Final reflection

Throughout this course, I developed a much deeper understanding of educational research and its role in language teaching. At the beginning of the semester, I viewed research mainly as the process of finding information about a topic. However, I gradually learned that educational research involves identifying a problem, reviewing the literature critically, formulating research questions, selecting appropriate methods, and justifying every decision throughout the process.

One of the most important lessons I learned was the value of connecting theory and practice. While developing our proposal, I realized that research is not only about reading authors but also about understanding how theoretical concepts can inform classroom decisions. Exploring topics such as multisensory learning, vocabulary acquisition, and emotioncy helped me see how research can contribute to improving teaching practices and understanding learners’ experiences.

My understanding of academic writing also evolved considerably. At first, I tended to summarize sources individually rather than synthesize them. Through feedback and revision, I became more aware of the importance of establishing connections between studies, identifying research gaps, and developing a coherent argument. In addition, I improved my understanding of APA conventions, which initially seemed overwhelming but became more manageable through practice and revision.

One of the greatest challenges was adapting to the expectations of academic research writing while working within strict word and page limits. It was sometimes difficult to balance conciseness with critical analysis. Another challenge was learning how to align research questions, objectives, methodology, and data collection instruments so that the proposal functioned as a coherent whole.

The feedback received throughout the semester played a fundamental role in my learning process. Although some comments were initially difficult to accept, especially after receiving lower grades than expected, they helped me identify weaknesses that I would not have noticed on my own. Revising my work based on feedback allowed me to improve both my writing and my understanding of research methodology.

Looking back, I believe my strengths were perseverance, commitment, and willingness to revise my work multiple times. At the same time, I still need to continue developing my ability to synthesize literature, write more critically, and feel more confident when making methodological decisions. Overall, this course helped me grow both as a student and as a future teacher-researcher, and I feel much better prepared to approach academic research in future courses.