Conceptions of Teaching and the Education of Second Language Teachers

Teaching is variously defined as a science, a technology, a craft, or an art. Each of these characterizations carries with it defined orientations towards what teaching is, what essential skills it involves, and what teachers must know. They also contribute to defining different approaches to the preparation of teachers. Using a framework proposed by Zahorik (1986) which classifies general conceptions of teaching into three main categories—science/research conceptions, theory/philosophy conceptions, and art/craft conceptions—we review the different conceptions of second language instruction prevalent in the field of TESOL and consider their implications for second language teacher education. The aim is to present a framework for analyzing second language teaching which will shift the focus of discussions of teaching from behavior and activity to the thinking and reasoning which organizes and motivates these external practices.