Metaphors Used by Malaysian Teachers-in-Training: Implications for Language Teacher Education

Creative Education, Vol. 4, 74, 2013. doi: 10.4236/ce.2013.49B015

4 Pages Posted: 30 Apr 2014

See all articles by Zuwati Hasim

Zuwati Hasim

University of Malaya

Tunku Mohani Tunku Mohtar

Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris

Roger Barnard

University of Waikato

Abd Razak Zakaria

University of Malaya

Date Written: May 1, 2013

Abstract

Over the past 20 years, there has been increasing interest in exploring what language teachers believe (Borg, 2006). Often these beliefs are expressed in terms of metaphors (Richards, 1998; Woodward, 1991), but there has been little recent research connecting the two strands. The present study is based on the personal reflections of a group of 72 trainee teachers in a Malaysian University after a three-month practicum in local high schools. In these reflections, as well as currently fashionable constructs such as facilitator and motivator, these students often described their perceptions of the role of the language teacher using various metaphors. The wide range of metaphors volunteered by these trainee teachers were coded into various categories, such as terms relating to facilitating, mentorship, entertaining and kinship. This presentation will discuss a number of these, and also quote some of the trainees’ comments in support of their chosen metaphor, which thereby reveals their underlying beliefs about teaching and learning. Relating their professional activity to other roles illuminates not only what teachers themselves believe, but also reinvigorates notions of (language) teaching itself. One of the implications of this study is that teacher educators, both in the specific setting and in relatable contexts elsewhere, can incorporate such metaphors into their programmes and in this way reimagine, refine and redefine the role of the language teacher for the benefit of their students, and themselves.

Keywords: Teachers; Language; Education; Roles; Beliefs

JEL Classification: I20, I21, I29

Suggested Citation

Hasim, Zuwati and Tunku Mohtar, Tunku Mohani and Barnard, Roger and Zakaria, Abd Razak, Metaphors Used by Malaysian Teachers-in-Training: Implications for Language Teacher Education (May 1, 2013). Creative Education, Vol. 4, 74, 2013. doi: 10.4236/ce.2013.49B015, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2431104

Zuwati Hasim (Contact Author)

University of Malaya ( email )

Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan 50603
University of Malaya (UM)
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan 50603
Malaysia

Tunku Mohani Tunku Mohtar

Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris ( email )

Tanjong Malim, Perak 35900
Malaysia

Roger Barnard

University of Waikato ( email )

Te Raupapa
Private Bag 3105
Hamilton, Waikato 3240
New Zealand

Abd Razak Zakaria

University of Malaya ( email )

Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan 50603
University of Malaya (UM)
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan 50603
Malaysia

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