Teachers' views on the qualities of effective EFL teacher educators

This research explores the qualities of effective EFL language teacher educators from the perspectives of pre- and in-service teachers at a university in China. Drawing on data from focus group interviews with these teachers (from different teacher education programmes at the university), the findings of the study demonstrate the perceived qualities of effective language teacher educators, including, in the words of some of the participants, being 'fountains of knowledge', having 'eyes on the stars and feet on the ground', and 'providing a personal touch'. This study offers an important frame of reference for EFL teacher educators to reflect on and improve their professional practice in order to meet their students' complex and diverse learning needs. Copyright © 2017 The Author(s).