(By Aryavart International University, India)
Dr. Muayyad Naji Ahmed, Assist. Instructor: Ali Jabbar Zwayyer
Vol. 8, Jul-Dec 2019
Abstract:
This research explores one of the essential teaching techniques; reflective practice (RP) which effectively helps teachers to observe, evaluate and develop their teaching performance inside the classroom through self- observation. The researchers first define reflective teaching practice and specifically explain the procedures of self-observation and how it might help teachers to become effectively more conscious of the challenges they may encounter inside classroom and how to deal with them. The researchers also discuss Iraqi teachers' opinions and recommendations after recording three sound tracks of three English language teachers in secondary schools in the city of Al-Nassiriyah. Tasks and topics of questions that are set for the observation and discussion are also explained. The purpose of this research is to find out how reflective practice (RP) through self-observation, that investigates the performance of Iraqi teachers of English by audio recording their lessons, helps them know how to teach, evaluate, improve and develop their performance inside classroom. Those recordings or sound tracks are the materials of the evaluation checklist in this research. The tool of the research is three sound tracks recorded in three secondary schools in the city of Al-Nassiriyah. The three volunteer teachers were asked to review their tracks and to fill a checklist which represents the teaching techniques the teacher has to do in a model lesson. After analysing their answers, it has been found out that the teachers had been stressful and more embarrassed because of being recorded. Secondly, their anxiety at the time when they were being recorded led them lose self-confidence as they thought they might make mistakes inside classrooms. The researchers have also anticipated some of the reasons that prevent Iraqi teachers from applying such a technique. It has been also noticed that supervisors visit teachers once or twice a year and there are no training sessions that encourage such kind of self-observation. The researchers recommend that: • Teaching, like any other profession, should be updated and enhanced by the use of technological devices such as live lesson recordings. • Training courses on how to conduct self-observation techniques by teachers and to how share constructive criticism should be worked on. The researchers hope that such a step towards self-observation and the checklist used can be adopted by the Ministry of Education as a means for developing teachers' performance inside classrooms