An Investigation On Pre-service English Teachers’ Reflection Via Critical Incidents During Teaching Practicum

Reflection is an important part of teachers’ professional development.This study explores the areas and level of pre-service English teachers’ reflection in the teaching environment of Chinese middle schools by conducting a critical incident narrative questionnaire of 30 pre-service English teachers.Through analyzing the 46 critical incidents collected,the main areas of reflection among pre-service English teachers are obtained.Finally,the level of reflection of pre-service English teachers is clarified through text analysis.This study mainly answers two questions:1.What do critical incidents in teaching practicum show us about the areas of pre-service English teachers’ reflection?2.What is the level of pre-service English teachers’ reflection revealed by the critical incidents during their teaching practicum?The study found that there are five main areas of reflection in pre-service English teachers’ teaching practicum:classroom teaching,student learning,teacher development,teacher-student relationship,and mentoring relationship.Based on these five areas of reflection,the author found that most pre-service English teachers are at the level of technical reflection,followed by practical reflection,and only a few are at the level of critical reflection.This study supplements the research on the areas and level of reflection of pre-service English teachers from the perspective of critical incidents.According to the findings,the research makes the following suggestions on the areas and levels of pre-service English teachers’ reflection:pre-service English teachers can expand the breadth and depth of their areas of reflection through training,reading,peer assistance and other ways.Although the three levels of reflection are neither superior nor inferior to each other,teacher educators need to give appropriate assistance and guidance according to the different development stages of the pre-service English teachers in order to achieve the balance and integration of their various reflection levels.Meanwhile,pre-service English teachers can still use critical incidents as a tool for reflection in the future,reflect on practical theories,teaching methods,and so on from an academic perspective,and critically analyze the hidden educational meaning or other meanings,so as to broaden the perspective of educational practice and promote their professional development.