سمیه بنی اسد آزاد

Objective: Despite the documented benefits of Critical Friends Groups (CFGs) in various educational contexts, their application within the Iranian EFL system, characterized by top-down policies and limited teacher autonomy, remains underexplored. This study explores Iranian English teachers’ perceptions of CFGs as a collaborative professional development model. Methods: Situated within a larger research project on CFG implementation, this paper specifically reports the findings from semi-structured interviews with 10 junior high school EFL teachers who participated in CFG sessions. Results: Thematic analysis of interview data reveals that teachers generally viewed CFGs as a valuable space for professional dialogue, mutual support, and reflective practice. Participants highlighted the benefits of structured peer feedback, increased collegiality, and the opportunity to discuss classroom challenges in a non-evaluative environment. However, some expressed concerns about time constraints, varying levels of engagement, and the need for clearer facilitation. Conclusion: These insights contribute to the growing body of research on collaborative teacher development in EFL settings and offer practical implications for designing effective professional learning communities in centralized educational systems.

در دو دهه گذشته، آموزش صورت محور با تمرکز دوسویه بر صورت و معنا، توجه متخصصان زبان دوم را جلب کرده است. آنچه کمتر مورد توجه بوده، تأثیر انواع آموزش صورت محور بر زبان آموزی است. این مطالعه، به بررسی تأثیر آموزش صورت محور یکپارچه و متوالی با میانجیگری سبک های حساسیت زمینه ای می پردازد. چهل و هشت زبان آموز (میانگین سنی 12 سال) به مدت هشت ماه در انجام مجموعه ای از پیش آزمون ها، کارخواست های یکپارچه و متوالی و پس آزمون ها شرکت کردند. با استفاده از روش پژوهش متوازن، زبان آموزان وابسته به زمینه و نابسته به زمینه ، یکبار بصورت یکپارچه و یکبار بصورت متوالی آموزش دیدند. نتایج تی-تست و آنکووا نشان داد: دو نوع آموزش بطور یکسان در فراگیری واژگان و دستورموثر بودند؛ گروه متوالی در منظورشناسی عملکرد بهتری داشت؛ و گروه نابسته به زمینه در فراگیری واژگان عملکرد بهتری داشت. به مدرسان توصیه میشود بمنظور تطابق سبک های شناختی ترکیبی از آموزش متوالی و یکپارچه را بکار گیرند.

This study investigated the nature of EFL teacher education programs with respect to implementation, practicality, and approach to teacher learning. The data were collected through observation of two teacher education programs and interviews with 8 teacher trainers. The results attested to the transmission orientation of the programs. It was found that a pre-specified body of teaching knowledge is transferred from the trainers to the teachers. Teachers’ creativity, prior knowledge, and experience, the role of teaching context, and the population of learners are not considered in program development. The results of interviews with teacher trainers supported the results of the observations. It was found that even the trainers are not involved in the process of program development, as they are only transmitting the materials presented by textbook authors. The findings also indicated that what teachers considered beneficial for their development was different from what was incorporated in the programs. The existing gap between macro plans and teachers’ practices and preferences results from the centralized education system in Iran in which practicing teachers are not involved in the policy-making process. Implications for teacher education in general and EFL teacher education programs in particular are discussed.