Evaluating Professional competence of adult-level EFL teachers in the Iranian English language teaching private sector

Quality assurance and accountability of EFL teachers in the educational context are the main aims of standard-based evaluation. This study aimed at evaluating professional competence of in-service adult-level EFL teachers in the private sector. To this end, the self-assessment questionnaire was responded by 385 EFL teachers working in the private sector in South, North, East, West, and Center of Iran. Moreover, 32 EFL classes in the private sector were observed in Tehran and Suburbs of Tehran and 25 EFL teachers working in private sector in different parts of Iran were also interviewed. Indeed, the findings of the present study unraveled the strength and weakness of adult-level EFL teachers in five domains of professional competence including describing language and understanding language acquisition and development processes, intercultural skill, assessment skill, professionalism skills, and planning, implementing, and managing instruction. The results of the present study may have potentially significant implications for Iranian ELT policy making, ELT program development, teacher education, and teacher training.