFL
It would help practitioners
Examine successes and failures in a constructive environment
Promote self-awareness and knowledge through
personal experience
So in that way, opportunities to explore and reflect on techniques, ideas
and approaches are considered and immediate links between theory and
practice are established.
Reflective teaching is beneficial
It offers more advantages than disadvantages
Help novice teachers to determine the effect their decisions have in the context in
which they are implemented
So if they are willing to invest time, effort and resources in this type of
training
Reflective practice can indeed be an effective
means for professional growth
Then, it is essential acquire a position as teachers of view reflection and inquiry as key components of
teacher development
For both
Pre- service teacher
In-service teacher
It facilitates meaningful thought and discussion among peers about teaching and learning
that will inspire appropriate change in curriculum and pedagogy
So teachers should be involved deeply in the process,
taking time to think and reflect on their practices to foster more
effective learning in their students
In that way successes and failures in teaching practices, leads to reflection
Thus this self reflections at the same time leads to
teacher development that is related to personal development, particularly personal
development as a teacher
So at the end it's summed to understand how the moment by
moment choices
can affect the learning environment
of the students