Description:
Written by leading experts in the field of TESOL, this book explores the literature on various topic areas and demonstrates how teachers can increase their levels of professionalism by acquiring some general and field-specific strategies.
Being a teaching professional is not simply about having the right teaching qualifications and good academic standing, it involves a commitment to being innovative and transformative in the classroom and helping both students and colleagues achieve their goals. A dictionary definition of professionalism reads as follows: professionalism is the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person; and it defines a profession as a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation (Merriam-Webster, 2013). However, according to Bowman (2013), professionalism is less a matter of what professionals actually do and more a matter of who they are as human beings. Both ofthese views imply that professionalism encompasses a number of different attributes, and, together, these attributes identify and define a professional.
The book is primarily intended for teachers at all levels and in all contexts who are interested in improving their professionalism and developing strategies that can take them to higher levels in the field of TESOL/ELT.Review Quotes:
"Each chapter presents a thoughtful discussion of each topic as it relates to professionalism, and how each is related to the personal and professional development of language educators. The text provides an overview and raises the importance of the intricate connections between personal well-being, goal setting, consideration of career path, and professional roles ... . This volume provides a useful tool for educators to continue along their progression of professional development and professionalism throughout their career." (Richmond Stroupe and Riya Kartha, JALT Journal, Vol. 44 (1), May, 2022)