Module 8: Lesson 6 - Interaction patterns

Question 1

What are interaction patterns?

Answer 1

the different ways learners and the teacher can interact in the class.

Question 2

How are these interactions represented?

The teacher talks to the students.

The students talk to each other in pairs.

The students talk to each other in groups.

One student talks to the class.

Answer 2

T-Ss: The teacher talks to the students.

S-S: The students talk to each other in pairs.

Ss-Ss: The students talk to each other in groups.

S-Ss: One student talks to the class.

Question 3

Why is it important to have a range of interactions throughout a lesson?

Answer 3

• It helps change the pace of the lesson.
• It can help learners focus more than a teacher-centered lesson.
• It allows for high STT and low TTT.
• Enables learners to communicate with their peers in groups and pairs.
• Allows students to communicate with a variety of students in their class.
• Takes the focus away from the teacher.
• It encourages learners to actually use, practice, and produce the language, grammar, or skill sets from a lesson.

Question 4

Why is pair and group work so important?

Answer 4

Pair and group work change the interaction patterns and can help keep a good pace in your lesson.

EFL lessons should be student-centered (with high student talking time) rather than teacher-centered (with high teacher talk time).

Working in pairs and groups keeps the student interaction high which is essential in a language class.

Working in pairs and groups can help create a safe learning environment.

Social Interaction - It is beneficial for students to interact with each other; they will be less fearful of peer pressure and making mistakes if they are used to working with each other in pairs and groups.

Pair and group work allows the teacher to set up an activity and step back.

Question 5

Why is T-S interaction important?

Answer 5

• They are the one in charge of the lesson and they are needed to guide and help the students.
• Teachers keep the main flow of the lesson by introducing a certain point, demonstrating, and then organizing activities with various interactions.
• Acts as a guide throughout the lesson, stand back when the learners are working either individually, in pairs, or groups, but know when to move on with the next activity to keep structure and control.
• It builds understanding, trust, and respect, co-operation, classroom management, increases social and cognitive growth, clarifications, explanations

Question 6

Why is S-S interaction important?

Answer 6

• It gives students more opportunity to practice.
• It is an effective way to change the pace from a teacher-led instruction task.
• It gives the learners a sense of autonomy.
• It is essential in any EFL classroom.
• It allows students to share ideas.
• It enables students to learn from each other.
• Working in pairs can challenge students.
• It can strengthen relationships in the class.
• In multilingual classes, it is an effective way for students to learn about different cultures.
• It increases overall student talk time.
• Students may rely less on the teacher when they have someone else to work with.

Question 7

What is peer teaching?

Answer 7

This is when students teach other students. Students learn from each other, and with each other, in both formal and informal ways.

Question 8

What are some benefits of peer teaching?

Answer 8

• an increase in cooperative/active learning;
• it can help reinforce what a student already knows when they peer teach another student;
• it is less traditional, and students may like this;
• it is an effective way to share knowledge;
• students receive more time for individualized learning;
• can help create a safe learning environment where students become more open;
• it is a versatile method that can be used in a variety of ways;
• students may feel more comfortable and open when interacting with a peer;
• supportive relationships are built leading to higher self-esteem, achievement, and productivity.

Question 9

How can you increase STT online?

Answer 9

• If you are using has breakout rooms (or similar), students can interact together in pairs (S-S) or groups (Ss-Ss).
• Exploit the chat box.
• When you are working with the whole class, you can use students’ names to nominate individuals.
• Reactions: Platforms such as Zoom have “Reaction” functions.