A study on English teachers' well-being and their professional autonomy

This study aims to analyze the relationship between ELT Teachers' well-being and their professional autonomy. The challenges that teachers face both in professional life and personal life effect their psychological and physical health and this effects their teaching processes directly. Especially when English teachers' carry out the multi tasks that are required for global language teaching, it is important that they should feel high levels of motivation, flexibility and autonomous in their profession. In this respect, this study aims to determine the relationship between ELT Teachers' well-being and their professional autonomy. This study was conducted in a quantitative way. The data were collected from 143 English teachers working in Kayseri province, by using Teachers' Well-Being Scale (TWBS) and Teachers Professional Autonomy Scale (TPAS). Findings Show that teachers have high levels of well-being and professional autonomy perception. However, there is no significant and positive relationship between their well-being and professional autonomy level. When it comes to demographic variables; age, years of teaching and graduation level has significant differences but gender, institution type and teaching level has no significant differences. The collected data has revealed that teachers' professional autonomy effects their well-being in a positive way. Accordingly, it is suggested as important strategies to support teachers' professional development, to involve them in the decision making process and improve their working conditions.