Strategies For BE Teachers' Professional Development

The research of BE (Business English) teachers'development in China has attracted more and more attention. However, the current achievement is still far behind. Most of the published papers on the topic of "ESP/BE teachers'education/ development" in China are general analyses of the current situation and problems of ESP/BE teachers, but none has brought forward practical and systematic solutions or strategies to practically improve the quality of BE teachers and BE teaching in China.This thesis makes a survey of the current situation of BE teachers and BE teaching in China with the help of questionnaires to the attendees of the Eighth National Business English Teaching and Research Conference. The result of the survey has exposed three problems. They are:1) deficiency of BE teachers with rich BE teaching experience and professional practice experience; 2) deficiency of BE teachers with profound subject knowledge and BE pedagogical knowledge; 3) deficiency of systematic BE teachers'training programs. The fundamental reason of these deficiencies lies in BE teachers'neglect of professional development.Based on Freeman's language teachers'learning theory and Dudley-Evans& St. John's ESP teaching theories, this thesis summarizes the qualifications of BE teachers. Viewing both the problems and the qualifications, this thesis proposes a working model for BE teachers'professional development, which is an annotation of Wallace's reflective practice model of professional education/development from the angle of the specific discipline of BE.In this model, practice and reflection are the two most important methods for BE teachers'professional development. They are in a continuous circle in BE teachers' professional development.The thesis analyzes four strategies for BE teachers'professional development. They are:BE teachers'training programs, action research, professional practice and team-teaching.BE teachers'training program is the base for BE teachers'professional development. The thesis analyzes its necessity, advantages and its flexible forms. A recommended training programs with 10 optional modules is designed with references to the characteristics of BE teachers in China.Action research is the core strategy for BE teachers'professional development. The thesis has suggested five research methods for BE teachers to do action research: diary, classroom observation, questionnaire, interview and micro teaching.Professional practice is an effective supporting approach for BE teachers' professional development. The thesis analyzes the functions of professional practice in BE teachers'professional development through the analysis of the five steps of professional skills'accumulation.Team-teaching is the insurance for BE teachers'professional development. This thesis has suggested two forms of team-teaching and analyzed the premises of successful team-teaching.