The effects of international field experience on pre-service teachers' professional development in Hong Kong

Abstract

This study explores the effects of an immersion programme to Australia on pre-service English teachers who are from the Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong. The experience of the pre-service teachers was examined in three aspects – language enhancement, cross-cultural awareness and pedagogical understanding. The sample was drawn from 10 participants and their experience reflected the benefits and drawbacks of the immersion programme. The immersion programme generally had positive effects on participants’ language enhancement and pedagogical understanding. It was most effective in raising students’ cultural awareness. But the programme also had limitations in terms of placement opportunities, class organizations and homestay arrangements. These findings will inform the improvement of immersion programmes as meaningful and significant experience for pre-service teachers’ professional development.