PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND EFL TEACHERS’ TRAINING NEEDS: A SIMULATION STUDY

Abstract

Professional development programs (PDPs) are the door for teachers to learn and acquire the latest approaches in the teaching process. This study aimed to find out the EFL teachers’ needs that should be incorporated in PDPs and the extent to which the current PDPs at Taif University English Language Center (TUELC) met the EFL teachers’ needs. These aims were fulfilled through an explanatory sequential research design which used questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. The findings revealed that teachers need to be trained on most of the proposed educational skills such as teaching skills, research skills, and management skills. Furthermore, the current study revealed that years of teaching experience is not a factor in determining EFL teachers’ needs of PDPs. They also showed that the current PDPs have met EFL teachers’ needs to some extent. However, there were few important needs that should be focused on during the designing of PDPs. Therefore, this study recommended to have needs analysis before conducting any training program as success of PDPs depends on identification and understanding teachers’ perceptions and needs. Needs Analysis enables the training programs designers to focus on teachers’ needs without wasting their time and efforts. This study contributed to the knowledge of EFL teachers’ needs in PDPs which were identified based on its findings.