Characteristics of English Teachers in the 21st Century: The Perceptions of Lampang Rajabhat UniversityStudents, Lecturers and Mentors
Lampang Rajabhat University, Thailand
ABSTRACT
This research had two objectives: 1) to study the perception of English Education Major students, English lecturers at Lampang Rajabhat University; and mentors of fifth-year English Education Major students doing teaching practicum at schools towards effective characteristics of English teachers in the 21st century; and 2) to compare their perception towards effective characteristics of those teachers of English. The samples consisted of 295 English Education Major students, ten English lecturers, and twenty-two mentors of fifth- year students doing teaching practicum at schools. The instrument used was the questionnaire. Characteristics under study were: 1) personal characteristics; 2) socio-affective skills; 3) English proficiency; 4) pedagogical knowledge; and 5) skills essential for the 21st century. The findings were as follows: 1.) the perception towards effective characteristics of teachers of English in the 21st century of English Education Major students, lecturers of English, and mentors of fifth-year students as a whole was at a high level and when putting each item into consideration, it was also at a high level; and 2.) the results of comparing the ranking of effective characteristics of teachers of English in the 21st century by English Education Major students, English lecturers and mentors of fifth-year students were not different both holistically and partially from one another. Every group shared common characteristics when they ranked personal characteristic as the first and f o r e m o s t c o m p o n e n t w h e r e a s t h e o t h e r c o m p o n e n t s w e r e r a n k e d w i t h d i f f e r e n t o r d e r o f i m p o r t a n c e . T h i s w a s i n a c c o r d w i t h t h e i r l i f e e x p e r i e n c e s , r o l e s a n d e x p e c t a t i o n s a s s t u d e n t s , l e c t u r e r s o
KEYWORDS
Characteristics, Teachers of English, the 21st Century, Students Doing Teaching Practicum at Schools, Teacher Students’ Mentors