Module teaching and integrating language skills lesson 1

Example 1: Evaluative feedback, approval.

The way the teacher appoints the pupil to answer is somewhat indirect: he uses a question to point out the next pupil to read the sentence. Once the pupil answers, and the answer is correct, one can see the approving answer from the teacher. Often he says yeah to confirm that the answer is indeed what he was looking for, but then he also continues with that´s good and that´s a perfect as well. Moreover, the teacher clearly wants to show that he is pleased with the answer and reveal that the pupil performed well. Out of the 125 feedback items found in the data, 58 can be classified as showing approval and/or rewards. The large amount can possibly be explained with the fact that teachers often feel obliged to comment on something after a pupil has given an answer. However, it also depends on how the teacher decides to react to the answer. In thiscase, the teacher often started with yeah, implying that a pupil is right, but he also continued with some words of compliment. This is a very positive way to react to pupils´ answers and, moreover, it creates a welcoming atmosphere and a feeling that no one needs to be afraid of answering.
In the next example (2) the teacher has asked the class to take out their notebooks, and is now checking whether everybody has them with them. One of the pupils admits that the notebook is at home, so the teacher reacts to the situation by showing disapproval and giving a slight punishment. To understand the next example better it is important to know that in this class the teacher uses “yellow cards” to maintain order. Yellow cards are given for example if one is late from class, has not done one´s homework or has forgotten books or assignments home.