A Research on Elementary English Educationand English Teacher-Training Programs towards Globalization

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The purpose of this study was to investigate and make recommendations about three areas; elementary English curriculum, English teacher education, and in-service teacher-training in our global era. In the present globalized society, English teachers are expected to have the following qualities: English language competence, English teaching techniques, cross-cultural understanding, and global perspectives. In order to develop the qualities of pre-service teachers, starting from 2010, this research project implemented videoconferencing into English teacher training courses to explore its effectiveness and potential. On the basis of partnership with European educational institutions and US universities, videoconference collaborations were incorporated into teacher-training classes as an extension of micro-teaching. Student teachers gathered information on a topic related to their regional culture, created reading materials, slides, and prepared for live micro-teaching sessions in order to improve their language competence, communication skills, teaching and presentation techniques, material development, and cultural awareness. The findings of this study were shared among local school districts and educational institutions. They were also presented at five international conferences, and published in three international journals.