Language Teacher Assessment: Iranian Stakeholders’ Views

Abstract

Language teacher assessment, like many aspects of second language teacher education, is changing. To understand factors that are driving the change, such as work of teaching generally, language teaching in particular, and the role of teachers' knowledge in teaching, this study examined language teacher assessment schemes across the globe. The aim was to arrive at a set of shared beliefs, attitudes, and values that specify the minimum knowledge, skills, and values that are necessary for foreign language teachers. In this study after reviewing the literature the opinions of a number of stakeholders were sought through Delphi method. The results indicated that Iranian stakeholders mainly thought of language teacher competency as knowledge of language– knowing about language, its grammar, form, and uses, so in their view assessing language teachers was simply a matter of testing teachers' knowledge of language.