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Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge in Teaching English as a Foreign Language: Representation of Primary Teachers of English in Taiwan

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Abstract

The importance of teachers’ technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge (TPACK) in conducting effective technology-enhanced instruction has been recognized; however, the understanding of teachers’ TPACK when teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL), as well as the need for their further TPACK development, has not been properly addressed. To fill the gap in TPACK research in the EFL domain, this study aims to explore the TPACK among 22 in-service EFL teachers at elementary schools in Taiwan. Also, the possible needs of these EFL teachers for their future professional development were investigated. In order to better portray the TPACK of the EFL teachers, both their synthesized TPACK and performance on the seven TPACK construct components were evaluated in this study. A quantitative questionnaire was used to assess the EFL teachers’ performance on the seven TPACK construct components. Their synthesized TPACK was revealed by means of interviews and classroom observations. The Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy and the pedagogic framework for computer-assisted language learning were used to analyze the qualitative data collected from the interviews and class observations. The results indicated that the EFL teachers needed more technology knowledge to further develop their TPACK, and that the EFL teachers’ TPACK focused much on motivating students, rather than on using technology for creating opportunities for students to use English language meaningfully and authentically.

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Acknowledgment

This study was funded by research grants from Ministry of Science and Technology, (former National Science Council), Taiwan (NSC 99-2410-H-142-011- and NSC 101-2628-S-008-001-MY3). We are most grateful for the support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Network Learning Technology, National Central University, 300 Jhongda Rd., Jhongli District, Taoyuan City, 32001, Taiwan

    Ying-Tien Wu

  2. Department of English, National Taichung University of Education, 140 MinSheng Road, Taichung, 403, Taiwan

    Amber Yayin Wang

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  1. Ying-Tien Wu
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  2. Amber Yayin Wang
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Correspondence to Amber Yayin Wang.

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Wu, YT., Wang, A.Y. Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge in Teaching English as a Foreign Language: Representation of Primary Teachers of English in Taiwan. Asia-Pacific Edu Res 24, 525–533 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-015-0240-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-015-0240-7

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