Discourse features that promote the generation of interactionally modified input and output, such as negotiation for meaning, have been shown to significantly enhance second language acquisition. Research has also identified several characteristics of instructional practices that render them more or less propitious to the generation of these discourse features. While various classroom observation studies have successfully measured the communicative orientation of classroom environments, most of the indicators of interactivity analyzed in those studies were obtained through micro-level discourse analyses and not through macro-level analyses of task-related factors shown to directly influence the interactivity of instructional practices. Such a macro-level scale has potential practical implications for teachers and administrators seeking an efficient tool for assessing and improving the interactivity afforded by a given curriculum. The objective of the present study was therefore to develop macro-level scale to determine the extent to which teachers of French and English as a second language use interaction-friendly instructional practices. Using an observation scheme designed to code data on factors shown to influence interactivity, 63 hours of FSL and ESL classes from secondary schools in the Montreal area were observed and analyzed. Results indicate clear differences between the two groups. While both ESL and FSL classes were less teacher-centered than those observed in previous studies, they were still rated as not-very-interactive. Target language differences showed that the FSL classes were more teacher-centered and characterized by fewer interaction-friendly tasks and activities than the ESL classes. Task characteristics, reasons for ESL and FSL differences and recommendations for improvement are discussed.
Discourse features that promote the generation of interactionally modified input and output, such as negotiation for meaning, have been shown to significantly enhance second language acquisition. Research has also identified several characteristics of instructional practices that render them more or less propitious to the generation of these discourse features. While various classroom observation studies have successfully measured the communicative orientation of classroom environments, most of the indicators of interactivity analyzed in those studies were obtained through micro-level discourse analyses and not through macro-level analyses of task-related factors shown to directly influence the interactivity of instructional practices. Such a macro-level scale has potential practical implications for teachers and administrators seeking an efficient tool for assessing and improving the interactivity afforded by a given curriculum. The objective of the present study was therefore to develop macro-level scale to determine the extent to which teachers of French and English as a second language use interaction-friendly instructional practices. Using an observation scheme designed to code data on factors shown to influence interactivity, 63 hours of FSL and ESL classes from secondary schools in the Montreal area were observed and analyzed. Results indicate clear differences between the two groups. While both ESL and FSL classes were less teacher-centered than those observed in previous studies, they were still rated as not-very-interactive. Target language differences showed that the FSL classes were more teacher-centered and characterized by fewer interactionfriendly tasks and activities than the ESL classes. Task characteristics, reasons for ESL and FSL differences and recommendations for improvement are discussed.
One of the most effective forms of initiating changes in teacher competences may be an observation – both taking the form of an evaluation visit and a peer observation – ending with factualfeedback (supervision). This kind of process of supporting a teacher's competence needs, amongothers a well thought-out tool thanks to which the observer will be able to constructively addressmany aspects of the teacher's work. The experience of Polish and selected EU countries shows thatthe construction of teacher competence support tools, despite common elements, differs due to thespecificity and place of work of the teacher and the level of professional competence. In addition,the tools taking into account the different interests of school management policy should be a carefully thought-out construct. Improving this tool is not a one-time act. Analysis of tools for evaluation visits/peer observations from various EU countries, from the perspective of the key objectivesof teacher evaluation, leads to the implicit conclusion that the observed teacher benefits more inprofessional development when observation is more benevolent partner counseling than unpleasantinspection of teacher compliance with teaching procedures. This applies to teachers at every stageof their professional development.
PL
Jedną z bardziej skutecznych form inicjowania zmian kompetencji nauczyciela może być obserwacja – zarówno przyjmująca postać hospitacji, jak i obserwacji koleżeńskiej – zwieńczona rzeczową informacją zwrotną (superwizja). Ten rodzaj procesu wspierania kompetencyjnego nauczyciela potrzebuje m.in. przemyślanego narzędzia, dzięki któremu obserwator będzie mógł konstruktywnie odnieść się do wielu aspektów pracy nauczyciela. Doświadczenia polskie i wybranych krajów Unii Europejskiej pokazują, że konstrukcja narzędzi kompetencyjnego wsparcia nauczyciela mimo wspólnych elementów różni się ze względu na specyfikę i miejsce pracy nauczyciela oraz poziom kompetencji zawodowych. Dodatkowo narzędzia, uwzględniając różne interesy polityki zarządzania szkołą, powinny być starannie przemyślanym konstruktem. Doskonalenie tego narzędzia nie jest jednorazowym aktem. Analiza narzędzi hospitacji/obserwacji z różnych krajów Unii Europejskiej z perspektywy kluczowych celów ewaluacji pracy nauczyciela doprowadza do ukrytej konstatacji, że obserwowany nauczyciel odnosi większe korzyści w rozwoju zawodowym, gdy obserwacja jest bardziej życzliwym partnerskim doradzaniem niż przykrą inspekcją przestrzegania procedur nauczania przez nauczyciela. Dotyczy to nauczycieli na każdym etapie rozwoju zawodowego.
Effective communication plays an important role both in the education, work, and non-work contexts. One of the determinants of successful communication is specialist linguistic skills whose development interests specialist language teachers and researchers. This paper presents the first part of a study that investigates an early stage of teaching/ learning specialist languages in Germany in secondary and higher education. The paper shows the research project design and the results of classroom observations and interviews in which interviewees evaluated the core curriculum and teaching materials.
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