What is quality in English language teacher education?
Ron White Director of the Centre for Applied Language Studies, University of Reading, where he teaches on the MATEFL. His interests include the application of management principles and practices to ELT, the analysis and teaching of academic writing, and the study and teaching of inter-cultural communication. The concept of quality, although much discussed in commerce and in mainstream education, has received little attention in the ELT literature, least of all in teacher education. This article considers the problem of defining quality, given the diversity of interests and stakeholders involved in English language teacher education, and the range of definitions of teaching. It is especially important for all parties concerned to clarify their educational positions as a basis for defining objectives and for establishing the criteria by which quality is to be judged. Ultimately, quality can by achieved and sustained by attending to process in training, and developing professional skills
