On 12/4/12 I observed Debbie's composition class. I was interested in observing a Fundamentals level course as two of the students are my conversation partners. The class was very welcoming. Debbie reviewed the basics of introducing yourself to someone. Each member of the class introduced himself to me. You can tell Debbie has been teaching a while, and is very comfortable in her role. Though it was a composition course, not much writing was done in class that day, rather assigned as homework. New vocabulary was learned from their picture dictionaries, as well as verbal practice on constructing sentences with that new vocabulary. Much more correction was needed in this class than the others I've observed. However, students were allowed to correct their own mistakes after being guided in the sprightly direction with clues.
Many students were speaking Arabic in class, and asked to stop several times. Debbie admitted to me it was the most out of control class she's had in quite a while. It really just felt like a case of "senioritis" that happens to all students near the end of classes. They attempted to play a game and she had to explain and model the directions several times unsuccessfully before it finally worked.
It was a great class to observe. It's nice to know that no matter no much we are normally in charge, anything can happen on a bad day. :)
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