Observation Statement

When I finished my 10 observation reports, I found myself impressed by a variety of

teaching styles. I observed the class I've attended covered many skills and topics, through
beginner level to high advanced. I gained so many actual teaching method by observing
those classes. In particular, I learned 3 methods, and I will explain in the following
paragraphs.
First, the method I observed showed that effective teachers delivered lessons in wellorganized way, beginning with common knowledge that the teacher taught in the last
class, and then asking students to recall the knowledge by calling their names one by one.
The idea of this method is similar to the The Silent Way, which is Caleb Gattegnos
method (1963). In this section, the teacher was silent, allowing students discovered
knowledge by themselves. Moreover, during this section, the teacher didnt use textbook
or any other materials. All students need to do was memorize the knowledge. In
observation report 5 John Morans class, he was using this way to remind students what
they have learned in the last class. He called a students name, and question him by
saying What are auxiliary verbs?, because they learned the knowledge in the last class.
Now teacher wanted the students to recall the knowledge.
Second, the method I observed illustrated that teachers were using scaffolding to
give the lessons. They started with a simple ideas that all of the students could
understand. After that, teachers began to add difficult ideas. Students have to learn the
knowledge gradually. It is important to know the method that teachers are using
scaffolding. Teachers give more help in the beginning, gradually push students to do
without helping. In observation report 7 Craig Vitamantis listening and speaking class,

he was using this technique to help students to get the ideas in "WH/How/Do" questions.
He was helping students to locate the main ideas in the speaking and listening dialogue
by cutting conversation in pieces.
From the last method I obtained is that teachers presenting the lessons based on
textbook or a specific skill. In order to successful deliver the lessons, they provided
common knowledge for students to active their schema. During the lessons delivering,
the teachers stressed the teaching points. Then after they finished delivering the lessons ,
teachers distributed homework or extensive work for students, to reinforce the knowledge
that they have taught in the class. This method is very effective for students to acquire a
skill in a short time, which is Task-based Language Teaching. In observation report 9,
Arlenes reading and writing class, she was using this method to teach students reading
and writing skills. She taught vocabulary words before students start reading the whole
article. After reading, she gave students assignment that related to the passage. The
assignment was writing by using the vocabulary words and passage information.
In my point of view, I will adopt those skills into my future teaching field.
Additionally, I will apply Communicative Language Teaching in my future classes as
well. Ultimate goal of language learning is communication. Thus, I need put more
attention on how to let students speak rather than reading and writing. However, for
reading and writing I will use Task-based Language Teaching that is the most effective
way to allow students inputting knowledge or skills.

References:
Caleb Gattegno, (1963). Teaching Foreign Languages in Schools The Silent Way.
1963-2010 Educational Solutions Worldwide Inc.
Diane Larsen-Freeman and Marti Anderson. Techniques &Principles in Language
Teaching: Third Edition. Oxford University Press