International Association of Educators   |  ISSN: 1308-951X

Volume 2 Issue 1 (March 2011)

Original Articles

Undergraduate FL Learners’ Perceptions of Native and Non-Native Language Instructors

Bora DEMİR

pp. 1 - 29

Abstract

This study investigates undergraduate students’ perceptions of native speaker teachers (NST) and non-native speaker teachers (NNST) at three universities in Turkey. The study also aims to find out the effect of gender and the previous experience with non-native speaking teachers on the students’ perceptions of native and non-native instructors. 120 undergraduate university students, studying Japanese or English as a FL, were asked to rate a 30-item questionnaire related to, in-class teaching roles, in-class management roles, in-class communication skills, and individual qualities of native and non-native speaking teachers’. Results indicated that, students perceive NSTs as superior to NNSTs only in terms of in-class teaching roles. In addition to that, male students possessed positive attitudes both towards NSTs and NNSTs. And finally the study found that number of NSTs that the students previously studied with is an important factor that influences students’ opinions. 

Keywords: Native and Non-native teacher, student attitudes

Effect of Candidate Teachers’ Opinions to Public Personnel Selection Examination (PPSE) on Attitudes of Teaching

Veysel OKÇU & Coşkun ÇELİK

pp. 30 - 54

Abstract

Positive attitudes and the love of profession have significant importance on success of teachers in their professions. KPSS is the initial handicap which students have to pass in order to be appointed as teacher in primary schools. Therefore, we have determined to find out the effect of PPSE exam on teachers’ opinions to attitudes of teaching. The research was carried out with descriptive. The study composed of all students studying in 4th grade of class teaching, Science, Mathemathics, Social Sciences departments in Siirt Education Faculty. We did not use receiving sample method to obtain research data in a more reliable way and 387 candidate teachers studying in related departments were interviewed. Data collecting tool which was developed by researchers has two folds. In the first part, questionnaire, quantitative data collecting tool, method which determines candidates’ personal information and their opinions to PPSE was used. In the second part “Attitudes Scale for Teaching (MYTO) ” which was organized in the form of Likert type 5 and composed of 55 items, was used. Cronbach alpha co-efficiency of scale was found as 0.85. Descriptive statistics, unrelated t-test, one-way variance analysis and LSD test were used in the analyses of data. Meaning level was accepted as 0,5 . A significant difference was found related to candidates’ level of success, to their success in PPSE exam, using knowledge they have had from PPSE exam and their attitudes towards teaching as a result of statistical analyses. The study reveals that candidate teachers who are strongly in the opinion that they can be successful in KPSS exam, have positive attitudes and behaviors towards teaching profession however those who concern that they will fail to pass the exam have negatively been affected by this situation. The study shows that candidate teachers are not opposed to PPSE but they criticize the method used in the exam. Furthermore, it has been found out that, candidate teachers’ attitudes have been ‘hesitant’ towards Professional. 

Keywords: Candidate Teachers, attitude to profession, PPSE