Research Trends in Master’s Programs in Languages: Transcending English Boundaries
- Ferney Cruz Arcila
, - Lizeth Donoso Herrera,
- Nohora Patricia Moreno García,
- Jair Ayala Zárate
Abstract
Studies on research trends in language teaching master’s programs face two significant challenges: first, their focus has been almost exclusively on the training of English teachers, neglecting other important languages; second, they have relied heavily on thesis excerpts or data collected through interviews and surveys, without a comprehensive analysis of complete research reports. This documentary study aims to address these issues by critically examining the thematic and methodological trends of a master’s program in English, French, and Spanish teaching. It analyzes 107 completed theses from the program’s inception in 2009 to 2022, using Atlasti8 software. The main objective is to identify areas of research action where the three languages can mutually complement each other, highlighting the need for greater diversification, a more critical approach, and the promotion of multilingual research bridges. This analysis reveals opportunities for mutual research enrichment, but also underscores the importance of expanding and deepening research in this field.
Keywords
language-teaching, master’s degrees, research trends
Author Biography
Ferney Cruz Arcila
Ferney es Doctor en Lenguaje, Discurso y Comunicación por King’s College London. Es Magíster en Lingüística Aplicada y Licenciado en Español e Inglés. Sus investigaciones se enfocan en educación bilingüe, políticas lingüísticas, identidad docente, educación rural y justicia social. También explora enseñanza de idiomas desde perspectivas críticas. Es profesor asistente en la Universidad Pedagógica Nacional.
Lizeth Donoso Herrera
Lizeth Donoso Herrera es doctora en lingüística con énfasis en didáctica de las lenguas de la Universidad Laval (Québec, Canadá). Uno de sus intereses investigativos es la formación de profesores de idiomas. Actualmente se desempeña como profesora e investigadora del departamento de lenguas de la Universidad Pedagógica Nacional.
Nohora Patricia Moreno García
Profesora asociada de la Universidad Pedagógica Nacional. Magister en tecnologías de la información aplicadas a la educación de la Universidad Pedagógica Nacional de Bogotá. Magister en educación mediada por la tecnología de la Universidad del Norte de Barranquilla. Investigadora en los temas de pedagogía y formación de profesores. Co-investigadora en proyectos con la Universidad de Nantes (Francia) y con la Universidad Javeriana de Bogotá
Jair Ayala Zárate
Jair Ayala Zarate. Catedrático de la universidad pedagógica nacional y director asociado para ETS en Latinoamérica. Maestro en lingüística aplicada a la enseñanza del inglés.
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