Consistencies and Inconsistencies between the Iranian EFL Teachers' Beliefs and Practices

This instrumental-comparative qualitative case study attempts to investigate the relations between teachers' beliefs and classroom practices. For this purpose, five Iranian EFL teachers from three private language institutes were interviewed for their beliefs. Then, their classroom practices were observed and videotaped. The data were analyzed using the constant comparative method around common categories, which were identified as distinctive features of teachers' beliefs; these themes were then compared with their practices. The data for each case were also compared with the others so that possible causes of the inconsistencies could be traced. Based on the causes, some suggestions for teacher education and educational management are made.