This document discusses building small-t theories from teaching practice in Greek English language teaching. It outlines three approaches to professional development: 1) the applied science model which separates theory and practice, 2) theorizing practice by developing personal, situated theories, and 3) building a small theory by identifying tensions in one's own teaching as a starting point. An example is given of a teacher identifying tensions around content, delivery methods, and objectives using a primary English coursebook. The goal is to empower teachers by valuing their own practical theories developed from experience.

1. Empowering Language Teaching and Learning
From Applying Theory to Theorising Practice:
building small-t theories in Greek ELT
Achilleas Kostoulas, achilleas@kostoulas.com
1. The Applied Science model of professional development
9 The main component of teacher education is a thorough grounding in linguistics pedagogical
theory.
9 Limited limiting view of professional development:
- Spatial and temporal divide between ‘theory’ and ‘practice’
- Tension between researchers and teachers
- Disempowered teachers
2. Theorising practice
9 Differences between ‘Theory’ and ‘theory’:
Theory theory
General Personal
Abstract Situated
Top-down Bottom-up
9 Conceptual framework:
a. Transmissive Pedagogy
Encompasses grammar-translation, audiolingualism etc.
Common ground: accuracy ethos, grammar, testing
Communicative
b. Communicative Pedagogy
Encompasses CLT, Task Based Learning etc.
Common ground: communicative competence, learning
group ideal, direct teaching methods
c. Critical Pedagogy Transmissive
missive Critic
Critical
Encompasses critical and eclectic approaches
Common ground: awareness of (political) context,
principled eclecticism
3. Building a small-theory: an example
9 Primary ELT coursebooks
9 Starting point: teacher-generated problematisation text (overleaf)
9 ‘Points of tension’:
- Content (What?)
- Media (How?)
- Ends (Why?)
This presentation can be viewed at http://www.slideshare.net/AchilleasKostoulas/presentations