Researching Language Teacher Cognition and Practice: International Case Studies(27 New Perspectives on Language and Education)

This book presents a novel approach to discussing how to research language teacher cognition and practice. An introductory chapter by the editors and an overview of the research field by Simon Borg precede eight case studies written by new researchers, each of which focuses on one approach to collecting data. These approaches range from questionnaires and focus groups to think aloud, stimulated recall, and oral reflective journals. Each case study is commented on by a leading expert in the field - JD Brown, Martin Bygate, Donald Freeman, Alan Maley, Jerry Gebhard, Thomas Farrell, Susan Gass, and Jill Burton. Readers are encouraged to enter the conversation by reflecting on a set of questions and tasks in each chapter.

Table of Contents:
Foreword - Viv Edwards Introduction - Roger Barnard and Anne Burns Methodological Analysis - Simon Borg Ch 1: Questionnaire Case study: Judy Ng Commentary: J.D. Brown Ch 2: Narrative Frames Case study: Nguyen Gia Viet Commentary: Martin Bygate Ch 3: Focus Groups Case study: Andrew Gladman Commentary: Donald Freeman Ch 4: Interview Case study: Le Van Canh Commentary: Alan Maley Ch 5: Observation Case study: Simon Humphries Commentary: Jerry Gebhard Ch 6: Think Aloud Case study: Jinrui Li Commentary: Thomas Farrell Ch 7: Stimulated Recall Case study: Jonathon Ryan Commentary: Susan Gass Ch 8: Oral Reflective Journals Case study: Jenny Field Commentary: Jill Burton Final Thoughts - Anne Burns and Roger Barnard

About the Author :
Roger Barnard is an Associate Professor in Applied Linguistics at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. His recent publications include Researching Language Teacher Cognition and Practice (2012, edited with Anne Burns) and Creating Classroom Communities of Learning (2009, edited with Maria Torres-Guzman). Anne Burns holds professorial positions at Aston University, Birmingham, and the University of New South Wales, Sydney. She is also an Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney and a Visiting Professor at the University of Stockholm. She is known for her work in action research, teacher education, and the theory and practice of teaching speaking.

Review :
The materials available in this collection offer research module coordinators, teacher educators, research students and their supervisors a full spectrum of methodological issues to think about. Of particular interest to me is the fact that the majority of the researchers contributing to this collection are themselves practitioners in the same institutions or similar educational settings, making the book particularly relevant to practitioner-researchers conducting research in their own professional settings. -- Jenny Lim University of Oxford, UK System xxx (2014) 1e2 This book will be a very useful resource for researchers and others interested in teacher cognition in language teaching. As well as providing fascinating case studies of research in this area, the expert commentaries on each study clarify the issues involved and provide guidelines for how such research can be conducted. Jack Richards, University of Sydney/RELC Singapore This collection offers an innovative combination of authentic researcher voices and expert commentary. Teacher cognition may be the focus, but its appeal is much wider: the methodological riches on offer make this an essential addition to the bookshelves of all doctoral researchers and supervisors in our field. Keith Richards, University of Warwick, UK This volume fills an important gap in the research literature on language teacher cognition, bringing together under one cover a set of case studies of researchers' experiences with different methodological procedures. Highly readable and engagingly personal, these narrative presentations provide an effective tool for training novice researchers and reflective practitioners. Devon Woods, Carleton University, Canada I thoroughly recommend this book to graduate student researchers and their supervisors. It is interesting to read and highly informative with regard to practical as well as theoretical issues. -- Rosemary Wette, University of Auckland, New Zealand in New Zealand Studies in Applied Linguistics, Volume 19 (1) 2013 The book is an insightful evaluation of the trials and tribulations of conducting qualitative research on language teacher cognition. The book would be a useful resource for anyone working with students in this area, as it demonstrates how even the most considered of studies can benefit from alternative views. -- Diego Navarro, University of Wellington, New Zealand in Literacy And Social Responsibility: Multiple Perspectives