From Professional Development to Professional Growth: The Ecological Trend of Foreign Language Teacher Education in China

Foreign language teacher education has undergone several stages globally, evolving from training to professional development, reflecting different development ideas and philosophies, and playing a positive role at various stages in relation to foreign language education. In recent years, as the development of foreign language teachers has begun to emphasize intrinsic factors and ecological environments of teachers, it has gradually moved towards an ecological approach. This paper traces the historical origins of teacher professional development, discusses key concepts in foreign language education, and explores the ecological orientation, connotations, and strategies for foreign language teachers transitioning from professional development to professional growth.