Week 5 Glossary

REFLECTIVE TEACHING - QUICK VOCABULARY REVIEW

Action research - A practical, cyclical process: ongoing systematic

inquiry into existing classroom practices, followed by reflection and
change; teachers pursue change in their classroom and understanding of
classroom dynamics at the same time.

Exposure to the outside world - Giving students opportunities to connect

their language learning with real-world experiences outside the
classroom (e.g. field trips, exchanges, community-based projects, news,
etc.). Such authentic experiences provide real motivation to learn a
language.

Action research - A practical, cyclical process: ongoing systematic

inquiry into existing classroom practices, followed by reflection and
change; teachers pursue change in their classroom and understanding of
classroom dynamics at the same time.

Exposure to the outside world - Giving students opportunities to connect

their language learning with real-world experiences outside the
classroom (e.g. field trips, exchanges, community-based projects, news,
etc.). Such authentic experiences provide real motivation to learn a
language.

Guided Language Acquisition Design (GLAD) - An instructional approach

where the four primary skills are integrated across content areas with an
emphasis on science, social studies, and literature. May use bilingual
teachers, aides, and parents, or cross-age / peer tutoring. Emphasizes
teacher collaboration across disciplines. Provides real-world exposure
and authentic opportunities to use academic language.

Inquiry-based learning or reflection - The process of asking questions in

an open-ended way in order to help students explore new knowledge
domains, find solutions, or make plans for change.

Lifelong learning - The practice of learning—formally or informally—at all

phases throughout one’s life. To continue lifelong learning, teachers can
join an online community, become a member of a professional
association and attend conferences, meet regularly with a local group of
teachers to exchange ideas and collaborate on projects, etc.

Professional development - The systematic practice of improving one’s

skills and knowledge within a professional domain; in this case, teaching.
Reflective teaching practices - To systematically and actively think about
what happens in the classroom, both in terms of the teaching itself and in
terms of the learner response, and then to try to improve it.