Comparative Analysis of EFL Teachers' Views on Fundamentals of English Language Teaching: The Case of Türkiye and Kazakhstan

This study compares the views of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers from Türkiye and Kazakhstan on the fundamental aspects of English language teaching (ELT). As English gains prominence in global communication, understanding EFL teachers’ pedagogical knowledge, content knowledge, and personality traits across different contexts is vital for enhancing teaching practices. Adopting a comparative qualitative design, data were collected from 107 in-service EFL teachers (50 from Türkiye, 57 from Kazakhstan) via an online survey with open-ended questions. Thematic analysis revealed six core themes: emotional commitment, pedagogical knowledge, content knowledge, continuous professional development, personality traits and professional dispositions, and student-centeredness. Both groups valued emotional commitment, pedagogical, and content knowledge; however, contextual differences emerged. Turkish teachers emphasized personal traits such as resilience and patience, while their Kazakhstani counterparts focused on content expertise and ongoing development. The study highlights how regional factors influence teacher perspectives and offers implications for tailoring EFL teacher education programs to context-specific needs in both countries.