Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


Thesis_Wan-Chen Chen.pdf (644.04 KB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Toward Designing a Chinese Language Teacher Training Program: An Analysis of Teachers' Motivations

Chen, Wan-Chen
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1369914665

Abstract Details

2013, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, East Asian Languages and Literatures.
A lot of research has been compiled on students’ motivations to learn, however, teachers’ motivations for teaching have been rarely discussed. The study of teachers’ motivations may be categorized into three parts: motivation to start teaching, motivation to continue teaching, and motivation to excel in teaching. This thesis focuses on identifying and analyzing the factors that affect novice teachers’ motivations to excel at teaching, specifically in the context of Chinese language pedagogy. Furthermore, this study examines what factors create a successful Chinese language teacher training program, as well as highlight the strengths and weaknesses of current Chinese language teacher training programs. To answer these questions, I collected data through class observations, by distributing questionnaires and interviewing four Chinese language teachers. Two of the teachers participated in a Chinese language teacher training program at a large Midwest state university and currently teach at the same university, and two who are teaching at two different U.S. universities and attended training programs at a small state university in the Northwest. Although the two teacher training programs are at different locations, they follow a similar pedagogical approach. The questionnaire consists of eleven motivating factors for teachers that the four subjects have to fill out, with one representing the factor that motivates them the most and eleven being the factor that motivates them the least. In addition to the questionnaire, an interview consisting of two sections with eleven and seven open-ended questions respectively was administered. The questionnaire and interview are both written in English. This thesis finds that novice teachers’ primary motivations to excel stem from their personal interests and goals, which in the study include factors such as teachers’ ambition to develop and manage a Chinese language program and choosing a career in Chinese language teaching. Moreover, regarding the Chinese language teacher training programs, the strengths of the investigated programs include combining the teacher training program with intensive language program. This provides opportunities for the trainees to teach and tutor real learners of Chinese, design course-related materials, and receive a series of informative lectures on theoretical and practical issues. On the other hand, the weaknesses of the investigated programs may include having imbalanced opportunities for the trainees to teach Listening & Speaking and Reading & Writing classes, as well as beginning level and higher-level classes and issues related to tight class schedule. However, this imbalance is actually by design; the real issue may be conveying this to trainees to better alleviate their concerns. Based on the research results, it is recommended that what motivate teachers the most are those sustainable and continued intrinsic motivations, rather than those temporary and extrinsic ones. Additionally, by understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the current Chinese language teacher training programs as well as teachers’ motivations, this study wishes to provide constructive insights for the design of future Chinese language teacher training programs associated with inculcating a sustainable motivation.
Galal Walker, PhD (Advisor)
Mari Noda, PhD (Committee Member)
116 p.
Pedagogy
Chinese language pedagogy; motivation; teacher training program

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Chen, W.-C. (2013). Toward Designing a Chinese Language Teacher Training Program: An Analysis of Teachers' Motivations [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1369914665

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Chen, Wan-Chen. Toward Designing a Chinese Language Teacher Training Program: An Analysis of Teachers' Motivations. 2013. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1369914665.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Chen, Wan-Chen. "Toward Designing a Chinese Language Teacher Training Program: An Analysis of Teachers' Motivations." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1369914665

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1369914665
786
© 2013, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.