8 research outputs found
Transitioning from master's studies to the classroom: from theory to practice
The importance of social interaction in a community of practice for promoting effective teacher learning is well established (Johnson & Golombek, 2011; Lave & Wenger, 1991). Research outlines the challenges language teachers experience in transitioning between teacher education programmes and the classroom, particularly regarding the theoryâpractice nexus, and emphasizes the professional community's key role in providing mentoring and support. In this regard, language teachersâ experiences in transitioning from theoretically oriented language education master's programmes to the language classroom are underresearched. This study reports data gathered from 21 mainland Chinese participants transitioning from master's programmes in three locations (Hong Kong, Scotland, and China) to language classrooms in China. In line with other research on teacher education programmes, this study's findings suggest interesting common experiences among these new teachers regardless of the context where their studies took place, including a sense of isolation, a âsinkâorâswimâ phenomenon leading to the abandonment of theoretically grounded pedagogical beliefs in exchange for adherence to âsafeâ practice, confusion regarding the relationship between learning on university programmes and the practice of teaching, and weak selfâefficacy as transitioning teachers face internal and external pressures. Implications and consequences are discussed in the context of the theoryâpractice nexus
Recommended from our members
Coronary Artery Calcification (CAC) and PostâTrial Cardiovascular Events and Mortality Within the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) EstrogenâAlone Trial
Background: Among women aged 50 to 59 years at baseline in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) EstrogenâAlone (EâAlone) trial, randomization to conjugated equine estrogenâalone versus placebo was associated with lower risk of myocardial infarction and mortality, and, in an ancillary study, the WHIâCACS (WHI Coronary Artery Calcification Study) with lower CAC, measured by cardiac computed tomography â8.7 years after baseline randomization. We hypothesized that higher CAC would be related to postâtrial coronary heart disease (CHD), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and total mortality, independent of baseline randomization or risk factors. Methods and Results: WHIâCACS participants (n=1020) were followed â8 years from computed tomography scan in 2005 (mean age=64.4) through 2013 for incident CHD (myocardial infarction and fatal CHD, n=17), CVD (n=69), and total mortality (n=55). Incident CHD and CVD analyses excluded women with CVD before scan (n=89). Women with CAC=0 (n=54%) had very low ageâadjusted rates/1000 personâyears of CHD (0.91), CVD (5.56), and mortality (3.45). In comparison, rates were â2âfold higher for women with any CAC (>0). Associations were not modified by baseline randomization to conjugated equine estrogenâalone versus placebo. Adjusted for baseline randomization and risk factors, the hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for CAC >100 (19%) was 4.06 (2.11, 7.80) for CVD and 2.70 (1.26, 5.79) for mortality. Conclusions: Among a subset of postmenopausal women aged 50 to 59 years at baseline in the WHI EâAlone Trial, CAC at mean age of 64 years was strongly related to incident CHD, CVD, and to total mortality over â8 years, independent of baseline randomization to conjugated equine estrogenâalone versus placebo or CVD risk factors. Clinical Trial Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00000611