TEFL Program Evaluation at Masterʹʹs Level in Iran

Abstract This paper reports part of a large-scale study designed based on Stufflebeamʹs CIPP Model (2002) to evaluate the TEFL curriculum in MA program implemented at nine major universities in Iran with regard to the Official Curriculum developed in 1987. Participants included 68 MA students, 34 instructors, and nine administrators. Required data were collected through three questionnaires, interviews, and written responses. Two course-based questionnaires including 3-point and 5-point Likert type items as well as one open-ended question for students and instructors were developed based on the Official Curriculum. To develop the Administratorsʹ questionnaire, several program evaluation questionnaires for administrators were consulted out of which items relevant to the Iranian educational context were selected. This questionnaire also included 5-point Likert type items as well as two open-ended questions. All the three questionnaires shared 23 items on the programʹs work plan. Interviews were also conducted with 18 instructors and 30 students. The data were analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative procedures, but due to the large volume of analyses, this paper reports only the results of the qualitative analysis in detail. To validate and interpret the findings, the same were discussed with about 10 MA students and 2 instructors. The findings generally revealed that (1) there was no consensus among the participants regarding the overall aim of the program, (2) the implemented curriculum is partially compatible with the Official Curriculum, and (3) the participants generally felt the need for (a) the official curriculumʹs revision, (b) reform in program delivery, and (c) reconsidering the screening system.