Exploring English Language Supervisors’ Competencies from Kuwaiti Student Teachers’ Perspectives: A Study in the College of Basic Education (CBE)

Abstract

Supervision is an integral part of the language teacher education process which plays a significant role in improving teachers’ teaching practice. This study explores Kuwaiti English as a foreign language (EFL) female student teachers’ perspective on the performance of their supervisors during the practicum course. It sought to explore the general perspectives associated with supervisors’ supervision competencies with the view to informing improvements to their instructional supervisory skills. 50 EFL female student teachers from CBE participated in the study. Using a case study approach, a combination of a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews was used to generate answers to the research questions. The questionnaire findings suggested that student teachers generally have positive attitudes towards their supervisors’ competencies; however, interviews with participants have shed light on various issues that need to be considered. For example, supervisors’ feedback often focuses on participants’ Content Knowledge (CK) rarely addressing their Pedagogical Content knowledge (PCK). In addition, student-teachers stated that their relationships with their supervisors tended to be formal and authoritative, which prevented them from asking questions freely. This article discusses these findings in detail and highlights some practical implications that are likely to help EFL supervisors to enhance their supervisory practices.