English Teachers Studying

Overseas (researched by Bambang Yudi Cahyono)

Ikhfi Imaniah

Background of Study

One of the ways to develop English Teachers’ professional competence is by sending them to study in a graduate program in English language education (Cahyono, 2008a; 2009)

Background of Study

The policy of the Government of East Java:

1. To improve English teachers’ professional competence.

2. To develop the quality of education.

Background of Study

1. To improve English teachers’ professional competence

Government of East Java selected 22 English teachers of Pre-Internationally Standardized Schools (RSBI) join to “sandwich study” program.

Background of Study

2. To develop the quality of education

Establishing Internationally Standardized Schools (SBI) which are started by the implementation of RSBI.

Expectation

To examine how the English teachers see the opportunities that they have got to study overseas.

Method

Three open-ended questions raised as follows:

1. How do you feel with regard to the opportunity study overseas?

2. What do you expect to learn when they study overseas?

3. How do you see the education overseas in relation to their professional development?

Findings

1. Feelings on the opportunity to study overseas

No Feelings of studying overseas

No of cases

1 Excited 18

2 Challenged 14

3 Sad 3

Findings

2. Expectations of Studying Overseas

The three top responses showing that the English teachers expected:

1) Getting new experiences

2) Understanding cross-cultural value

3) Searching for references

Findings

3. Perspectives on Professional Development from studying Overseas

No Relation of the education to professional development

No of cases

1. Increasing professionalism 12

2. Advancing education 8

3. Enriching experiences in running classes 4

4 Giving more credits related to teachers’ certification program

1

Conclusions

The results of the study:

1. Contribute to professional development of the English teachers participating in the sandwich study program during their graduate program.

Conclusions

2. The opportunity to study overseas was cheerfully with various expectations favorable for the important of the teachers’ academic and professional competence.

Conclusions

3. Academic and cultural benefits of attending the sandwich study program overseas surpasses the reward of getting a piece of certificate for portfolios required in the teachers’ certification program.

Conclusions

In short, with these findings showing the success of sandwich study program in improving English teachers’ academic and professional competences by studying in a graduate level of education.