Reflective Teaching in Second Language Classrooms

Cambridge Language Education

by Jack C. Richards, Charles Lockhart

This text introduces techniques for teachers to explore their classroom experiences and for critical reflection on teaching practices. This book introduces teachers to techniques for exploring their own classroom experiences. Numerous books deal with classroom observation and research, but this is the first to offer a carefully structured approach to self-observation and self-evaluation. Richards and Lockhart aim to develop a reflective approach to teaching, one in which teachers collect data about their own teaching; examine their attitudes, beliefs, and assumptions; and use the information they obtain as a basis for critical reflection on teaching practices. Each chapter includes questions and activities appropriate for group discussion or self-study.

Genres: Education, Linguistics, Teaching

218 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 1994

About the author

Jack Croft Richards is an applied linguist from New Zealand, specializing in second and foreign language education, teacher training, and materials design. He has written numerous articles and books. Most of his books and articles are in the field of second language teaching and have been translated into many different languages. He was appointed full professor in the Department of English as a Second Language at the University of Hawaii in 1981.

Reviews

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent accounts of how to teach and more importantly how to determine how to change instruction to meet needs. Each chapter had hints and check lists, activities and resources to aid in instruction. One thing I had not thought of until I read this is that there are teacher led classes and student led classes. I started out being teacher led, because that is what I experienced when I was in the classroom as a student. Each year I move more and more to the student led side.

[Šarūnė · Rating 2 out of 5]

Since it’s a year of reflection for me, I thought I’d dig into some reflective teaching as well. This textbook has a lot of basic information (I was aware of it) about teaching, lots of oooooold research where things have definitely changed.
One thing I’m reminded of is that we have to always think what made this activity good, what can be changed or adapted next time. Really enjoyed reading about action research cases and how things changed in the classroom.

[Nurbek Nurullayev · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a novice teacher, I found this book informative and enlightening.

[John Hayward]

Read this as part of my MA in TESOL programme.

[€l!na · Rating 2 out of 5]

[أميرة · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great value at such a concise volume! More useful for beginner teachers. Good balance of theory Vs case study research.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains some very good questions a second language teacher ought to be asking him or herself.

[Kat Becker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book to be typical of the frustrations I've had with many language education textbooks- lots of minituae about skills I would consider intuitive and/or commonsense.

[Roland · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential guide for anyone thinking of getting into the ESL teaching field.

[Soumaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend it to any teacher.