An analytical study of the pre-service teacher education program at the University of Baghdad for prospective teachers of English in Iraq

The purpose of the study was to identify and interpret the specific problems that affect the teacher education programs for prospective secondary school teachers of English in Iraq and establish some recommendations for their improvement.

To achieve this objective, the researcher described and analyzed the preparation of English teachers in Iraq in the light of new trends and theories of teacher education in general and foreign language as well as English as a second and/or foreign language teacher education in particular. In addition, the researcher designed two questionnaires which she administered personally during her visit to Iraq. The purpose of these questionnaires was to identify the perceptions and opinions of faculty members of the department of English/College of Education at the University of Baghdad and those of teachers of English prepared by the program under study. A total of thirty-eight faculty and eighteen teachers of English participated in this study.

The findings of this study are summarized as follows: 1) No set of objectives or means by which these objectives can be met are stated; 2) The study of literature receives greater emphasis than that of basic language skills; 3) Prospective teachers of English have no contact with native speakers of the English language either live or recorded; 4) The majority of faculty have no previous teaching experience in Iraqi secondary schools nor are they familiar with the Iraqi school system on the secondary school level; 5) The majority of participating teachers of English are unfamiliar with the new trends and developments in teaching English as a foreign language; 6) Phonetics and grammar are the first two courses rated by the highest percentage of respondents as "extremely important" for the preparation of English teachers in Iraq; 7) The required courses in general education are perceived to be sufficient for the preparation of Iraqi teachers of English. However, the required courses in specialized and professional education seem insufficient; 8) Modern methods and techniques of teaching English, student-teaching experience and qualified staff are the points in the programs that seem to need more concentration and emphasis.