Task 5 - Teacher Talk

Focus: teacher talk instruction-giving & positive reinforcement

Objective:
To realise how the teacher uses language in the classroom to give clear instructions and to offer praise and
motivation. Student teachers have looked at how the teacher manages the classroom, the class and the learners. This
week, they will develop their understanding of how teachers use their talk to give clear instructions and to offer
positive reinforcement (praise) to their students.

During the day:

- Make notes in the 3 tables provided.
- The first table focuses on giving instructions:
- The second table focuses on praise:
- The third one is about negative statements that you might hear.
Giving instruction

Praise

Negative statement

Worry about your self-only.

Good students.

Dont push your friend.

Work with sticky lips please.

Well done all.

Dont talk.

Share the colours with your friends.

Great job.

Dont through it.

EPC 1401

Teaching Practicum Task 5 Observation Task 5 Teacher Talk

AY 2014/15

Table1. Giving instructions: Complete the table below about teacher talk during one whole
activity or lesson:
Teacher talk at the beginning of the activity
Starting the activity:
How does the teacher get the
childrens attention?

1.
2.

Ringing the bell.

Ask them to set in the chairs with sticky lips.

Giving instructions for the

activity:

1.
2.

Ask them to do their job nicely

Each leader is responsible to clean the table after they finish.

Teacher talk during the activity

What does the teacher say?

1.
2.

Please try to be quiet.

Share the colours with your friend please.

How do the children respond?

1.

some of them hear what she say and the else opposite.

How does the teacher stop the

children during what they are
doing? What does the teacher
say?

1.
2.

Sticky lips please.

Sets in your place dont move I will come to you.

What was the learner doing?

1.

He threw a plastic knife on his friend

What did the teacher say?

1.
2.
1.

She asked him to apologize from his friend

Then take the knife and throw it in the garbage.
Hear the speech.

Misbehaviour

How did the child respond?

Teacher talk at the end of the activity

How does the teacher stop the
children during what they are
doing? What does the teacher
say?

1.
2.
3.

Time is finish.
Clean up please.
Time to have a rest.

How do they respond?

1.

Do what the teacher said.

EPC 1401

Teaching Practicum Task 5 Observation Task 5 Teacher Talk

AY 2014/15

Table 2 - Teacher talk PRAISING the student(s):

Complete the table below with at least 5 examples of praise you hear during the day (maybe from your teacher, the
classroom assistant, a specials teacher, etc.):

Example

When the child(ren).

The teacher said.

Type of praise
(Public/private
Non-specific/specific
Conditional/unconditional)

Look at the
example

Put his things away tidily and

Well done, Ali, you put your

Private/Specific/Unconditional.

quickly.

things away very quickly and

nicely.

1.

Brought a flower for Ms.Aparna.

Wow! Its beautiful flower

Private/Specific/Conditional.

Rashad, thank you.

2.

She organized the books nicely in

Well done Farah, you did a

the library.

good job.

He thinks deeply and his answer

Very good Adam, give your

was correct.

self a tag.

4.

The learners draw nicely.

Awesome, nice drawing guys.

Public/Specific/Unconditional.

5.

She helped her friend in the

Good job Tomiris, give your

Private/Specific/Unconditional

activity.

self a tag for helping your

3.

Private/Specific/Unconditional.

Private/Specific/Unconditional.

friend.

Negative Praise: Write any negative instructions (words with NO, NOT and DONT) you heard, and then
write a more POSITIVE way to state it.
Example:

Positive way to say it:

Dont run!

Please walk!

Dont push your friend!

Please be careful with your friend!

Be quiet or you will not have a rest today.

Finish your work then you can talk.

Dont through it!

Take it and through it in the garbage.

EPC 1401

Teaching Practicum Task 5 Observation Task 5 Teacher Talk

AY 2014/15

Reflection
Write your reflection about teacher talk.
Write in paragraph form. Write a minimum of 150 words. Use good spelling and grammar. Make sure
your writing shows that you are thinking deeply about your answers.
Each student needs praised words to improve his skills in studying. In our classroom teacher Aparna
always till the students positive words for example, she used powerful words with her students and she
asked them to use it with their friends also. Beside of that she always praises her students by saying for
them some good words, such us: well done, very good and awesome.
But I think that using praising words sometimes are difficult because we must choose the correct
words always to affect in the children in a positive way even if they made a mistake we need to give them
a praised words, and it will be easier day by day when we will say it always to the childrens.
Instead of that if the teacher didnt give the students clear instruction and specific the learners will
dont do the work nicely so the teacher will be confused, so she should give the learners step by step
instruction so they will do their job nicely and in this way the teacher will praise them always.
I remember one day when my teacher abused me about my grades I feel sad, because I did the
impossible to get the higher grades but I didnt and it was fine because I have the whole semester to get it,
but what she did it to me in front of the whole classroom let me feel bad beside of that my grades didnt
come up because I remember always when she shout at me. Opposite, when someone praised me I felt
happy and I worked hard to be the best always.

EPC 1401

Teaching Practicum Task 5 Observation Task 5 Teacher Talk

AY 2014/15