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              REVIEWS           .


              SOCIAL INTERACTION
              IN LANGUAGE TEACHER
              EDUCATION                                                                                                 SHUTTERSTOCK
              Fiona Farr, Angela Farrell
              and Elaine Freeman
              Edinburgh University Press, 2019
              ISBN: 978-1-4744-1264-3

                    his book uses empirical data, i.e. data
                    based on actual observation, to
                    demonstrate how novice and early
              Tcareer teachers pursuing MA and
              doctoral studies can be understood both as a
              community of themselves alone, and as
              apprentices to the world of English language
              teaching. Such understanding is gained by
              discourse analysis of a carefully created
              corpus.
                However, as the findings that outline the
              processes through which student teachers are
              able to form their identity and become
              socialised into the community of English
              language teachers are not immediately clear
              without detailed reading, I initially felt the
              most likely beneficiary of such a study would   Becoming a
              be those researching this area.
                Chapter One introduces the context in
              which the data in the corpus was gathered,
              ranging from institutional, classroom, on-line   language teacher
              and academic discourse. Following this, the
              theoretical and pedagogical arguments for a
              data-led approach to teacher education are
              presented. As the latter deals with aspects   Wayne Trotman reviews a study of the
              such as socio-cultural theory and Vygotsky’s
              much mentioned ‘Zone of Proximal    socialisation of trainee-teachers
              Development’ (each explained in the
              necessary glossary at the start of the book),
              this section requires close reading; no more   among novice teacher talk. Findings show   questioning and reasoning, the functions of
              so than when the work of Donald Freeman,   how topics such as educational theory and   narration, cognition, stance and evaluation
              that giant in the education of second   practice were much more likely to be   were core features. It is also pointed out how
              language teachers, is discussed.    discussed online than in face-to-face   narration, and questioning and reasoning,
                Table 2.2 outlines the generations involved   tutorials. This was reflected, although to a   tend to re-occur as teachers seek to better
              in studying the mind of the budding language   lesser degree, in the sub-categories of   understand themselves.
              teacher. It describes how research on trainee   linguistics and learning contexts. Helpfully,   The closing chapter on conclusions and
              teachers has moved                                 pointers for both   implications underlines key findings
              from considering them                              trainers and supervisors   concerning metalanguage and topic, language
              as people with              Topics such as         are provided. For   teacher identity and reflective practice. For
              individualistic minds –                            example, suggestions   example, how the types of mediation and
              ideas that were initially   educational theory     that in teaching practice   guidance that lecturers, teaching practice
              explored using          and practice were          feedback sessions the   supervisors and peer tutors provide may need
              Behaviourist methods                               focus should perhaps be   to take into account trainees from
              such as Audio-         much more likely to         more on professional   international backgrounds. It also considers
              lingualism and         be discussed online         norms than individual   the vital nature of creating opportunities for
              Suggestopedia. The                                 student-teacher     novice teachers to engage in collaborative
              current generation of   than in face-to-face       performance.        dialogue with experienced colleagues.
              research appears to view                            Chapter Six explores   Although largely theoretical in its early
              trainee teachers as        tutorials.              the complex field of   chapters, close reading of the remainder of
              socially situated and                              language teacher    this title provides much food for thought for
              involved in complex, chaotic systems. Yet   identity – ‘ ...a construct of how I see myself   those interacting with trainee teachers on a
              what these systems are is not really made   and how I think others see me’ (page 103);   daily basis.
              clear.                              and describes pronoun usage among novice
                Chapters four and five provide the most   and experienced student teachers. The data
              direct value to the teacher-educator, as they   shown here indicates how the former tend to   Wayne
                                                                                                       Trotman is a
              describe and draw on the data to provide a   be more preoccupied with their own          teacher educator
              snapshot of the ways teachers are socialised   experiences and sharing them with others,   at Izmir Katip
              into the ELT community. This includes an   with language such as, ‘I was’ / ‘I think’ / ‘I   Çelebi
              exploration of what are described as a ‘shared   had’ at the top of the list.            University,
              repertoire’ of sub-categories of the   The penultimate chapter focuses on the            Izmir, Turkey.
              metalanguage and topics constantly arising   language of reflection where, along with

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