Foreign language teacher trainees as researchers : analysis of graduate students diploma projects

To what extent can conducting a research project help graduate students to develop research skills? To answer this question, an analysis of selected M.A. theses produced by Polish graduate students was done. The preliminary findings of the analysis points to a variety of skills the students practiced, such as the abilities to: 1/ reflect on teaching, 2/ formulate research questions, 3/ theorise, define constructs and operationalize them in the study, 4/ look critically at one’s research. Additionally, the analysis reveals various forms of creativity and originality. The results underline the importance of students conducting research in their own contexts, the activity that proves to facilitate both research and academic skills.