چكيده به لاتين
The present study aimed at investigating professional development (PD) needs of EFL teachers of young learners (YL). Teaching YL has been considered as a crucial issue in the last decade. Thus, determining the PD of EFL teachers is of high importance because it helps trainers to have better and fruitful PD courses. On the other hand, it aids EFL teachers to be more aware of their professional needs so that they can work on them for being able to make YLs learn in an efficient way. To this end, mixed method was utilized as the research design. Data were collected through a questionnaire for investigating the PD needs of EFL teachers. In fact, the questionnaire comprised 23 items to check the PD purposes which affect PD needs of EFL teachers of YL, and 11 items to determine what PD activities are important from perspective of EFL teachers of YL. Then through online distribution, the questionnaire was filled up by 115 EFL teachers of YL. Furthermore, semi-structured interviews were utilized to collect qualitative data from six experienced EFL teachers of YL. As a matter of fact, the interviews included six questions to shed light on the PD, PD needs, and PD workshops’ evaluation from the viewpoints of six EFL teachers of YL. The results of the quantitative data revealed that the two important PD needs in terms of professional purposes were improving skills in designing and implementing activities and improving personal qualities. In addition, the results of the qualitative data were categorized as PD needs in terms of pedagogy and knowledge. By exploring the PD needs of EFL teachers of YL, we can have more understanding about their needs which can result in having more insightful workshops and training courses at institutes and schools.
Keywords: Professional development (PD), PD needs, teaching of English to YL (TEYL), EFL teachers.
