VIETNAMESE PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS’ PERSPECTIVE OF THE CHALLENGES AND OUTCOMES OF TEACHING PRACTICUM IN MALAYSIA.

Abstract

Recently, with the growth of needs in preparation for global teachers who can work in multi-culture
and diversity students in the class. Reviews show the numerous of studies mentioned pre-service
teachers go abroad for teaching practice, however, a little is known about this short course for preservice English foreigner language (EFL) teachers do English teaching practicum (ETP) in the countries
with English as Second Language (ESL).
This qualitative study was conducted to explore Vietnamese pre-service EFL teachers perspectives of
experience challenges and ETP’s outcomes in ESL Malaysia. A total of 10 students who involved and
implemented the (ETP) in March 2019 organized by School of Educational Studies of Universiti
Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), were selected to be participants in a semi-structured interview with the
self-protocol instrument. The content was recorded, transcribed and managed by Nvivo 12 and thematic
development method in data analysis applied.
The findings revealed that the Vietnamese pre-service EFL teachers facing several challenges when
teaching practice in ESL Malaysia. Some emerged themes of cross-culture shock, social-linguistic multi
accent, new curriculum & textbook, teaching pedagogy for diversity students, depth reflection, multidimension scales). However, after 4 weeks, students perceived the experienced beneficial and
meaningful professional skills and inter-culture development with advanced themes of enhancing
intercultural competence; interpersonal skills growth, Improving Proficient English; developing
professional teaching skills; advantage soft-skills & experience co-operational skills.
Besides that, the study found some factors, such as ethnocentric, eco-society, traditional culture in
Malaysia, affected students’ global awareness and national psychology. The findings can be used to
improve teacher education/training especially strategies for EFL teachers teaching practicum are
suggested. This study benefits the students, educators, and administrators who are interested in
international education and student teaching abroad programs.