Pedagogical and methodological training needs, mastery of the speciality of english teachers in El Salvador

Abstract

This research study was conducted with the purpose of creating a diagnosis of pedagogical, methodological, content knowledge, and professional development needs of teachers of English in public urban elementary and high schools in El Salvador. The participants of study were selected based on a pre-determined profile created by the researchers and personnel from the Ministry of Education. The participants, in this study, consisted of in service elementary and high school teachers in public schools nationwide. A consent letter was written to ensure school principals and teachers about their participation in the research study, also participants had the choice to accept or reject their participation at any point along the investigation. The letter of consent helped keep the confidentiality of participants’ information and of the data gathered. The data gathering instrument was a semi-structured interview that helped determine specific teachers’ needs based on the information provided. The main findings regarding teachers’ profesional development were: public school teachers need further understanding of the use of technology in the English teaching and learning process; in service teachers need to update their teaching methodologies; teachers need to create and use educational resources based on the methodology being used; teachers need to strengthen their proficiency mainly in speaking and grammar.

Revista ciencia, cultura y sociedad Vol. 4 No. 2 july-december 2017; 33-41