Natalia López

Liceo Cultural Britanico

Observation 1
“Attending to the learner”
From “Classroom Observation Tasks” by Ruth Wajnryb

Level: Beginners
Place: Colegio Marianista
Number of students: 20
Duration: 40 minutes

Sitting arrangement:
F.S.E ¡ + +
F.E.N
p +! F,N,P M, N, E
+
M,N,E
F, N, E

M.N.E. +

¡ + NM F.!+
M,N,E F,N,E
M.E.S.
¡+ Np
N.F. S
+p +
F.S.E
+¡F F.N.!++

F,N, E,
+ +

N.F. ++
F,N,P S.p S. F,N, E
+ N.M
++ ! ++

FRONT
Strategies that can be seen:
Name (N)
Eye contact (E)
Nod (!)
Point (P)
Smile (S)
Other:
Number of times being attended (+)
Female (F)
Male (M)

Comments:

Generally, most of the students were attended. The teacher called them
by their names also by eye contact and nodding at the same time. Some
students participate in the lesson, but others only if they were asked to
do so. As she knew all their names, she would always call them by Juan,
Santiago, etc what made students feel more involved.
She didn’t use any peculiar pattern in her attendance, they were all
chosen at random. She didn’t take into account anything in particular
when attending a student. But, it can be said that the boys and girls at he
front were the ones who participated the most.
It seems that the setting arrangement wasn’t set like that so as to
promote the teacher’s attention. She would call students without
discriminating where they were sitting.
In general, weak students showed their fear to participate and so if they
weren’t called they wouldn’t participate at all. Contrary to that, strong
students showed more enthusiasm and so they were always putting up
their hands.
It was nice to see the different ways we teachers have to attend our
students. Now, that I’m observing this lesson I realize the different
strategies we use.
REFLECTION

I think that we are not fully aware of all the different ways we have to
attend our students and that it’s only when observing that we realize
about it. Now, I’m trying to analyze the strategies I use, and I have to
admit that I never thought how influential it is on for students to call
them by their names. That’s why it doesn’t matter how large the class is,
I’ll always try to do my best to remember all their names.