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Constructing EFL Classroom Interactional Knowledge in Teacher Education

Canadian Center of Science and Education
International Journal of English Linguistics
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This article aimed at constructing the knowledge of EFL classroom interaction rooted in reflective teacher education. Based on the literature of the nature of knowledge, the knowledge bases of EFL teaching and the different views on EFL classroom interaction, the knowledge of EFL classroom interaction is illustrated in details. Its essence and component parts are explained and introduced comprehensively and deeply.
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International Journal of English Linguistics; Vol. 3, No. 6; 2013
ISSN 1923-869X E-ISSN 1923-8703
Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education
119
Constructing EFL Classroom Interactional Knowledge
in Teacher Education
Hongmei Zhu1
1 College of International Studies, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
Correspondence: College of International Studies, Southwest University, Chongqing, China. Tel:
86-153-2030-0726. E-mail: zhm66676@163.com
Received: October 2, 2013 Accepted: November 4, 2013 Online Published: November 24, 2013
doi:10.5539/ijel.v3n6p119 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/ijel.v3n6p119
Abstract
This article aimed at constructing the knowledge of EFL classroom interaction rooted in reflective teacher
education. Based on the literature of the nature of knowledge, the knowledge bases of EFL teaching and the
different views on EFL classroom interaction, the knowledge of EFL classroom interaction is illustrated in
details. Its essence and component parts are explained and introduced comprehensively and deeply.
Keywords: knowledge, EFL classroom, interaction, essence, component
1. Introduction
As Allwright (1984) suggested, interaction was the fundamental fact of L2 classroom. Further, in EFL (English
as a Foreign Language) classroom, interaction carries two roles: the object of teaching and the carrier of teaching,
while in other subject classroom it just carries the role of the latter. Interaction is hence more important in EFL
classroom than that in other subject classrooms. Possessing Classroom Interactional Competence (Walsh, 2006,
p. 130) becomes one essential language capability for a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) teacher.
In TEFL teacher education, classroom interaction is important (Yang Xueyan, 2003). At the beginning, teachers
learn to teach by simply modeling master teachers’ interaction skills. The teachers must imitate these superficial
techniques as much as possible. This kind of learning approach is called “the Craft Model” by Wallace (1991, p.
6). In 1960s and 1970s, it was popular to use multifarious checklists to record excellent teachers’ classroom
interaction behavior, such as FIAC (Flanders Interaction Analysis Categories), FLINT (Foreign Language
INTeraction), COLT (Communication Orientation of Language) and other coding systems. These instruments
have a firm root planted in behavior psychology (Walsh, 2006, p. 40). This quantitative description approach is
believed the most reliable for teachers to understand classroom interaction and is called “the Applied Science
Model” (Wallace, 1991, p. 8), which requires the teachers to analyze interaction problems by using technical
rationality and the findings of experiments. The two models see classroom interaction as an objective knowledge.
Nowadays, the terms of reflection are popular in TEFL teacher education and development programs (Farrell,
2012). “The Reflective Model” (Wallace, 1991, p. 19) spreads widely in TEFL teacher education. The teachers’
comprehension, reasoning, transformation and reflection are emphasized (Shulman, 1987). In this case, the
understanding on TEFL classroom interaction changes a lot. This article aims to elucidate these changes and
construct a framework of knowledge of EFL classroom interaction in teacher education.
2. Defining Classroom Interaction in “The Reflective Model” Teacher Education
Here, the meaning of classroom interaction is limited to verbal communication in classroom. In “the reflective
model”, the teacher’s status is elevated and personal theories are accepted legitimate (Freeman & Johnson, 1998).
Classroom interaction, as one fact of L2 classroom, is closely linked to EFL teachers (Allwright, 1984). Further,
Zou Weicheng (2009) claimed that “in EFL classroom, the teacher should learn how to negotiate meaning with
the students and this kind of capability was a distinct knowledge that is specific to EFL teaching” (p.44).
Therefore, classroom interaction should be focused in EFL teacher education. Nevertheless, even though
teachers know it and try best to interact with students in the classroom, the quality and the amount of classroom
interaction appeared are found limited (e.g., Bot, 2001; Hermans-Nymark, 2007). What’s more, there is a
separation between advocacy of the policymakers and the teachers’ act of teaching. Take TEFL teacher education
in China for example. The latest National Curriculum Standards (2012) makes it clear that
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“The teacher should provide students with many chances to use English in the classroom ..., create conditions for
them to explore topics that they are interested in ...” (New National Curriculum Standards for Senior English,
2012, p. 15)
“The task designed should stimulate the students to use language ...” (New National Curriculum Standards for
Senior English, 2012, p. 17)
From these statements, it is clear that education policy emphasizes classroom interaction. With policy support,
teachers should have enough courage to challenge traditional transmission-based instructional practices.
However, in teaching act, a few teachers mention two-way interaction (Liu Xuehui, 2005; Pei Xuemei & Li Min,
2006; Guo Xinjie, 2008). There are three kinds of reasons for this phenomenon: capability, willingness, courage
(Ouyang, Hu Hua, 2011). The first one is fundamental. With capability, the teacher can choose to interact or not
to interact in teaching. In China, as we noticed, the policy provides support for task based teaching, in which
interaction is the primary element. So EFL teachers will not fear loathing from the context. Notwithstanding the
support of the outsiders and the teachers’ own willingness, their capability is rather limited. This can be reflected
in sparse presentations in EFL teacher education curriculum design, in which there is no space to introduce the
development of researches on classroom interaction. The viewpoints about classroom interaction appear sparsely
in the teaching methodology course books, general linguistic course books and in the mentors’ or the supervisors’
suggestions. Apparently, this phenomenon is unpleasant. It is necessary to consider teachers’ capability to
challenge traditional transmission-based instructional practices. Without doubt, if they have not clearly
understood classroom interaction, how can they improve their interaction? Therefore, it is necessary to clarify
what the classroom interaction is in EFL teacher education. Currently, teachers’ knowledge is regarded as the
basis of teacher professional development (Shulman, 1987), but for EFL teacher education, knowledge of EFL
classroom interaction has never been addressed. In this article, classroom interaction is regarded as the
knowledge. There are at least two benefits for this new viewpoint.
First, a systematic and precise knowledge can help teachers understand and engage in classroom interaction
effectively in short term. If classroom interaction is just sparsely noticed in teacher education, it is not good for
teachers to form organized and integrated cognition on interaction.
Second, a systematic and precise knowledge can help teachers understand the relation between interaction and
students’ learning more clearly. Every research must take some stances, but the introduction of these stances is
always omitted on the grounds that in traditional “Craft Model” and “Technical Model” the curriculum courses
only provide research products and the teacher has no right to be suspicious of the origins and the progression of
the researches. These kinds of introduction view teachers as a blank vessel and deprive teachers of reflecting
capability. In “the Reflective Model”, teachers can determine which research findings are connected with their
students’ language development in their classroom themselves (Graves, 2009, p. 120). This respect on teachers’
human agency can establish an actual connection between teaching theory and practice.
To define classroom interaction can date back to the literature of EFL teachers’ knowledge base.
3. Literature Review of EFL Teacher’s Knowledge
There are three ways to identify EFL teachers’ knowledge: borrowing from general education categories directly;
categorizing the knowledge after an empirical research; combining two methods.
Table 1. Typical TEFL teacher’s knowledge categories
Researcher Categories of TEFL teachers’ knowledge base Method
Richards (1998, p. 19) (1)Theories of teaching
(2)Teaching skills
(3)Communicational skill
(4)Subject matter knowledge
(5)Personal reasoning
(6)Decision making
(7)Contextual knowledge
Combining two
methods
Tsui (2003, pp.
250-251)
(1)Knowledge of English, Empirical study
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(2)Language pedagogical knowledge
(3)Language learning knowledge
(4)Knowledge of managing learning
(5)Other curriculum knowledge
(6)Knowledge about the learner
Andrews
(1999, as cited in Zhu
Xiaoyan, 2004, p. 61)
(1)TLA(Teacher language awareness)
(2)Subject matter cognition
(3)Knowledge of learners
(4)Knowledge of curriculum
(5)Knowledge of pedagogy
(6)Knowledge of context
Combining two
methods
Gong Yafu (in press) (1)Subject matter knowledge
(2)Pedagogical knowledge
(3)Pedagogical content knowledge
(4)Knowledge of the learners and their characteristics
(5)Knowledge of educational contexts
(6)Knowledge of the curriculum and educational ends
Empirical study
Han Gang (2011) (1) Pedagogical knowledge
(2)Theoretical knowledge
(3)Practical knowledge
(4)Educational knowledge
Empirical study
The table shows that most of the categorizing method is to infer after an empirical study based on previous
knowledge categories, such as Shulman’s and Richard’s. Of course, Shulman’s general teachers’ knowledge
categorization imprints every knowledge category in this table because he is the first person to systematically
propose the knowledge base for teacher education. However, when the knowledge domains of general education
go into subject content teaching, it should combine with subject characteristics. So these examples in Table 1
have the generic footprints and the specific ones as well. Viewing from the table, except Andrews’ division, most
can be used as a reference for other subject discipline teaching. As one representative of EFL teaching
policymakers in Chinese mainland, Gong Yafu’s knowledge domains need noticing. Nevertheless, his domains
have no significance among the five examples, instead, Andrews’ (1999) categorization is worth of taking into
account. Andrews is the first person to clearly define the special knowledge EFL teachers should have, that is,
Teacher Language Awareness. He pointed out “central of these (EFL Teachers’) knowledge bases is TLA” (p.
146). This paper admits his idea that there is central knowledge which can distinguish EFL teaching from the
other content teaching, and addresses that there is another central knowledge, namely, the knowledge of
classroom interaction in EFL teachers’ knowledge base.
Classroom interaction is regarded as a pedagogical instrument in mathematics teaching (Radford, 2011), which
can help the teacher to create conditions for learning to occur. In EFL teaching, classroom interaction is paid
much more attention because it is not merely a tool in which learning appears, but also language teaching and
learning objectives. In EFL teacher education, some scholars confirm explicitly that classroom interaction is
important. For example, Zou Weicheng (2009) posits that in EFL classroom, the teacher should learn to create,
elicit and use learning conditions and when these learning conditions appear, he or she should negotiate meaning
with the students in accordance with their language competence (p. 44). It is no doubt that these conditions
should be established in classroom interaction. Zou Weicheng also claims that this kind of teacher’s capability is
a kind of knowledge that is specific to EFL teachers (p. 44). It is assured that interaction is of high status in EFL
teacher education, but the knowledge about it has not been defined.
4. Defining “Knowledge” and “The Knowledge of EFL Classroom Interaction”
For teachers, sparse knowledge on classroom interaction is not enough for planning satisfactory tasks or
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activities, engaging in teaching successfully and reflecting on teaching efficiently. It is inconsistent between
many advocacies to emphasize interaction in research field and the loose operation in teacher education.
Therefore, it is necessary to construct a systematic knowledge on EFL classroom interaction.
The first thing is to define the connotation of “knowledge”. Owing to the influences from the debates in the
research paradigms of social science, the connotation of “knowledge” has been argued constantly. The
technocratic paradigm holds that “knowledge” is fixed, stable and can be transmitted while the humanism
paradigm holds that “knowledge” is flexible and can merely be transformed. This debate impacts the connotation
of the knowledge foundation in teacher education. In earlier days, teacher education was influenced seriously by
the technocratic paradigm. “Knowledge” in teacher education was viewed a technical formula outside the
teachers. The researchers produce teaching knowledge and the teachers receive and consume these knowledge.
Shon (1987) criticizes this opinion by saying that the professional often falls into uncertain environment and the
fixed knowledge cannot help the teacher in this situation. Elliot (1991) makes a further call that “knowledge
foundation” should shift to “practical turn” (as cited in Lin Yigang, 2009, p. 67). A summary reflects the three
stages of the development of “knowledge” connotation in teacher education clearly:
The first stage: what the teacher should know?
The second stage: what the teacher knows?
The third stage: what knowledge the teacher knows in teaching?
(Lin Yigang, 2009, p. 17)
Although the third view is popular currently, the first and the second view is still essential for teacher education.
The knowledge of classroom interaction is based on all of them, that is, what the teacher should know about EFL
classroom interaction; what the teacher knows about EFL classroom interaction; what knowledge the teacher
knows in EFL classroom interaction.
5. Constructing the Knowledge of EFL Classroom Interaction
5.1 The Essence of the Knowledge of EFL Classroom Interaction
There are two noteworthy points on the essence about the knowledge of EFL classroom interaction. First, it is
fixed and flexible as well, so it can be acquired explicitly and understood tacitly. Second, it is a product and a
process as well, so it can be achieved in formal instruction and informal contact such as in action researches,
exploratory practice and reflective teaching as well. As abovementioned, the knowledge of classroom interaction
should be understood on three aspects.
What the teacher should know about classroom interaction includes all the achievements all the connected
researches have got. Currently, the researches on interaction can be divided into two categories: classroom
situation and social situation. Based on classroom situation, interaction has specific teaching aim. For example,
the researches on input, output and interaction is closely linked to promoting students learning, which is the final
teaching aim of EFL teaching. Because the classroom is a part of society, classroom is a social context (Walsh,
2006, p. 62), namely, a part of everyday life. CA (Conversation analysis), a theory about the rules in everyday
conversation, is in relevance to classroom interaction.
What the teacher knows about classroom interaction includes personal views on interaction. Because teaching is
often be influenced by the teacher’s experience, belief, and other individual factors (Graves, 2009, p. 118), he or
she may have established some schemata on interaction when engaging in teaching. These schemata might be
explicit and implicit as well.
What the teacher appears to know includes not only the rigorous public knowledge on classroom interaction, but
also what the teacher knows in teaching. In some cases, what the teacher declares to know is in conflict with
their action in the class (Polio & Duff, 1994). This conflict requires the teachers’ declaration should be identified
discreetly.
5.2 The Components of the Knowledge of EFL Classroom Interaction
As mentioned earlier, the knowledge of EFL classroom interaction has three sources: what the teacher should
know; what the teacher knows; what the teacher appears to know. Bases on these sources, the components of the
knowledge of EFL classroom interaction can be summarized as follows.
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Figure 1. The components of the knowledge of EFL classroom interaction
As shown in this figure, the knowledge of EFL classroom interaction can be divided into two categories: public
knowledge and practical knowledge on EFL classroom interaction. Public knowledge originates from two
aspects: classroom interaction as a product and as a process. If it is regarded as a product, input, output and
interaction’s research findings are typical because these achievements often explores the relationship between
certain interaction behavior and students learning. If it is regarded as a process, the success of students learning
does not exist in certain interaction behavior, but in flowing talk. Moreover, the former dwells into the
product-oriented education paradigm and concerns with classroom context, while the latter dwells into the
process-oriented education paradigm and is about interaction in everyday life. The abovementioned has
explained that the classroom is a social context; classroom interaction carries the characteristic of everyday
conversation on one hand. For subject teaching, classroom interaction should embody specific teaching aims on
the other hand.
5.3 Public Knowledge on EFL Classroom Interaction
Classroom interaction can be seen as behavior as well as process. These views are all acceptable in public. As
behavior, there are many forms of interaction, such as questions (Thompson, 1997). It is often understood as a
teaching skill. For example, teachers’ language modification strategies are useful for students’ learning. As
process, it is regarded as a pedagogical instrument (Radford, 2011), functions of language form (Zhao Fei & Zou
Weicheng, 2009) or process of realizing specific teaching aims (Yang Xueyan, 2003). In this case, the teachers’
competences depend on their wisdom in action. For example, questions have received attention in studies of
classroom interaction (Thompson, 1997) and display questions are often be seen as ineffective variable for
second language acquisition (Lee, 2006), but if they are made intelligibly, it can also promote students’ learning
(Lee, 2006).
As for public knowledge, SLA plays an important role. In fact, the close connection between SLA theories and
teaching practice was established from the start (Ellis, 2010). Ellis (2009) suggests that “SLA is best viewed as a
body of technical knowledge that can illuminate pedagogically inspired questions” (p. 141). Although most of
SLA theories are addressed by speculating, “the likelihood of different aspects of interaction creating the
conditions needed for acquisition to occur.” (Ellis, 2012, p. 15). Here, take input, output and interaction
researches for example. These researches are central points in SLA technical knowledge and are related to
second language pedagogy closely. Although some concerned empirical researches’ findings are various on the
relation between SLA and stents learning, scholars are consensus on the following items.
1. It is useful that SL/FL learners receive the target language as much as possible (based on Input Hypothesis).
2. It is useful that SL/FL learners use the target language as much as possible (based on Output Hypothesis).
3. It is useful that SL/FL learners engage in classroom interaction, especially when interacting with the teacher
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(based on Interaction Hypothesis).
Apparently, these rules discuss SL/FL language learning from the students’ perspective. In teacher education, this
perspective should shift to the teachers, who need to know how these rules are in relevance with their teaching.
In other words, they should know
1. How to provide the students with target language as much as possible.
2. How to promote the students to use the target language.
3. How to stimulate the students to engage in classroom interaction.
There are many findings for these questions in SLA field.
1. The teacher can use eight interactional structure of conversation to promote students learning: conversational
frames, confirmation checks, clarification checks, self-repetitions, other-repetitions, expansions, and many other
skills (Long, 1983).
2. The teacher should provide comprehended input (Gass, 1997).
3. The teacher should attract students’ attention initially, then promote them to intake and use it, at last they will
acquire the target language (Gass, 1997).
4. The teacher should mention time, opportunities, sociocultural context, attract students’ attention, try best to
promote students to use the target language (Gass, 2010, p. 216).
The first is Interactional Hypothesis proposed by Long, on which the next three built up by absorbing other
research achievements. These rules are on the traditional SLA research base-Cognition Theory. In recent years,
sociocultural theories influenced SLA. They put forward many completely different ideas on the efficiency of
classroom interaction. The forth item, Gass’s model of the Relation between Input and Output, is an example
influenced deeply by sociocultural theories. The researches on input, output and interaction in SLA, however,
still exist in language evidences in most cases, not in social context (Zhao Fei & Zou Weicheng, 2009). In this
case, CA-for-SLA appears because CA represents EFL teaching and learning in a specific context.
The foundation of CA depends on at least two assumptions.
1. Interaction is organized.
2. Contributions to interaction are contextually.
(as cited in Heritage, 1984, p. 241)
In other words, there is emerging grammar of interaction (Markee, 2008) in the light of CA. From the
perspective of grammar, some laws exist in the interaction. Schegloff, Sacks, and many other scholars have
gained many achievements on these respects. For example, they find out “cut-offs are generally post-positioned
with respect to trouble source” (Schegloff, 1979, as in cited in Markee, 2008, p. 404). The basic unit of
conversation analysis is “turn” in conversation. Until now, the researches on TCU (Turn-Allocation Techniques),
AP (Adjacency Pair), and repair have achieved a lot. For TEFL teachers, it is necessary to know the
abovementioned knowledge.
The public knowledge about the laws in everyday conversation and on input, output and interaction are all
technical knowledge for EFL teachers. However, important to note is that it is the teacher who conceptualizes
and experiences such knowledge in practice. This is related to the practical knowledge on EFL classroom
interaction.
5.4 Practical Knowledge on EFL Classroom Interaction
The components of practical knowledge can be divided into two main parts: topic management and learning
opportunities. Topic is an influential factor for students learning. For the topic, the person will get more chances
to participate in the learning activity if he or she devises it. If the student gets partial control over the topic, there
are some advantages (Kumaravadivelu, 2011, p. 30).
1. In the tailoring of the linguistic complexity of the input to the learner’s own level.
2. In the creating better opportunities for negotiating meaning when communication problem arises.
3. In the stimulation of more extensive and more complex production of language on the part of the learners.
However, owing to the specific teaching aim, the topic cannot be controlled by the students all the time.
Allowing the students partially control topics does not mean the teacher can put aside their responsibilities in the
classroom. Therefore, Kumaravadivelu (2011) points out that the teacher should “manage skillful the hot button
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the student arises” (p. 30). In other words, the teacher should be able to manage the topic, such as by designing a
task with a topic based on the teaching aim.
Learning opportunities exist in the classroom interaction. Richards (1998) declares clearly that “without
communication, teaching and learning would be impossible” (p. 6). For the teacher, he or she should seek, elicit,
create and use every chance to promote students to learn. For students, they should accept these learning
opportunities and study actively and diligently. The teacher, with responsibilities to promote students learning,
should be aware of learning opportunities (Walsh, 2003). In this case, public knowledge may assist the teacher.
For instance, Comprehended Input is one typical public theory and requires the teacher to negotiate meaning
with the student. Reminding the students of noticing the communication obstacles and providing enough
repetitions of knowledge about language, the teacher and students can collaborate well to realize the teaching
aim in interaction. Many other suggestions have been made in Walsh’s (2006) monograph Investigating
Classroom Discourse on creating learning opportunities. However, public knowledge on interaction merely
occupies a small percentage (Graves, 2009, p. 118). One important thing is that the teacher should be good at
learning to teach. Reflective teaching and exploratory teaching are good ways for them to construct the
knowledge on EFL classroom interaction in teaching.
6. Conclusion
This article briefly introduces another central knowledge an EFL teacher should have: the knowledge of EFL
classroom interaction. Because interaction carries more meanings in EFL classroom than that of other content
classroom, EFL teacher education should focus enough attention on it. The knowledge of EFL classroom
interaction is consisted of two parts: public knowledge and practical knowledge. Research findings on the former
are fruitful and developing, such as Input Hypothesis, Output Hypothesis and Interaction Hypothesis. Recently,
sociocultural theories have come into SLA, which broaden the scope and depth of the researches on classroom
interaction. The latter mainly depends on the teachers themselves and teacher educators’ assistance. On the way
to professional development, the teacher should reflect and explore constantly on their classroom interaction. To
sum, the knowledge of EFL classroom interaction is dynamic, which requires the teacher to inquiry actively and
deeply with scientific attitude.
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... uage. They may therefore not be aware of what is actually taking place in a particular lesson or class. It is a very common phenomenon that NUL students shy from asking questions in class. NUL English Language teachers have to encourage their students to interact in class by asking for clarification when they do not understand certain instructions. Hongmei (2013), " by reminding the students of noticing the communication obstacles and providing enough repetitions of knowledge about language, the teacher and students can collaborate well to realize the teaching aim through classroom interaction " (p. 124). Classroom interaction is very important as it helps the students to use the language they a ...
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