The context of this study is the four-year Bachelor of Education (English Language) Programme (BEdEL) in a university in Hong Kong. The curriculum of the programme coursework includes Discipline Studies (e.g., courses on English literature, grammar, vocabulary and Phonology, and theories of language learning), Professional Studies (e.g., ESL teaching methodology, classroom management, curriculum and assessment), and General Education The BEdEL programme also has a school-based field experience component which consists of a one-week school attachment and an 8-week teaching practicum. The one-week school attachment is undertaken in the second semester of the second year in the programmae. The school attachment experience is intended to develop awareness of English language teaching and learning experiences in primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong. The 8-week teaching practicum is undertaken in the second semester of the third year in the programme. The practicum aims to engage the BEdEL student teachers in real teaching context at primary or secondary levels where they work with teachers in the school and engage with their supporting teachers and tertiary supervisors in professional dialogues through post-lesson conferences. Through the eight-week teaching practice, the student teachers are expected to show enhanced confidence and proficiency in taking up the roles and responsibilities of a teacher in the school. Specifically, during the first 3-4 days of the practicum, the student teachers work full days at the school, liaising with their school supporting teachers to engage in collaborative teaching with them if possible. The supporting teacher, also known as class teacher, acts as a mentor and helps familiarize the student teacher with the school routines and some other pedagogical matters such as the level of their class, lesson planning and preparation, but he or she is not responsible for evaluating the student teacher’s teaching. During the rest of the practicum period, the student teacher takes over the assigned class and conducts independent teaching. All the student teachers’ teaching performance during the practicum is assessed by their university supervisors through the following three components: 1) Classroom teaching performance. The student teachers’ teaching performance is
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assessed on a Distinction/Credit/Pass/Fail system of evaluation by their tertiary supervisors. A minimum of two visits must be made to each student teacher by their tertiary supervisor. In case of unsatisfactory performance, two referral visits will be arranged. 2) Classroom Language Assessment. Classroom Language Assessment focuses on the following aspects of the student teachers’ use of English in the classroom: accuracy and range of grammatical structures; accuracy of pronunciation, stress and intonation; ability to use English as the language of instruction. 3) Reflective journal. Student teachers are required to write a 1000word summative reflection upon completing their teaching practice. The reflective summary should contain the following contents: a brief introduction which summarizes their experiences in the school; their most significant achievements; a conclusion that signals forward planning for self-improvement towards becoming an effective full-time language teacher. Each student teacher’s reflective journal is also evaluated by his or her university supervisor.