Eighteenth International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities

Abstract

This study explores the experience of becoming English teachers in two multicultural countries through narratives from pre-service teachers in the United States and Malaysia. In general, the United States and Malaysia share similarities in the demographic landscapes whereby both are the multicultural countries whose populations consist of people from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. With regard to the English language, it possesses a crucial role in both countries. This study investigates the experiences of becoming teachers of English-Language Learners in the United States and Malaysia where a growing number of student populations come from the diverse linguistic and cultural background, while the majority of teacher population is from mainstream backgrounds. Data analysis revealed four major themes: (1) Personal Development (2) Developing Relationship (3) Professional Development and (4) Pedagogical Practices. The findings indicate that there are differences in the sense of preparedness between the pre-service teachers in the two countries, as well as the nature of curricular experiences.