Developing Teachers' Expertise to Teach English Language: An Evaluative Study of Professional Development Programme at Taif University English Language Centre
Language teachers need opportunities to enhance and update their language teaching skills. Current researches in English language teaching methodologies have proved that teachers who stay up to date with latest teaching techniques are always efficient. They always need to be trained and aware of how they can continue being effective teachers and cope with relative challenges such as students' low level of language proficiency, large number of students in class at a time and longer teaching hours. Hence the sole objective of the present research is to evaluate the effectiveness of Professional Development Program (PDP) of Taif University. Seeking for this objective, the researcher collected the data through a questionnaire from the participating teachers both males (50) and females (50) The survey was based on five principles drawn by Loucks Horsley, et al. (2010) The respondents acknowledged the utility and importance of continuous up gradation of their professional development and leadership skills. They also acknowledged that PDP provides learning opportunity for them. Furthermore they regarded PDP in line with the TU ELC mission, goal, and objectives. However, they expressed constraints regarding experimentation of new instructional practices, continuous support and follow up activities, and a research base similar to the ELC situation, community and context.