LC - Classroom Discourse

Question 1

What is Classroom Discourse?

Answer 1

“Classroom Discourse refers to the language teachers and students use to communicate with each other in the classroom. Talking or conversation is the medium through which most talking takes place.” (Graham Nuthall)

Thus, Classroom Discourse is the process of face to face classroom teaching.

Question 2

What are the modes of classroom discourse?

Answer 2

According to Jill and Charles Hadfield, classroom discourse has 6 modes:

1. Teacher to Students (T-Ss) : Here the teacher explains and talks to the whole class of students.
2. Students to Teachers (Ss-T) : Here the student talks to the teacher and asks questions. This is a random process.
3. Half class to Half class (S-Ss) : The class may be divided into two halves and one group of students talk to another group of students in the same class.
4. Student to Class (S-Ss) : Here one student explains or presents in front of the whole class.
5. Student to Student (S-S) : Here the students form smaller groups among their peers and have group discussions.
6. Student to Student (S-S) : Here two students discuss among each other and the rest of the class only listens. An open pair is formed.

Question 3

Direct objectives of Classroom Discourse

Answer 3

The Direct objectives of Classroom Discourse are :
1. Allowing the teachers to express their opinions
2. Allowing the students to express their opinions
3. Allowing the teachers to gain knowledge about his/her students’ strengths and weaknesses
4. Strengthening the relationship between teachers and students
5. Explaining new content
6. Enhancing the knowledge of the teachers and students
7. Searching and introducing new ideas and thinking

Question 4

Indirect Objectives of classroom discourse

Answer 4

They are:
1. Language development of the students
2. Rectification of pronunciation
3. Mitigation of shakiness
4. Building of self confidence

Question 5

Types of classroom interaction

Answer 5

They are:
- Collaborative learning
- Discussion and debate
- Story telling
- Role playing
- Interactive session
- Loud reading
- Conversation with learners

Question 6

Role of Teachers in Classroom Discourse

Answer 6

The teacher plays several roles during the process of communication in the classroom. These are:

1. Allowing student participation: A teacher allows all students to participate in the classroom irrespective of their caste, creed and IQ level. Slow learners are treated with special care by the teacher.
2. Role of an observer - A teacher may interact with the class or just observe the class and student performance.
3. Follows a specific scheme- A teacher follows a specific scheme of classroom discourse and involves the different modes of discourse as well as the types of interactions to make the class interesting.
4. Rectification of content error
5. Rectification of language error
6. Helps in new thinking and encourages creativity
7. Encourages students who do not participate to think and interact with the class so as to include every student.
8. Controls the environment - A teacher controls the environment of the classroom and the discourse so that it takes place one by one and chaos is avoided.
9. Evaluation of classroom discourse - A teacher evaluates and measures classroom discourse from the standpoint of knowledge, understanding, application and skill.

Question 7

Barriers of Classroom Discourse

Answer 7

There are certain limitations or barriers which can disrupt the smooth flow of discourse in the classroom. They are:

1. Language Barrier
2. Mental Barrier
3. Infrastructural Barrier
4. Environmental Barrier
5. Lack of Content Knowledge
6. Lack of previous knowledge
7. Teaching Learning Materials Barrier
8. Pronunciation Barrier