| This study explored L2/EFL teachers' professional development and personal growth in Taiwan and provided cross-cultural perspectives on participants' experienced knowledge using David Hunt's inside-out approach and C-RE-A-T-E Cycle. Nine high school teachers of English subject volunteered to participate in the research program. The program included two phases of workshops and interviews held within a period of three months totaling 18 to 24 meeting hours for each participant.;In phase one, the participants used the 'Inside-out approach' to explore three forms of experienced knowledge: learning styles, implicit theories about teaching and teachers' roles, and personal images. In phase two, the participants applied Hunt's C-RE-A-T-E Cycle to their personal concerns/problems in L2/EFL teaching and learning. The results indicated that both the participants and the researcher gained significant insights into their learning and teaching, providing rich descriptions of different kinds of personal and professional growth and renewal. Major findings include: (a) first-hand experience helps develop one's own knowledge, (b) learning styles are influenced by culture, (c) teachers' implicit theories about their professional role were highly related to their past experiences, (d) positive learning from participants' past teaching experience guided their future learning, (e) personal images helped participants connect with the energy of their inner resources and wisdom, (f) self-confidence and collaboration helped colleagues grow together, (g) concerns about how teachers and their students interact in the classroom reflected a perceived need for immediate educational reform.;Accordingly, the strengths and weaknesses of this professional development program when applied in Taiwan were identified. Common concerns included, the significant amount of time needed to deliver the program, as well as the personal difficulties experienced in bringing out images and transforming them. Nevertheless, the participants acknowledged the many benefits and practical implications of Hunt's inside-out approach and the C-RE-A-T-E Cycle. The participants and the researcher concluded that the journey of professional development and personal growth must be an on-going process.;In addition, these results have various implications for L2/EFL learning and teaching in Taiwan. Taking a socio-cultural perspective, a chapter was devoted to reflections on possible L2/EFL classroom practices, striving to provide new directions for teachers' professional development and personal growth. |
