Observation Task 1: Chit Chat

Spoken interaction in the Young Learner classroom

Focus: Noticing the purposes of talk in the EYL classroom

This observation activity is designed to focus your attention on understanding 1) the amount
and 2) the type of talk that goes on in the English classroom. It will give you a clearer sense of
the purpose of talk in the classroom; as well as identify how much talk is in English / how much
is in Arabic. It should also start you asking yourself why language is used in the classroom

Objective: To encourage student teachers to identify and discuss classroom interaction

patterns

Procedure: Familiarize yourself with the Observation Table: interaction patterns in the EFL
classroom.

Before the Observation: Think about the purposes for speaking and the reasons for different
types of interaction patterns in the EFL classroom. Can you add any more to the table?

During the Observation:Choose three students in a class. Observe them for a full lesson. Each
time the learners speak, put a tick in the box that gives the best explanation for why the child
spoke. Also note the language used – (E= English) or Arabic (A).

Observation Table:
Reasons for speaking in the classroom

Class: 1/A
Number of learners: 19 Students
Length of lesson: 1 hr
Teacher observed Language: English and Arabic
Learning Goals: Students can easily speaking in the classroom
Materials used: Words card and pictures

Reason for speaking Learner A Learner B Learner C

Learner repeats word / phrase E E EE EEEE EEEE
1 after teacher – whole class
Learner repeats word / phrase EEE EE EEE
2 after teacher – group / pair
 Learner repeats word / phrase E EEE EE
3 after teacher – individual

Learner answers direct EE NR E

4 question
Learner answers open
from teacher E NR NR
5 question
6 Learner asks teacher a
from teacher EE NR NRE
question
Learner answers a partner in NR A AA
7 Paired work activity
Learner answers a group EE NR EEE EEE
8 member in group work activity
Learner answers the teacher EE EE EE
9 informally
1 Learner answers peer EEE E EE
0 informally
 Reflections on Observation Task 1: Chit Chat

Read the questions below and write your answers

What was the most common reason for speaking?

Students speak mostly repeats word / phrase after teacher – whole
class. For example, teacher say can students repeat the word can two
times and teacher say van students repeat it two times. This method
which teacher uses it when they teach is Presentation Practice
Production (PPP) which means teacher say the words and she let
students to repeat the words many times. This will help students to
increase their influence.

What was the least common reason for speaking?

The least common is student’s answers open question from teacher. In
math lesson students interrupt teacher and he ask teacher some things
not about math. For example, miss I like to eat chips. And the teacher
say for her you must to tell me some things that relating in math.

Were there any boxes with no ticks?

Yes learner B and C did not answers open question for teacher.

How much of the lesson was spent on the teacher using ‘Teacher Talk’,
in your opinion?
29 minutes.

Do you feel it was an appropriate amount of talk? Why / Why not?

I think yes because teacher has enough to talk and explain for all
students.
What do you think is an appropriate sequence of interaction patterns?
The student read a story and other students repeat after him.

Now consider how much Arabic was used. Do you think it was used
appropriately?
Why? / Why not?
Yes, the master did not use more Arabic but middle and low group they
speak Arabic more than English when they are working in groups.

Reflection for Bonus Points

You do not have to do this activity. However, if you want a higher
grade, you must do it. If you are interested in thinking about this
subject more, consider the following reflection.

Choose one of the following questions (A, B, or C) and write your

answer:

A. Why is talk important for teachers?

Talking is important way for teachers to be communicating with
students because students learn a language through communicating
with teacher and other students. Also students understanding can be
engage by discus and shearing ideas. Also teacher should teach
students how the language teaching is based on a view of language as
communication by having conversations.
Why is talk important for learners? (Think about the What and
How.)
Oral language is important for learners because will enhance their
language and communication skills by improve their speech to how
they will talk to other students. As Vygotsky say “Children develop
through informal and formal conversations with adults”.
B. Why is it important to think about using English for varied purposes
in the classroom? For example, not just for giving an example, but also
for correcting, for praising, for everyday uses, like asking for help, or
asking to borrow something?

It is important for students to improve and understand their English

language because its universal language. And if they using English even
in school and home their speech ability will develop and they will found
easy for them to communicate with other people.

C. What role do you think Arabic should play in the English

classroom?

I think Arabic language it has a great role among for learners in English
classroom especially in primary school, because it help learners to know
the different between English and Arabic. Another reason is if students
cannot understand in English we can help them by translating for them.