An Exploratory Study
Abstract
This work investigates thirty-two teacher candidates’ knowledge of action research (AR) as a medium to support English language pedagogy in Ecuador. Teacher candidates participated in focus groups in the last semester of their teacher preparation program and completed pre/post surveys before and after instructional workshops. Surveys served to examine changes in participants’ perceptions due to participation in the workshops. Data analysis indicates participants’ interest in expanding their understanding of and ability to implement AR in their classrooms. Findings document a disconnection between trainees’ conceptions of the role of the teacher in the researcher role and the possibilities that classroom research offers to improve instructional practice.