Does teaching style influence the outcome of a lesson? An #ELTchat summary (03/12/2014)

Following my failed attempt at starting the reflection and info-packed blog I’d envisaged this would be, I’m making a comeback today with the summary of this week’s #ELTchat whose topic I suggested following a staffroom discussion I had with a CELTA trainer colleague last week. We both seemed to agree that if the under-discussed subject of Teaching Styles received as much attention as that of Students’ Learning styles, teacher training courses may become more successful at better preparing trainees for today’s diverse classrooms. Inspired by the conversation, I was eager to hear what my PLN and other educators out there made of this.

ELT educators from various parts of the world took part in what turned out to be a dynamic and highly inspiring Twitter chat. And as lively and exciting as the discussion was, it was mostly apparent that despite the extensive experience the group of teachers combined made up, defining Teaching Styles wasn’t something we could readily express. When half-way through the chat, @MarjorieRosenbe asked the question, ‘Do we actually have a definition of teaching styles?’ few could come up with a definitive answer.

• We often teach in the way we learn @MarjorieRosenbe
• There have been such listings, e.g. authoritative vs. authoritarian vs. laissez-faire. These can be found in general education studies but not ELT @Marisa_C

So @SueAnnan launched the discussion with the all essential question, ‘Does teaching style influence the outcome of a lesson?’ This prompted mixed responses but the overall feeling seemed to lean towards the idea that ‘a variety of styles seem to work’ @SueAnnan, and that ‘it is wrong to assume that only high energy teachers are effective @Marisa_C, as ‘very measured, calm and relaxed teachers also produce great lessons’ @Shaunwilden.

• Really laid-back teachers make effective teachers too @SueAnnan
• Teachers should teach according to their personal styles and not prescription @naomishema
• Whatever works for you is fine. I am a bit manic if the class needs it, but can do calm too @SueAnnan
• I’ve recently watched a teacher who was so calm but had the students on tenterhooks @Languageeteach
• But you can’t change the way you are, can you? @Languageeteach
• Teaching style may be related to excessive TTT? @naomishema

Whilst we all seemed to agree that no teaching style appeared to prevail over another, I asked the question, so ‘What is it about teachers who students are never satisfied with, despite good planning and lesson outcome?’ And the answers started to point at other factors such as culture, students’ expectations, rapport and perhaps even personality.

• Could it be culture? @HadaLitim
• I know that German students in our school expect something quite different from other students @SueAnnan
• Maybe the teacher doesn’t meet the students’ expectations of what makes a good teacher and good learning @Languageeteach
• Students do have expectations and this changes in different cultures @Marisa_C
• It’s a matter of rapport @MarjorieRosenbe
• My EAP students all agreed that being interesting is what makes a good teacher @Joannacre

But I was still puzzled; rapport and interesting could both be related to teaching style so, my next question was, ‘Should the teacher’s style match the students’ learning styles?’ The responses were strong and varied. Whilst ‘there is an inevitability that it is bound to happen’ @Shaunwilden, ‘experience taps into teaching style’ @joannacre, and ‘this influences everything’ @naomishema. ‘If the teacher follows ‘Best Practice’ regarding STT, does style really matter?’ @Sue Annan. Both @MarjorieRosenbe and @Naomishema agreed that, ‘We need to understand our own style to adapt more easily’ and @MarjorieRosenbe added that, ‘teachers need to know what works when’. I tend to agree with Marisa_C that although ‘I don’t think I should adopt a different persona, teachers do need to become more aware of how they come across to their students’.

• Learning styles can be an issue. I do a lot of ‘learning by doing’ but some students really want rules and examples beforehand @naomishema
• The trouble is the teacher’s style doesn’t always appeal to the students @HadaLitim
• This comes in providing for a variety in lessons – teaching style is not included in any criteria @Marisa_C
• It depends on how the teacher understands the group. High energy can also get on one’s nerves @MarjorieRosenbe

Having covered some of the broader questions regarding what is clearly a topic that needs more research, we focused on factors that may affect the style a teacher adopts for a particular lesson. Is teaching style related to the age of the students?

• YLs love a warm affectionate and playful teacher @Marisa_C
• There’s a huge difference in YLs too – between some boys and girls @naomishema
• Adults like to be challenged, but don’t need the teacher to bounce around all the time @SueAnnan
• Different learners require different styles. For example, think of adult learners and young learners and learner autonomy @joannacre

And ‘what about the context, perhaps?’

• Classroom and seating arrangement also play a role. How would you teach in an amphitheatre for example? @Joannacre
• The teacher needs to know what works when @MarjorieRosenbe
• We teach segregated classes so the style definitely differs @HadaLitim
• My learners (asylum seekers) like teachers who really listen to them @languageeteach
• Online/Face to face affects style. My Business English students don’t really like role play @joannacre
• The level of the group also influences the style. @Naomishema
• Some of my Chinese students never ask questions because they do not do that at home @joannacre
• My Ukrainian students are some of the most open to new ideas @MarjorieRosenbe
• My Saudi students seem to have different expectations at home and abroad @HadaLitim

As time ticked on, we needed to turn our attention to solutions. So the question was, ‘What should a teacher do?’

• Early on in the course, perhaps included in needs analysis, students could describe their ideal teacher @Marisa_C
• Being rigid in your teaching style wouldn’t be of benefit @SueAnnan
• Flexibility in everything (style, approach, activities, etc) seems to be key @HadaLitim
• Getting off your ‘high’ teacher horse can be helpful – listen to the learners! @joannacre
• Teachers need to know their students and their likes from class to class @SuaAnnan
• It might be good to get out of one’s own comfort zone @SueAnnan which can make for great learning experiences for the teacher @HadaLitim
• If you hear yourself saying, ‘you should…’ or my pet hate, ‘it’s good practice…’, think again! @languageeteach
• Encouraging stretching is key for me @MarjorieRosenbe

How do you know it works? @SueAnnan

• The students! Their faces and body language @HadaLitim
• You can feel the vibes @naomishema
• I ask and check them to reflect in journal , check HW, class performance, check for smiles and yawns @joannacre
• Worried whispering @Marisa_C
• Lots of L1 too @SueAnnan
• No one is listening!! You must be doing something wrong @joannacre
• Increased lateness or absenteeism @HadaLitim
• Feedback forms @joannacre
• Feedback forms help build trust and openness. We can learn so much from them @eltconnect
• I also learn a lot from students’ evaluations @MarjorieRosenbe
• When you are an older teacher, it’s good to have a student teacher who asks why? It makes you think about what you do @Naomishema

With just a few minutes before we closed this week’s #ELTchat, it was important to revisit our initial question, ‘Can teaching style alone affect the outcome of a lesson?’ with the emphasis on the word alone, and as some of the answers show, we’re still far from the conclusive answer we were seeking.

• It depends for whom. Same lesson, different reactions and degrees of internalizing the material @naomishema
• I think it can – in the worse case scenario, think of a dour impatient, sarcastic teacher with the best plan. @Marisa_C
• I don’t think so. It’s a variety of factors which come into play @SueAnnan
• Yes and no. @Eltwriter
• I also don’t think so. Way too many factors to consider @MarjorieRosenbe

Some questions which still need to be discussed

• Should a module on teaching styles be introduced in TT courses @HadaLitim
• Can a teacher adopt different teaching styles? @HadaLitim
• Should the whole idea of teacher as a researcher be included in TT courses @Marisa_C
• Couldn’t teaching styles be more a question of confidence in what we are teaching?’ @Joaanacre @SueAnnan

Related links

• The Effect of Learning Styles on Education and the Teaching Process http://t.co/zEqsFr741c @Face_English
• A paper based self-evaluation instrument http://t.co/1qOsaiQpjU @Marisa_C
• Another one including stuff about technology http://t.co/aZetqrkCsb @Marisa_C
• Lots of articles on teaching style inventories here http://t.co/ratJ9Rfh6L @Marisa_C
• Weingartner in Teaching as a Subversive Activity have a great listing http://t.co/2xgpdAM6fS @Marisa_C
• Something amusing http://t.co/pmMig5TvzF taken from http://t.co/IHNjRgNPxX @muranava
• Worth checking too http://t.co/lbpOw1zTZP What is the significance of learning styles? face_english
• The Effect of Affect http://linkis.com/blogs.edweek.org/tea/UJ2XE @face_english