Study Of Secondary English Teachers' Beliefs In Hanzhong From Teachers' Metaphors Perspective

With the changes of the times,the continuous cultural shocks and innovation of educational concepts,learned men at home and aboard have increasing interest in the study of teachers' beliefs.Concerning about the meaning,English teachers' beliefs mean a kind of steadfast value judgment of English curriculum,English teaching,student management,student's English study and evaluation activities,which hide in teacher's mind and behavior.Teacher's conception of teaching,conception of students,conception of evaluation,teaching activities,student management activities and evaluation activities will be affected by teachers' beliefs.Meanwhile,these conceptions and activities can reflect the popularity of the new curriculum reform among English teachers.There are many study methods,like case study,interview and classroom observation.Some scholars think that analyzing teachers' metaphors is a good way to study teachers' beliefs,because metaphors have characteristics of implicitness and cognition,exposing teacher's obscure beliefs in direct statements of educational views and educational behavior.Thus the study of teachers' beliefs can touch teachers' hearts deeply.From teachers' metaphors perspective,the study is about to explore new curriculum reform's influence on secondary English teachers' beliefs and behavior in Hanzhong,which is significant to the reflection and perfection on secondary English teachers' beliefs and behavior.On the basis of former studies,the English teachers' beliefs questionnaire is compiled from 5 dimensions: curriculum,teaching,student management,student's English study and evaluation activities.146 questionnaires were sent out and 139 secondary English teachers in Hanzhong provided me valid questionnaire replies,and 3 teachers among them accepted my interview and classroom observation.The study also analyzes the pertinence between secondary English teachers' metaphors and English teachers' beliefs,the correlation between English teachers' beliefs and new curriculum standard's concepts,the relativity between English teachers' beliefs and teachers' classroom behavior,exposing the current situation of secondary English teachers' beliefs in Hanzhong.The research shows that in Hanzhong most secondary English teachers' beliefs are accordant to new curriculum standard's concepts,while having different inclinations in different dimensions.In dimensions of English teaching and student management,secondary English teachers' beliefs deviate from new curriculum standard's concepts.But in English curriculum,student's English study and evaluation dimensions,secondary English teachers' beliefs are close to new curriculum standard's concepts.The study also shows that to some degree,teachers' metaphors are relevant to English teachers' beliefs.Besides,interview and classroom observation indicate that in Hanzhong,secondary English teachers' beliefs are generally accordant to teachers' classroom behavior.