Doing Action Research in English Language Teaching: A Guide for Practitioners

ESL & Applied Linguistics Professional

by Anne Burns

... original in approach, engaging in style and persuasive in terms of its content and structure.
Keith Richards, University of Warwick, UK


This hands-on, practical guide for ESL/EFL teachers and teacher educators outlines, for those who are new to doing action research, what it is and how it works. Straightforward and reader friendly, it introduces the concepts and offers a step-by-step guide to going through an action research process, including illustrations drawn widely from international contexts. Specifically, the text addresses:


action research and how it differs from other forms of research



the steps involved in developing an action research project



ways of developing a research focus



methods of data collection



approaches to data analysis



making sense of action research for further classroom action



Each chapter includes a variety of pedagogical activities:


Pre-reading questions



Reflection points invite readers to think about/discuss what they have read



Action points ask readers to carry out action-research related tasks based on what they have read



Classroom voices illustrate aspects of action from teachers internationally



Summary points provide a synopsis of the discussion in the chapter



Bringing the how-to and the what together, Doing Action Research: A Guide for Language is the perfect text for BATESOL and MATESOL courses in which action research ins the focus or a required component.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Linguistics

207 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 15, 2009

About the author

Anne Burns is Professor of TESOL at the University of New South Wales, Australia, and Professor Emerita, at Aston University, UK. She has published extensively on teaching speaking, action research and language teacher education.

Reviews

[Thomas Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent action research guide

If you found other books on Action Research dry, impenetrable or irrelevant to your specific circumstances (as I did), read the book first. It's clear, concise and adaptable to almost any situation. A nurturing hand to guide you through your Action Research.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot from this book and I really like the ideas behind action research. It's a good read for most teachers.