Universidad Catlica de la Ssma Concepcin

Facultad de Educacin
English Teaching Programme
Teaching Experience I

OBSERVATION TASK 2
Managing classroom communication.
This task is concerned with how communication takes place in a classroom setting, and
specifically with the patterns of interaction that provide the vehicle for communication.
In this task youll be collecting data about how communication works within the
classroom, for example, who talks and to whom, who questions, who responds.
a) Arrange to observe a lesson.
b) Consider all the elements worth viewing: the teacher, the students, their
interaction or dynamic, whiteboard, the classroom environment itself,
movement, time.
c) Observe the class in order to answer and reflect on the following questions:
How does the teacher open the class? What tone does this set?
(attention, motivation, engagement, other)
I had the chance to observe the opening of the class once. In this class the
topic was "Passive voice". As the teacher is not the only one in charge of
the course, students had seen the topic in one class before the lesson.
Teacher opens the class by making reference to what movie or books
students like. They searched some information for transforming that from
active to passive voice. Students get motivated and engaged because of
the chance teacher gave to them in order to talk about their preferences.
What interaction or relationship does the teacher establish with the
students? How does this affect the learning environment or
opportunities for learning?
Teacher has a very good relationship with students. It can be seen
because most of the students participate actively during the lesson. Even
though, there are many of them who have to be exposed to take part into
the lesson. Teacher gives students opportunities to learn and to
participate in the process of learning.
Are students engaged? at what level and in what ways? Is the
engagement sustained? How can you notice this? Exemplify.
There are many students who have a very good level of English and they
show engagement during the lesson. There are many other students who
have to be exposed regularly to participate in the class by the teacher.
Despite those things teacher has to encourage them
How has the teacher prepared for this learning occasion? What tools are
used and does the teacher apply them effectively? Note: tools include
humour, visuals, small group work, writing exercises, guided class
discussion, quizzes, others.

Universidad Catlica de la Ssma Concepcin

Facultad de Educacin
English Teaching Programme
Teaching Experience I

How does the teacher know if the class is going as planned? Are there
clues to show the teacher maintains this trajectory or adjusts course when
unexpected events happen?
How does the teacher close the class? How does this affect what students
think or learn? What evidence shows that students clearly understand the
content and context for what is learned by the end of the class?
Adapted from Wajnryb, Ruth. Classroom observation Tasks, Cambridge Teacher
training and development,1992