Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-vfjqv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T19:27:34.627Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Integrating research into language teaching and learning: Learners and teachers as co-researchers exploring praxis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 December 2021

Judith Hanks*
Affiliation:
University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

Abstract

Classroom research has long been recommended as a fruitful avenue for English language teaching (ELT) in applied linguistics. Yet recognition of the value of practitioners exploring their own praxis has only recently come to the fore. In this plenary, I focus on Exploratory Practice, a form of ‘fully inclusive practitioner research’, in which learners as well as teachers are invited to integrate research and pedagogy. Drawing on studies from around the world, I spotlight the potential of learners and teachers to contribute to debates in the fields of language teaching and learning, applied linguistics and social sciences alike. This co-production between learners and teachers illuminates the nexus of research and pedagogy (praxis), providing plentiful puzzles for exploration.

Type
Plenary Speech
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Plenary talk for 45th JACET Summer Conference–6th English Education Seminar, Conference Theme: Revisiting classroom research: Who are the ‘practitioners? (Kyoto, Japan, 20–21 August 2018).

References

Allwright, D. (1993). Integrating ‘research’ and ‘pedagogy’: Appropriate criteria and practical possibilities. In Edge, J. & Richards, K. (Eds.), Teachers develop teachers research (pp. 125135). Heinemann.Google Scholar
Allwright, D. (2003). Exploratory practice: Rethinking practitioner research in language teaching. Language Teaching Research, 7(2), 113141. https://doi.org/10.1191/1362168803lr118oaCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Allwright, D. (2005). Developing principles for practitioner research: The case of exploratory practice. Modern Language Journal, 89(3), 353366. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4781.2005.00310.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Allwright, D. (2006). Six promising directions in applied linguistics. In Gieve, S. & Miller, I. K. (Eds.), Understanding the language classroom basingstoke (pp. 1117). Palgrave Macmillan.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Allwright, D., & Hanks, J. (2009). The developing language learner: An introduction to exploratory practice. Palgrave Macmillan.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Allwright, D., & Miller, I. K. (2012). Burnout and the beginning teacher. In Soneson, D. & Tarone, E. (Eds.), Expanding our horizons: Language teacher education in the 21st century (pp. 101115). University of Minnesota.Google Scholar
Andrade, C. (2017). Exploratory practice and group 1403's likes and dislikes. Narrative. In Hanks, J. (Ed.), Exploratory practice in language teaching: Puzzling about principles and practices (pp. 150152). Palgrave Macmillan.Google Scholar
Arendt, H. (1958/1998). The human condition (2nd ed.). University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
BAAL. (2016). Recommendations on good practice in applied linguistics (3rd ed.). British Association for Applied Linguistics. https://www.baal.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/goodpractice_full_2016.pdf (accessed 12.03.2021).Google Scholar
Bailey, K. M. (2001). Teaching English as a second or foreign language. In Celce-Murcia, M. (Ed.), Action research, teacher research, and classroom research in language teaching (3rd ed., pp. 489948). Heinle & Heinle.Google Scholar
Banister, C. (2018a). Rebuilding practitioner self-efficacy through learner feedback. In Slimani-Rolls, A. & Kiely, R. (Eds.), Exploratory practice for continuing professional development: An innovative approach for language teachers (pp. 135151). Palgrave Macmillan.Google Scholar
Banister, C. (2018b). Exploring teacher and learner perceptions of the value of peer-teaching vocabulary: Convergences and divergences. In Barkhuizen, G., Burns, A., Dikilitas, K., & Wyatt, M. (Eds.), Empowering teacher-researchers, empowering learners (pp. 121128). IATEFL.Google Scholar
Bannell, R. I. (1997). Teachers develop teachers research 2. In Field, J. & Graham, A. (Eds.), It's all right in theory but what about praxis? Knowledge, action and exploratory teaching (pp. 1837). IATEFL.Google Scholar
BERA. (2018). Ethical guidelines for ethical research (4th ed.). British Educational Research Association. https://www.bera.ac.uk/publication/ethical-guidelines-for-educational-research-2018-online (accessed 12.03.2021)Google Scholar
Borg, S. (2010). Language teacher research engagement. Language Teaching, 43(4), 391429. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444810000170CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Borg, S. (2013). Teacher research in language teaching: A critical analysis. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Braga, W. (2009). Why don't the English classes in public [state] schools prepare us for the job market?. Narrative. In Allwright, D. & Hanks, J. (Eds.), The developing language learner: An introduction to exploratory practice (pp. 247248). Palgrave Macmillan.Google Scholar
Burns, A. (1999). Collaborative action research for English language teachers. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Burns, A. (2010). Doing action research in English language teaching: A guide for practitioners. Routledge.Google Scholar
Burton, J. (1998). A cross-case analysis of teacher involvement in TESOL research. TESOL Quarterly, 32(3), 419446. https://doi.org/10.2307/3588116CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carr, W. (1987). What is an educational practice? Journal of Philosophy of Education, 21(2), 163175. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9752.1987.tb00155.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carr, W. (2004). Philosophy and education. Journal of Philosophy of Education, 38(1), 5573. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0309-8249.2004.00363.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carr, W., & Kemmis, S. (1986). Becoming critical: Education, knowledge and action research. The Falmer Press.Google Scholar
Cochran-Smith, M., & Lytle, S. L. (2009). Inquiry as stance: Practitioner research for the next generation. Teachers College Press.Google Scholar
Costantino, A. (2018). Understanding ‘local’ pedagogy: A written feedback puzzle. In Slimani-Rolls, A. & Kiely, R. (Eds.) Exploratory practice for continuing professional development: An innovative approach for language teachers (pp. 71–86). Palgrave Macmillan.Google Scholar
Costantino, A. (2019). Space and time for understanding(s): The recursive cycle of language education and classroom enquiry. In Kostoulas, A. (Ed.), Challenging boundaries in language education (pp. 7186). SpringerCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dar, Y. (2015). Teachers research! In Bullock, D. & Smith, R. (Eds.), Exploratory practice: Investigating my own classroom pedagogy (pp. 5159). IATEFL.Google Scholar
Dawson, S. J., Ihara, P., & Zhang, K. (2017). EAP learners exploring their own language learning lives through exploratory practice. In Stewart, T. (Ed.), Voices from the TESOL classroom: Participant inquiries in higher education classes (pp. 713). TESOL Press.Google Scholar
Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2003). Strategies of qualitative inquiry (2nd ed.). Sage Publications Inc.Google Scholar
Dikilitaş, K., & Hanks, J. (2018). Developing language teachers with exploratory practice: Innovations and explorations in language education. Palgrave Macmillan.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ergünay, O. (2018). Investigating self-reported reading comprehension via exploratory practice. In Dikilitaş, K. & Hanks, J. (Eds.), Developing language teachers with exploratory practice (pp. 83101). Palgrave Macmillan.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Flyvbjerg, B. (2001). Making social science matter: Why social inquiry fails and how it can succeed again. Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Freire, P. (1972). Pedagogy of the oppressed. Penguin.Google Scholar
Fully Inclusive Practitioner Research (2020). https://www.fullyinclusivepr.com/Google Scholar
Hanks, J. (1999). Enthusiasm, puzzlement, and exploratory practice. International House Journal of Education and Development, 7, 1416.Google Scholar
Hanks, J. (2009). Inclusivity and collegiality in exploratory practice. In Yoshida, T., Imai, H., Nakata, T., Tajino, A., Takeuchi, O., & Tamai, K. (Eds.) Researching language teaching and learning: An integration of practice and theory (pp. 3355). Peter Lang.Google Scholar
Hanks, J. (2012). Expanding our horizons: Language teacher education in the 21st century. In Tarone, E. & Soneson, D. (Eds.), Inclusivity and trust in exploratory practice: A case study of principles in practice (pp. 117138). CARLA.Google Scholar
Hanks, J. (2015a). ‘Education is not just teaching’: Learner thoughts on exploratory practice. ELT Journal, 69(2), 117128. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/ccu063CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hanks, J. (2015b). Language teachers making sense of exploratory practice. Language Teaching Research, 19(5), 612633. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168814567805CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hanks, J. (2017a). Exploratory practice in language teaching: Puzzling about principles and practices. Palgrave Macmillan.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hanks, J. (2017b). Integrating research and pedagogy: An exploratory practice approach. System, 68, 3849. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2017.06.012CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hanks, J. (2018). Supporting language teachers as they engage in research. ETAS Special Supplement Research Literacy Part 3: Supporting Teacher Research in English Language Teaching, 35(3), 4850. https://www.e-tas.ch/journal/issues/summer-2018Google Scholar
Hanks, J. (2019a). From research-as-practice to exploratory practice-as-research in language teaching and beyond. Language Teaching, 52(2), 143187. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444819000016CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hanks, J. (2019b). Identity and trust as practitioners engage in researching their practice. The European Journal of Applied Linguistics and TEFL, 8(2), 322. http://theeuropeanjournal.eu/download/EJALTEFL_02_2019.pdfGoogle Scholar
Hanks, J. (2019c). Involving everyone in enhancing quality of life in language education: Explorations and insights from praxis. JACET International Convention Selected Papers, 6, 328. http://www.jacet.org/SelectedPapers/JACET57_2018_SP_6.pdfGoogle Scholar
Hanks, J. (2020). Co-production and multimodality: Learners as co-researchers exploring practice. Educational Action Research, 29(3), 462482. https://doi.org/10.1080/09650792.2020.1812417CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hiratsuka, T. (2016). Actualizing exploratory practice (EP) principles with team teachers in Japan. System, 57, 109119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2016.01.004CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kahneman, D. (2012). Thinking, fast and slow. Penguin Random House UK.Google Scholar
Karanfil, T. (2018). Investigating and understanding ‘free reading’ experiences through exploratory practice. In Dikilitaş, K. & Hanks, J. (Eds.), Developing language teachers with exploratory practice (pp. 6182). Palgrave Macmillan.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kato, Y., & Hanks, J. (In Press). Learner-initiated exploratory practice: Revisiting curiosity. ELT Journal.Google Scholar
Kemmis, S., & McTaggart, R. (2003). Participatory action research. In Denzin, N. K. & Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds.), Strategies of qualitative inquiry (2nd Edn.) (pp. 336396). Sage.Google Scholar
Langelotz, L., Mahon, K., & Dahlberg, G. M. (2020). Walking on the edge: Educational praxis in higher education. Learning and Teaching, 13, 3, vxv. https://doi.org/10.3167/latiss.2020.130301CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Li, N. (2006). Researching and experiencing motivation: A plea for ‘balanced research’. Language Teaching Research, 10(4), 437456. https://doi.org/10.1191/1362168806lr206prCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lortie, D. C. (1975). Schoolteacher: A sociological study. University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Magno, C., & Braga, W. (2009). Carlos Magno's story: Why do we cheat? Narrative. In Allwright, D. & Hanks, J. (Eds.), The developing language learner: An introduction to exploratory practice (pp. 210212). Palgrave Macmillan.Google Scholar
Marsden, E., & Kasprowicz, R. (2017). Foreign language educators’ exposure to research: Reported experiences, exposure via citations, and a proposal for action. Modern Language Journal, 101(4), 613642. https://doi.org/10.1111/modl.12426Google Scholar
Medgyes, P. (2017a). The (ir)relevance of academic research for the language teacher. ELT Journal, 71(4), 498498. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/ccx034CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Medgyes, P. (2017b). A response to amos paran. ELT Journal, 71(4), 509510. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/ccx035CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miller, I. K. (2009). ‘Puzzle-driven’ language teacher development: The contribution of exploratory practice. In T. Yoshida, H. Imai, T. Nakata, A. Tajino, O. Takeuchi, & K. Tama (Eds.) Researching Language Teaching and learning: An integration of practice and theory (pp. 7793). Peter Lang.Google Scholar
Miller, I. K., Barreto, B. C., Kuschnir, A., Sette, M. L., Bezerra, I. C., Cunha, M. I. A., & Braga, W. (2008). Educação de professores de línguas: Os desafios do formador. In Gil, G. & Vieira-Abrahão, M. H. (Eds.), Prática Exploratória: Questões e desafios (pp. 145165). Pontes Editores.Google Scholar
Miller, I. K., & Barreto, B. C. B. (2015). A formação de professores de línguas nas licenciaturas em Letras da PUC-Rio: horizonte teórico e decisões curriculares. In Meyer, R. M. d. B. & Albuquerque, A. (Eds.), Português: Uma língua internacional (pp. 7794). Editora PUC-Rio.Google Scholar
Miller, I. K., & Cunha, M. I. A. (2017). Exploratory practice in continuing professional development: Critical and ethical issues. In Dikilitaş, K. (Ed.), Facilitating in-service teacher training for professional development (pp. 6185). IGI Global.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
N8 Research Partnership. (2016). Knowledge that matters: Realising the potential of co-production. ESRC. https://www.n8research.org.uk/research-focus/co-production/ (accessed 11.12.2020)Google Scholar
Paran, A. (2017). ‘Only connect’: Researchers and teachers in dialogue. ELT Journal, 71(4), 499508. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/ccx033CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pinner, R. (2016). Trouble in paradise: Self-assessment and the Tao. Language Teaching Research, 20(2), 181195. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168814562015CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sato, M., & Loewen, S. (2019). Do teachers care about research? The Research-Pedagogy Dialogue. ELT Journal, 73(1), 110. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/ccy048.Google Scholar
Sena, C. (2009). Clarisse's story. Narrative. In Allwright, D. & Hanks, J. (Eds.), The developing language learner: An introduction to exploratory practice (pp. 205207). Palgrave Macmillan.Google Scholar
Silva, D., & Braga, W. (2009). Daniela's story: Why do the teenagers get pregnant in spite of having so much information on the matter? Narrative. In Allwright, D. & Hanks, J. (Eds.), The developing language learner: An introduction to exploratory practice (pp. 212215). Palgrave Macmillan.Google Scholar
Siqueiros, R. (2009). Rute's story. Narrative. In Allwright, D. & Hanks, J. (Eds.), The developing language learner: An introduction to exploratory practice (pp. 256257). Palgrave Macmillan.Google Scholar
Slimani-Rolls, A., & Kiely, R. (2018). Exploratory practice for continuing professional development: An innovative approach for language teachers. Palgrave Macmillan.Google Scholar
Smith, C. (2009). Developing a new English for academic purposes course: Administrator-teacher-student collaboration. In Yoshida, T., Imai, H., Nakata, T., Tajino, A., Takeuchi, O., & Tamai, K. (Eds.), Researching language teaching and learning: An integration of practice and theory (pp. 95113). Peter Lang.Google Scholar
Smith, R. (2015). Teacher-researchers in action. In Dikilitaş, K., Smith, R., & Trotman, W. (Eds.), Exploratory action research as workplan: Why, what and where from? (pp. 3745). IATEFL.Google Scholar
Smithers, R. (2018). Improving the quality of life in lifelong learners: The influence of a meaning-order approach to pedagogical grammar on motivation and self-efficacy. Applied Linguistics Review.Google Scholar
Smithers, R. W., & Gray, J. W. (2020). Enhancing the quality of life in lifelong learners: The influence of a meaning-order approach to pedagogical grammar on motivation and self-efficacy. Applied Linguistics Review, 11(1), 129149. https://doi.org/10.1515/applirev-2017-0095CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Soares, D. (2008). Understanding class blogs as a tool for language development. Language Teaching Research, 12(4), 517533. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168808097165CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stenhouse, L. (1975). An introduction to curriculum research and development. Heinemann.Google Scholar
Stewart, A., Croker, R., & Hanks, J. (2014). Learner development working papers: Different cases: Different interests. In Barfield, A. & Minematsu, A. (Eds.), Exploring the principles of exploratory practice: Quality of life or quality of learning? (pp. 132148). JALT Learner Development SIG. http://ldworkingpapers.wix.com/ld-working-papersGoogle Scholar
Tajino, A., & Smith, C. (2005). Exploratory practice and soft systems methodology. Language Teaching Research, 9(4), 448469. https://doi.org/10.1191/1362168805lr178xxCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tajino, A., & Smith, C. (2016). Beyond team teaching: An introduction to team learning in language education. In Tajino, A., Stewart, T., & Dalsky, D. (Eds.), Team teaching and team learning in the language classroom: Collaboration for innovation in ELT (pp. 1127). Routledge.Google Scholar
Tajino, A., Stewart, T., & Dalsky, D. (2016). Team teaching and team learning in the language classroom: Collaboration for innovation in ELT. Routledge.Google Scholar
Trotman, W. (2018). Enacting exploratory practice principles: Mentoring language teaching professionals. In Dikilitaş, K. & Hanks, J. (Eds.), Developing language teachers with exploratory practice (pp. 3959). Palgrave Macmillan.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tudor, I. (2001). The dynamics of the language classroom. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Vaattovaara, J. (2017). Evidencing the passion of language teachers’ research engagement: The case of a university pedagogy ALMS course module. CercleS, 7(2), 461473. https://doi.org/10.1515/cercles-2017-0020Google Scholar
Van Manen, M. (1990). Researching lived experience: Human science for an action sensitive pedagogy. Sate University of New York Press.Google Scholar
Winnicott, D. W. (1971). Playing and reality. Penguin.Google Scholar
Yates, L. (2004). What does good education research look like? Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Yoshida, T., Imai, H., Nakata, Y., Tajino, A., Takeuchi, O., & Tamai, K. (Eds.). (2009). Researching language teaching and learning: An integration of practice and theory. Peter Lang.Google Scholar
Zeichner, K. M., & Noffke, S. E. (2001). Practitioner research. In Richardson, V. (Ed.), Handbook of research on teaching. (4th ed.) (pp. 298330). American Educational Research Association.Google Scholar
Zhang, R. (2004). Using the principles of exploratory practice to guide group work in an extensive reading class in China. Language Teaching Research, 8(3), 331345. https://doi.org/10.1191/1362168804lr142xxCrossRefGoogle Scholar