Foreign Language Teachers’ Conceptions of Improvisation

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52963/PERR_Biruni_V11.N2.06%20

Keywords:

English as a Foreign Language, Language Teacher Education, Improvisation, Teacher Conceptions, Language Teaching

Abstract

As teachers gather experience and knowledge, a shift towards a degree of flexibility in teaching and the development of the ability to improvise occur. With specific relation to knowledge base, teacher autonomy, and responsibility, the teachers experience severe challenges throughout their improvisational practices. Therefore, improvisation is suggested to be a part of teacher education. This article is based on a qualitative case study of teachers’ conceptions of improvisation in teaching and specific characteristics of how improvisation in teaching is conceived. Empirical data were gathered from 10 in-service English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers’ interviews. The transcripts were analyzed according to open-coding procedure. Results of the study revealed that foreign language teachers have a wide range of conceptions regarding this specific topic. Their conceptions are mostly positive; however, they also highlight some negative conceptions which can cause problems in teaching and teaching quality.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Berk, R. A., & Trieber, R. H. (2009). Whose classroom is it, anyway? Improvisation as a teaching tool. Journal on Excellence in College Teaching, 20(3), 29-60. Retrieved from http://www.ronberk.com/articles/2009_improv.pdf

Borko, H., & Livingston, C. (1989). Cognition and improvisation: Differences in mathematics instruction by expert and novice teachers. American educational research journal, 26(4), 473-498. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/1162861.pdf

Crossan, M. M., & Sorrenti, M. (1997). Making sense of improvisation. In J. Walsh & A. Huff (Eds.), Advances in strategic management, 14, 155-180. Retrieved from https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780203361603-11/making-sense-improvisation-crossan-sorrenti

Dehlin, E. (2008). The flesh and blood of improvisation: A study of everyday organizing. [Unpublished Doctoral thesis]. Trondheim, Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

DeZutter, S. (2011). Professional improvisation and teacher education: Opening the conversation. Structure and improvisation in creative teaching, 27-50. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.tr/books?hl=tr&lr=&id=ym9LrnH1PfsC&oi=fnd&pg=PA27&dq=DeZutter,+S.+(2011).+Professional+improvisation+and+teacher+education:+Opening+the+conversation.+Structure+and+improvisation+in+creative+teaching,+27-50.&ots=4uI9WA4tpa&sig=ZS2cLkA8XIO8Bce4Kczy5BOkgHQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=DeZutter%2C%20S.%20(2011).%20Professional%20improvisation%20and%20teacher%20education%3A%20Opening%20the%20conversation.%20Structure%20and%20improvisation%20in%20creative%20teaching%2C%2027-50.&f=false.

Holdhus, K., Høisæter, S., Mæland, K., Vangsnes, V., Engelsen, K. S., Espeland, M., & Espeland, Å. (2016). Improvisation in teaching and education—roots and applications. Cogent Education, 3(1), 120-142. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2016.1204142

Guba, E. G., & Lincoln, Y. S. (1994). Competing paradigms in qualitative research. Handbook of qualitative research, 2(163-194), 105. Retrieved from https://miguelangelmartinez.net/IMG/pdf/1994_Guba_Lincoln_Paradigms_Quali_Research_chapter.pdf

Johannessen, A., Tufte, P. A., & Christoffersen, L. (2010). Litteratur, anbefalt eller obligatorisk Felles med øvrige masterutdanninger ved Diakonhjemmet Høgskole. Retrieved from https://www.vid.no/site/assets/files/10342/diakoni-master-pensum-2015-2016-vid-1.pdf

Karlsen, G. (2006). Stilt overfor det som ennå ikke er. Om undervisningens improvisatoriske nødvendighet. [Faced with what is not yet existing. About the improvisatory necessity of teaching]. In Steinsholt, K. & Sommero, H. (eds.), Improvisasjon. Kunsten å sette seg selv på spill. [Improvisation. The Art of Putting Oneself at Stake] (pp. 115–131). Oslo: Damm & Søn AS.

Knight, S. L., Lloyd, G. M., Arbaugh, F., Gamson, D., McDonald, S. P., Nolan, J., & Whitney, E. A. (2015). Reconceptualizing teacher quality to inform preservice and inservice professional development. Journal of Teacher Education, 6(2), 105–108. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022487115570564

Kostrhonová, Z. (2011). Drama techniques in language teaching to young adults [Unpublished Doctoral dissertation] Masarykova univerzita, Pedagogická fakulta.

Montuori, A. (2003). The complexity of improvisation and the improvisation of complexity: Social science, art and creativity. Human relations, 56(2), 237-255. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alfonso-Montuori/publication/239928987_The_Complexity_of_Improvisation_and_the_Improvisation_of_Complexity_Social_Science_Art_and_Creativity/links/0046352816317384a2000000/The-Complexity-of-Improvisation-and-the-Improvisation-of-Complexity-Social-Science-Art-and-Creativity.pdf

Sawyer, R. K. (Ed.). (2011). Structure and improvisation in creative teaching. Cambridge University Press.

Shulman, L. S. (1986). Those who understand: Knowledge growth in teaching. Educational researcher, 15(2), 4-14. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/1175860.pdf

Stake, R. E. (2000). Case studies. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research. New York: Sage.

Van Driel, J. H., & Berry, A. (2010). Pedagogical content knowledge. In International encyclopedia of education. Academic Press.

Whitcomb, R. (2013) Teaching improvisation in elementary general music: Facing fears and fostering creativity. Music Educators Journal, 99 (3), 43–50. https://doi.org/10.1177/0027432112467648

Wilson, K. (2008). Drama and improvisation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Yinger, R. J. (1987). Learning the language of practice. Curriculum Inquiry, 17(3), 293-318. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/1179695.pdf

Additional Files

Published

2022-08-04

How to Cite

Görsev Sönmez, & Köksal, O. (2022). Foreign Language Teachers’ Conceptions of Improvisation. Psycho-Educational Research Reviews, 11(2), 88–97. https://doi.org/10.52963/PERR_Biruni_V11.N2.06