Online language teacher education for ongoing development : prospect in Bangladesh among the English teachers

Abstract

This thesis investigates the prospect of Online Language Teacher Education (OLTE) among the secondary level‘s English teachers in Bangladesh for their ongoing development. Therefore, this study explores the drawbacks of traditional face-to-face training system, as well as the efficacy of OLTE for minimizing those drawbacks. At the same time, this study examines the English teachers‘ perspectives, along with the requirements for OLTE and their availability to identify the opportunities of OLTE in Bangladesh. This study adopted the approach of social constructivism for recognizing the efficacy of OLTE for ongoing development. Mixed-methods were used for identifying the English teachers‘ and the teacher educators‘ perspectives regarding traditional training system and OLTE. Essentially, the findings suggest that the English teachers face problems in traditional training system due to location, schedule, time limitation and lack of ongoing support; integration of OLTE can help them to attend trainings beyond location and time constraints. Thus, OLTE will allow them to be updated concerning the changes of English language teaching. This study also reflects the current supportive situation for OLTE in Bangladesh and the teachers‘ enthusiasm to participate in such programme.