The professional development of primary school English teachers constitutes a critical component in advancing the reform of compulsory education. Nevertheless, the prevailing developmental paradigm encounters multifaceted challenges that constrain the enhancement of overall teacher competence. This study employed a questionnaire-based survey to investigate 310 regional primary school English teachers from 16 cities in Shandong province, China, with the objective of examining the current state and factors impeding their professional growth. The results indicate that teachers confront common constraints, influenced by factors including individual cognition, institutional mechanisms, and external support systems. Conventional, isolated approaches to professional development have proven increasingly inadequate in addressing contemporary demands. In response, this study proposes a tripartite approach comprising the establishment of “teaching-research communities”, the implementation of “school-based micro-research projects”, and the integration of “digital-intelligence resources with formative teacher evaluation frameworks”. The study offers empirical support and practical insights for optimizing regional teacher development systems.
Cite this paper
Chen, F. and Feng, Y. (2025). Dilemmas and Paths: Influencing Factors and Solutions for the Professional Development of Regional Primary School English Teachers
. Open Access Library Journal, 12, e14609. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1114609.
Hargreaves, A. and Goodson, I.F. (1996) Teachers’ Professional Lives: Aspira-tions and Actualities. In: Goodson, I.F. and Hargreaves, A., Eds., Teachers’ Pro-fessional lives, Falmer Press, 1-27.
Xu, J.F. and Li, J. (2025) A Scoping Re-view of Research on Teacher Professional Development in the Digi-tal-Intelligence Transformation of Foreign Language Education. Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies, No. 2, 125-137.
Wen, Q.P. (2007) Rethinking the Connotation of Foreign Language Teacher Professional Development. Jour-nal of Hunan Agricultural University (Social Sciences Edition), 1, 87-89.
Xiong, Y. and Han, T. (2014) The Connotation and Development Strategy of Primary School English Teachers’ Professional Standards. Theory and Practice of Education, 34, 43-44.
Hou, X.Q. (2022) A Study on the Current Situation and Countermeasures of Primary School English Teachers’ Professional Development. Master’s Thesis, Qufu Normal University.
Zhu, D.F. (2023) A Survey on the Current Situation of Professional Development of Primary School English Teachers: A Case Study of D District H City. Master’s Thesis, Jiangsu University.
Yang, F. (2022) Difficulties and Solutions to Primary School English Teachers’ Professional Development in Western China. Journal of Northwest Adult Education, No. 4, 47-50.
Zhang, J.F. (2023) Research on the Primary School English Teachers’ Professional Development from the Perspective of Subject Core Competence—Taking S City in Fujian Province as an Example. Master’s Thesis, Jiangxi Normal University.
Zhu, C. (2023) Focusing on Research, Specializing in Growth: Elementary School English Teacher Profes-sional Development Strategies under the “Precision and Expertise” Concept. Primary School Teaching Research, No. 31, 89-91.
Vangrieken, K., Mere-dith, C., Packer, T. and Kyndt, E. (2017) Teacher Communities as a Context for Professional Development: A Systematic Review. Teaching and Teacher Educa-tion, 61, 47-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2016.10.001
Qi, M.J. and Wang, X.M. (2017) On the Novice College English Teachers’ Professional Iden-tity from the Perspective of Learning Community: Concept, Model and Con-struction. Foreign Language World, No. 6, 70-78.