Express, an International Journal of Multi Disciplinary Research ISSN: 2348 – 2052 , Vol. 1, Issue 3, March 2014 Available at: www.express‐journal.com The Role of Teacher in the Postmethod Era by Mahshad Tasnimi Department of English, Qazvin Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran E-mail: mtasnimi@yahoo.com Abstract In the postmethod era, the role of teachers is seen as central, changing from information- oriented to inquiry-oriented. They are considered not only as practitioners, but also as self-directed theorizers who construct their own theory of practice. Effective postmethod teachers are able to analyze their classroom procedure to see what works and what doesn’t so that they can assess their instruction effectively to bring the necessary changes for achieving the desired goal. Their teaching goal is not just transmitting a set of preselected and presequenced body of knowledge, but their own beliefs and knowledge are considered as an integral part of their teaching process. This kind of process is surely a reflective not a mechanical one. In this article, first the concept of method is defined and then the shift from method to postmethod is discussed briefly. It will be followed by different approaches to postmethod pedagogy. Finally, the role of teacher, teacher educator and prospective teacher are elaborated in detail. The Role of Teacher in the Post Method Era Different methods have assigned different roles to teachers over time. For instance, in Audiolingual method, the teacher was seen as an orchestra conductor, or in Community Language Learning the role is that of a counselor. As Harmer (2001) articulates it is extremely difficult to come to conclusions about which method is most appropriate for our own teaching situation. Consequently, teachers confront a range of roles prescribed by different methods. In what follows first the term method is defined and then the shift to postmethod era is discussed. Next, different approaches to postmethod pedagogy are elaborated. Finally, the role of the teacher in this era comes under scrutiny. Shift from Method to Post-method