What do EFL Teachers Seek in Professional Development Programs? Voices from Teachers. ; What do EFL Teachers Seek in Professional Development Programs? Voices from Teachers ; *What do EFL Teachers Seek in Professional Development Programs? Voices from Teachers ; O que procuram os professores de EFL nos programas de desenvolvimento profissional? Vozes dos Professores

This article reports the findings of a qualitative study about the needs reported by EFL (English Foreign Language) teachers in their professional work, carried out in Medellín, Colombia. Two groups of public school teachers and two of private school teachers participated in the data collection. Focus group sessions and a questionnaire were used as data collection instruments. Results suggest that EFL teachers experience needs in three different domains of their professional lives: as workers, as instructors, and as learners. Traditional approaches have overestimated their role as instructors denying the importance of the other two domains. The authors conclude that EFL teachers look for professional development programs that address the three domains holistically. They call for teacher educators' attention to explore possibilities to fulfill those needs. Received 03-07-02 / Accepted 12-08-02 How to reference this article: González M, A.; Montoya A, C. & Sierra O., N. (2002). What do EFL Teachers Seek in Professional Development Programs? Voices from Teachers. Íkala. 7(1). pp. 29 – 50 ; Este artículo da cuenta de los hallazgos de un estudio cualitativo, realizado en Medellín, Colombia, sobre las necesidades reportadas por profesores de inglés como lengua extranjera en su desempeño profesional. En la recolección de datos se incluyeron dos grupos de profesores de colegios públicos y dos de colegios privados. Los instrumentos usados para recoger la información fueron sesiones de grupos focales y un cuestionario. Los resultados sugieren que dichos profesores tienen necesidades en tres ámbitos diferentes de su vida profesional: como trabajadores, como instructores y como aprendices y se concluye que estos profesores buscan programas de desarrollo profesional que abarquen en forma integral dichos ámbitos. Tradicionalmente se sobrestima su papel como instructores y se niega la importancia de los otros dos. También se hace un llamado, a quines preparan profesores, a explorar posibilidades que satisfagan esas ...