The Role of Reflective Practice in Iranian EFL Teachers’ Professional Development and Classroom Effectiveness
Subject Areas : Teacher Education and Training
Mehrdad Rezaee
1
*
,
Saeed Sayyad Chamani
2
,
Mohsen Noroozieh
3
1 - Department of English, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Safir Language Academy
3 - Safir Language Academy, Tehran, Iran
Keywords: Reflective Practice, Teacher Development, Classroom Effectiveness, Iranian EFL Teachers,
Abstract :
Reflective practice is widely recognized as a cornerstone of teacher professional growth and effective classroom teaching. This study investigated its impact on Iranian EFL teachers’ development and their students’ learning outcomes, specifically focusing on engagement and academic achievement. A nine-month longitudinal mixed-methods study was conducted with 30 Iranian EFL teachers (aged 24–50) selected based on snow ball sampling technique and 300 students (mixed gender, aged 12–18, intermediate proficiency) taught by those teachers from Safir Language Academy in Tehran. Teachers engaged in structured reflective activities, including journaling, peer discussions, and guided reflection sessions. Data were collected through reflective journals, semi-structured interviews, and student performance assessments, and were analyzed using thematic analysis and paired samples t-tests. The findings revealed that reflective practice enhanced teachers’ self-awareness and adaptability in instructional strategies, while students of reflective teachers demonstrated higher engagement and improved academic achievement. Barriers such as time constraints and limited institutional support were also identified. Overall, the study highlights the transformative potential of reflective practice in advancing teacher professional development and promoting more effective EFL classrooms in the Iranian context.
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