Korean Job Discussion Forums

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Here are some tips for feeding back to a teacher following an observed lesson. I�ve been on both sides of it down the years!

* Write up your notes carefully and give the teacher a copy. I recommend giving the teacher a copy in advance of the feedback session to let them mull it over.

* DON�T start with that old chestnut, �so how did you think it went?� No one wants to waffle on about their lesson while you sit there silently nodding. Teachers then have to anxiously wait for your judgement and often talk about faults just to preempt you when actually they didn�t really think they were faults.

* INSTEAD, go through their lesson plan with them BEFORE the observation. Here you�ll get the chance to suggest changes to the structure of it and to ask the teacher what the aims are and also to ask them for their contingency plans if things don�t work out. You can also hear about any difficulties the teacher has with the class and be warned about any difficult individuals. There is just no point in turning up blind and observing in my opinion. The teacher needs your guidance both before and after. Also if you do this, you are better able to judge the lesson in terms of what he/she was hoping to achieve compared to what actually happened.

* PLEASE BE CONSTRUCTIVE! Even if you thought it wasn�t a good lesson. Frame your criticisms wisely. A demoralised teacher is no good to you. Personally, I would either mix up the positives with the negatives. If you start off with the plus points, teachers aren�t really listening but rather just waiting for the inevitable BUT�

* Another way to do it is to start off with the constructive criticism and finish off with all the pluses.

* Don�t nit pick!! It�s easy for you to sit back and be all perfectionist about it!

* Confess to problems you have had if they apply, and what you tried to do about it.

* Focus on the important issues like students opportunity to speak, TTT, error correction, pronunciation, making sure all students were involved, use of a warmer, making the lesson interactive, positive feedback, a good lead in etc, etc.

* Ask the teacher if they thought your feedback was fair!

* List a few points that you�d like to see development on when it comes to the next obs. Tell the teacher that next time, you�ll be focusing on those points and that you are satisfied with the rest.

* Suggest they observe other teachers, particularly if someone else is strong where they are weak but be careful to encourage others to observe them to focus on one of their strengths.

* Encourage as much Peer Obs as possible and offer to cover.

* With beginner teachers, you might even suggest to them what kind of lesson you�d like to see e.g. PPP, Test-Teach-Test, TBA etc. You might even insist. I don�t think it�s advisable to just say �Just do what you would normally do��

* Let your teachers observe you too, your majesty!! Got something to hide?

[Joe Boxer]

Head Teachers would be wise to learn from this guy's experience