Zack - CO#2

 For my second classroom observation, I joined Dr. Rios' intermediate speaking class. The activity for the day involved the students getting together in pairs to discuss an assignment that they had done before class, or in a previous class. This took up much of the class time, but there was also a significant portion of the class during which Dr. Rios simply interacted with the class. It was a rather small class, so it was possible to involve all of the students in this discussion. This was the part that was most helpful for me.

In interacting with the class, Dr. Rios asked them about their weeks/weekends, told various jokes, and was just all-around very lively, interactive, friendly, and even critical but in an entirely non-abrasive way (e.g. correcting mistakes by way of repetition with the correct terms). His manner of speech was noticeably slower and more carefully pronounced than what would be appropriate for advanced students or native speakers. I also noticed that his vocabulary was carefully selected, so as not to use words above the students' levels. Overall, Dr. Rios gave off an air of gentle and jovial authority, that I think really resonated with the students. Some of this may just be Dr. Rios' natural personality, but I'm sure much of it has been acquired via his years of experience as well.

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