Unlocking excellence: English Language Teacher Quality Model (ELTQM)

The journey towards teaching excellence in the dynamic landscape of English as a Second Language (ESL) education remains a persistent challenge due to fragmented approaches to defining and assessing teacher quality. Existing frameworks often focus narrowly on isolated attributes, overlooking the holistic interplay of cognitive skills, socialemotional competencies (SEC), and personal characteristics necessary for impactful teaching. Addressing this gap, an innovative English Language Teacher Quality Model (ELTQM) redefines the paradigm by synthesising passion, cognitive abilities, SEC, and personality traits into a unified framework. Grounded in phenomenological research and informed by practical insights from 13 expert ESL teachers, this model transcends conventional notions of teacher effectiveness, embracing the holistic development of educators as catalysts for transformative learning experiences. Central to this model is the recognition of educators as lifelong learners driven by a deep love for teaching and commitment to continuous professional growth. By integrating cognitive skills, such as pedagogical knowledge and language proficiency, with SEC like empathy and adaptability, ELTQM equips teachers with versatile guidelines to navigate diverse classroom environments confidently and compassionately. ELTQM contributes to teacher education (TE) institutions and policymakers by suggesting a more holistic assessment tool and targeted professional development initiatives. Through the adoption of ELTQM, institutions can cultivate a culture of excellence, foster collaborative learning communities and empower educators to unlock their full potential while inspiring student success.