Demystifying Perceptions of Teacher-trainers and Pre-Service Teachers Regarding Internship Modules of TEFL Program in Farhangian Teacher Education University

In order to obtain efficient and skilled teachers who can meet the needs and goals of education, internship programs have been designed for today's student-teachers who are in a way future teachers. The importance and necessity of implementing the internship program for teachers to acquire professional qualifications is vastly highlighted by teacher educators in the Iranian context, as well. The present study was an attempt to investigate the status quo of internship modules in Iranian EFL Teacher Education Programs through comparing perceptions of professors and Pre-Service Teachers about internship modules of TEFL program in Farhangian Teacher Education University. To accomplish this, the study followed a sequential exploratory mixed-methods design. A framework for internship in Iranian EFL teacher education programs was developed through a through literature review and interviews with ۱۰ experts (TEFL teacher-trainers). This framework was used to develop and validate two questionnaires concerning the perception of student-teachers and teacher-trainers about the TEFL internship module used in the teacher education program of Farhangian University. Two hundred (n=-۲۰۰) student-teachers and fifty (n=۵۰) teacher-trainers completed their respective questionnaires. Likewise, the aforementioned framework was used to develop interview forms to elicit information concerning the study topic from both student-teachers and teacher trainers. The results of interviews with pre-service teachers and teacher trainers and the questionnaire results were compared and contrasted and the results revealed concordance of the views of student- teachers and teacher-trainers about internship modules offered in the university. However, different and sometimes opposing perspective were presented concerning the quality of the module as held in the target schools. The findings could be used by TEFL teacher educators, teacher trainers, in-service tae hers, and pre-service teachers in the Iranian ELT programs.