Research Diary: A Tool for Scaffolding

Diaries have long been seen as tools for reflection in learning languages, and learning about teaching. Despite this recognition of the importance of narratives in diary writing, little attention has been paid to the role of research diaries in the process of learning about research, and learning how to be a researcher. During the author\u27s own research into the construction of teaching knowledge by pre-service trainees, she became aware that her research diary was scaffolding her own construction of research knowledge. In this article the author discusses the role of a research diary based on a socio-cultural theory of learning. The diary acts as the expert other in the scaffolding of research knowledge by the novice researcher. The discussion of the nature of the scaffolding and the role of diary writing draws on examples from the author\u27s research diary written during her doctoral studies

Using concept-based instruction in the L2 classroom: Perspectives from current and future language teachers

A number of recent studies (see, for example, Lantolf, 2010; Negueruela & Lantolf, 2006; van Compernolle, 2011) have focused on the use of learning tools developed according to the principles of concept-based instruction (CBI). Using videorecorded data from interviews and observations of classroom instruction, our study seeks to contribute to the CBI research by examining the implementation of this framework from the perspectives of pre-service and novice teachers of French and Spanish. Therefore, the overarching goal of this study is to understand how and to what extent teachers embrace or reject a pedagogical approach that does not necessarily align with a textbook’s explanation of a grammar point. We have chosen to focus on the teaching of verbal aspect since textbooks for learners of both French and Spanish typically present rules of thumb for learning past tense use without explaining the systematic concept of verbal aspect. The case studies presented in this article demonstrate that – in some instances and for a variety of reasons – experienced, novice, and pre-service teachers prefer materials, techniques, and approaches that are more familiar, albeit not as potentially beneficial for learners