Exploring English as a foreign language (EFL) teacher trainers’ perspectives on challenges to promoting computer literacy of EFL teachers

摘要

Computer literacy is a significant component of language teachers' computer-assisted lan- guage learning ( call ) knowledge. Despite its importance, limited research has been under- taken to analyze factors which might influence language teachers' computer literacy levels. This qualitative study explored the perspec- tives of 39 Iranian efl teacher trainers on possible challenges to efl teachers' computer literacy development. The findings suggest that the teacher trainers considered the role of com- puter literacy as important in efl teachers' professions. The teacher trainers reported a couple of challenges to efl teachers' develop- ment of computer literacy as well as measures to eliminate the effects of these challenges. In addition, the trainers did not have sufficient computer knowledge to prepare efl teachers for teaching in call courses. The findings fur- ther indicated that the participants perceived that efl teachers need to be trained for devel- o ping their computer literacy. However, the trainers did not have consensus on includ- ing computer literacy training for teachers in mainstream teacher training programs. Finally, computer skills related to using the Internet and language teaching software tools were regarded as necessary for efl teachers to acquire. The study would have implications for the improvement of mainstream teacher train- ing programs in Iran and other countries.