The Transition from Student to Teacher. An Analytical Study on the HNDEn Teaching Internship

This study aims to analyse the effectiveness of the teaching internship component attached to the Higher National Diploma in English (HNDEn) program conducted by Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education (SLIATE). It fundamentally investigates whether the teaching internship has formed an effective impact on the lives of HNDEn students in becoming successful beginning teachers and further, how it has contributed to the overall design of the HNDEn program to achieve the goal of producing successful teachers. The study adopts qualitative research design in collecting and analyzing the data which are gathered from HNDEn teacher interns training at the schools of the government sector in Sri Lanka. Findings are analysed through thematic analysis. Multiple themes pertaining to the impact of HNDEn curriculum and feedback on the teaching practice, academic-related opportunities faced by the interns and the areas of further improvement currently needed emerge from the analysis, suggesting that the interns are exposed to a variety of experiences during the internship which function both constructively and disparagingly in molding their role as teachers. The results of the study carry a pedagogical value as they are representative of what a teacher intern undergoes during the beginning phase of the teaching career, which leads to the understanding and designing of an effective teaching internship.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Background and justification
• Problem statement
• Research objectives
• Review of Literature

Objectives and Key Themes

This study examines the effectiveness of the teaching internship component within the Higher National Diploma in English (HNDEn) program conducted by the Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education (SLIATE). The study aims to evaluate if the internship has contributed to the successful development of beginning teachers and assess its impact on the overall design of the HNDEn program.

• The effectiveness of the teaching internship program in the HNDEn program.
• The challenges faced by HNDEn teaching interns during their internship.
• The contribution of the internship component to the development of capable teachers.
• The potential for improvement in the internship program.
• The need for a more effective transition from student to teacher.

Chapter Summaries

• Introduction
• The study provides a comprehensive overview of the HNDEn program, highlighting its objective to produce competent English language teachers. It explores the challenges faced by teacher interns in navigating expectations between their own desire for knowledge and experience and the administrative requirements of their training.
• The study identifies a disconnect between the internship program's aim and its actual execution, leading to a perceived lack of preparation for the teaching profession.
• The study sets out three main objectives: to identify challenges faced by HNDEn teaching interns, to evaluate the effectiveness of the current internship program, and to propose improvements for the future.
• Review of Literature
• This chapter explores the existing research on teacher education and internships, highlighting the importance of teacher professional development and the value of internship programs in bridging the gap between theory and practice.
• The chapter reviews studies on internship programs in various fields, including industry and education, examining the challenges and potential benefits of these programs.
• The chapter emphasizes the lack of specific research on the effectiveness of language teacher internship programs, particularly in the context of English language teaching.

Keywords

This study focuses on the HNDEn teaching internship program, teacher education, internship effectiveness, teacher professional development, and the transition from student to teacher. It explores the challenges faced by interns, the impact of the internship on the development of beginning teachers, and potential solutions to improve the program's effectiveness.

Details

• Author: Sujani Balasooriya (Author)
• Publication Year: 2023
• Pages: 10
• Catalog Number: V1371696
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346907233
• Language: English
• Tags: transition student teaching internship