Abstract

This paper presents the necessity to switch from conventional methods of teaching and learning to competency development as a response to the global trend in education and the demands of the 21st century. The educational framework places creativity as a critical competency or skill to support students in thinking creatively, coping with the challenges of the twenty-first century, and preparing learners to be able to function as efficient citizens of modern society. Teachers should therefore give EFL students the knowledge and abilities they need in their subject area and provide them with adequate opportunities to use that knowledge in creative ways. The current study aims at exploring teachers’ conceptions about the general concepts of creativity and its impact on students’ creativity and successful language learning. Moreover, the study attempts to investigate teachers’ challenges about creativity incorporation in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom.

Key words: Creativity; 21 st century; Educational framework