The Classroom Interaction of Outstanding Foreign Language Teachers

ABSTRACT The classroom interaction of ten foreign language teachers who were identified as outstanding in a survey of former students was studied and compared with a group of ‘typical’ foreign language teachers. The FLint system of interaction analysis and anecdotal records were used to collect data as the teachers taught four different lessons. The FLint system includes verbal and nonverbal behaviors, as well as whether specific behaviors are in the target or native language. A number of differences was found between the two groups. Outstanding foreign language teachers and their students used the foreign language more than typical foreign language teachers and their students for almost every category of behavior. They also tended to use nonverbal behavior more than typical teachers. Outstanding teachers used a number of indirect behaviors, such as praising, joking, and personalizing questions, significantly more and direct behaviors, such as directing drills and criticizing student behaviors, significantly less than typical teachers.