ABSTRACT
In this chapter, I will make a case for action research as a powerful professional development tool: one that can empower teachers to take control of their own professional development. I will begin by looking at the concept of action research: what it is and how it evolved in education in general, and language education in particular. In the next part of the paper, I will focus on practicalities, looking at the steps in the action research process, as well as how to go about collecting, analyzing and presenting data. I will then present the results of a study I conducted which investigated the effect on teachers’ attitudes and teaching practices as a result of being involved in action research. In the final part of the presentation, I will draw on my experiences as a consultant to two action research networks in looking at some of the problems that can occur in doing action research and some of the steps that can be taken to avoid these problems.
