Today I observed Jack’s online class, Integrated Language Skill from Thompson Rivers University, which mainly focused on low-level English beginners from. Most of them are from Japan, and a few of them from France, Philippine, and Iran.

At the beginning of class, Jack explained to students that they will have guests for today’s class. After the guests’ introduction, the teacher reviewed the last class with students and instructed students to learn with the teacher by employing a textbook. During the process of teaching, the teacher gave a clear explanation to each group work and activity, he always tried to elicit students to talk more by asking some open questions. He successfully achieved the objectives to let students be able to practice listening comprehension and speaking fluency.

What I impressed was that Jack kept typing some words into chatbox from Japanese students when they shared thoughts with the class. I believe it benefits from his knowledge of the second language, Japanese.  That’s very thoughtful to consider other students’ correct input in English. And also, he avoided interrupting students to correct instead of trying correct words in the chat box and giving examples. Another thing is that the instructor is passionate and humorous during teaching. Students were engaged and willing to ask questions.

The class atmosphere was warm and comfortable, and it was wonderful. The only thing I doubt is why don’t the teacher give an explanation when students get confused or feel unfamiliar with some words rather than tell students to look up in the dictionary. What I will take away from observation is to learn how to use my L1 in a future class if it needs without making other students feel uncomfortable, and how to teach well-around.