Guidelines for observing, collaborating and collecting data

• Visit the class at least twice or three times (depending on availability – the more time you spend in the classroom, the better).
• On your first visit, focus on aspects such as the number of students, the materials, and the contents. The teacher will ask you to help if she needs assistance when monitoring students or checking class work.
• On your second visit, you can take a more active role and take the lead during a stage of the lesson, if the teacher agrees. See how the contents are presented and dealt with (with an emphasis on communication or on form, on recognition or on production, etc.). Pay attention to students’ participation and the types of interactions that dominate the lesson (teacher-whole group, student-student, etc).
• If there’s third visit, you can again be in charge of a part of the lesson. Also, try to “interview” the teacher and learn about her own beliefs and policies as regards evaluation, and the institution requirements and regulations on the same topic.
• It’s important that you also interact with students, so that you get to know them well and can prepare an evaluation proposal that is situated and contextualized.