Responsibilities and Commitments

Investigators

An investigator should hold at least a master's degree in Education/TESOL/Applied Linguistics with research experience (publications or recognised training).

Investigators in the Lab should take the following responsibilities: acquiring research skills, producing professional outputs, and mentoring trainees.

Research Skills Acquisition

Investigators are grouped into different teams to conduct research projects under the Director's supervision. They are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Timely completion of assigned tasks

• Research knowledge and skills

• Enhancement of expert and philosophical knowledge

Professional Outputs

Investigators are required to complete both of the following tasks:

Task 1: Writing Task

• An investigator should review research on a specific topic related to second language teacher education and write a 300-word post in a teacher-friendly manner. This post should be published on either the TERECONET Facebook page or group.

• Each investigator must complete at least three posts during the review period.

Task 2: Speaking Task

• An investigator should either speak/present at an academic event (e.g., conference, seminar, colloquium) or propose an independent Lab-funded academic event (e.g., workshop, webinar, talk show) during the review period.

Mentorship

Each investigator mentors up to three trainees, providing professional guidance through the following tasks:

• Assigning articles for reading (to be completed during the first week of the review period)

• Evaluating the quality of the critical essays upon completion

• Reviewing their mentees’ written outputs

• Assisting their mentees in preparing for spoken outputs

• Supervising their mentees in managing administrative tasks

• Completing the evaluation form of mentees’ performance during the first two weeks of the next review period

Trainees

Trainees in the Lab are evaluated across three domains: acquiring expert knowledge and skills, producing professional outputs, and managing administrative tasks.

Expert Knowledge and Skills Enhancement

• Trainees must complete two tasks that focus on their professional knowledge and skills in the domain of second language teacher education:

Task 1: Reading

• A trainee will be assigned 3-5 articles by their mentor, which they must critically analyse.

Task 2: Writing

• Based on the reading assignment, the trainee will produce a 1000-word critical essay demonstrating their understanding. This essay should be submitted via the Learning System.

Professional Outputs

• Trainees are expected to produce two types of academic products within a review period:

Written Outputs:

• A trainee should submit their academic writings to one of the following platforms:

• The Facebook Group of TERECONET (at least three posts)

• TERECONET Newsletter (at least one article)

• Newsletters of language education associations (at least one article)

• Publication outlets by recognised publishers (at least one manuscript)

Notes:

1. The platforms for submission in two consecutive review periods should be distinct.

2. The publication outlets are registered on an assigned-ratio basis.

Spoken Outputs:

• A trainee should speak or present at least once at an academic conference, a Lab workshop/webinar, a TERECONET get-together event, or another recognised academic event.

Administration

• Each trainee will be assigned an administrative task which they will manage during their tenure in the lab. This task will be allocated by the Director and monitored by their mentor.

• Potential administrative tasks include:

  • Managing the Lab’s website

  • Managing the Lab’s Facebook page

  • Designing graphics for Lab events and platforms

  • Organising in-person events

  • Organising online events