From "Competency-Based" To "Performance Standard-Based"

The dissertation explores the process of development and innovation of foreign language teacher education in the USA. The research divides the development and innovation of foreign language teachers education into three historical stages:the colonial period to the1950s,1950s-1970s and1980s till now. And the paper elaborates the background and driving factors, development and implementation of foreign language teacher education in each stage. The research discusses pre-service, induction and in-service education for foreign language teachers in Longtitudinal dimension, and describes the professional standards, preparation program and evaluation system in lateral dimension. Based on the development and innovation of foreign language teacher education in the USA, the dissertation draws the conclusion that there’re five important features in the US foreign language teacher education:Firstly,"Competency-based" and "Performance Standard-based" foreign language teacher education innovations take the opportunity of federal foreign policies, but the connotation is totally different in nature. Secondly, the innovation highlights the process from group professionalism to individual professionalism among foreign language teachers. Thirdly, it demonstrates the spiral rise in the notion of foreign language teaching. Fourthly, the two reforms have promoted the development of foreign language teachers by professional standards set for foreign language teachers and the aims of development of foreign language teachers are concrete and practical. Fifthly, the evaluation system of foreign language teachers is scientific and proper. The development and innovation of foreign language teachers education in the USA give us important implications in three aspects:the professional standards of foreign language teachers should be established in China; the comprehensive qualities of foreign language teachers should be attached great importance to and the scientific and proper evaluation system of foreign language teachers should be established in China.