Investigating teachers' professional competency and immunity: An EFL perspective

The twenty-first century is characterized by the increasing interaction of societies in various fields, making the development of essential skills through education more critical than ever. In this context, the role of EFL teachers has become increasingly important due to the growing demand for effective communication skills and adaptability in a globalized world. This study aims to examine the professional competencies and teacher immunity of EFL teachers in Turkey and to analyze whether these variables are influenced by factors such as gender, age, teaching experience, and field of undergraduate study. Furthermore, the research investigates the relationship between EFL teachers' professional competencies and their teacher immunity. The findings indicate that EFL teachers perceive themselves as highly competent and possessing high levels of teacher immunity, and that there is a moderate positive correlation between professional competency and teacher immunity. This suggests that as teachers' professional competencies increase, so does their resilience to occupational stress and challenges. The study also reveals that factors such as pedagogical knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values significantly influence teachers' perceptions of their professional competencies and that the multidimensional structure of professional competency encompasses many elements. This situation contributes to teachers being more resilient in their teaching practices and coping more effectively with problems encountered during the teaching process. The results highlight the importance of continuous professional development and support mechanisms to enhance both the competencies and immunity of EFL teachers, ultimately contributing to improved educational outcomes. By providing a comprehensive analysis of the interaction between professional competency and teacher immunity among EFL teachers, this research fills a gap in the literature and offers valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and researchers.