Class observation day and date: ______________________________________

The class name, time and exact location: _______________________________________________________________

Listening and Speaking Assignment:

• Write clear, complete, neat answers to these questions.
• You have two copies of this worksheet.
  • Make quick notes during the class. Most of your time should be spent looking at the professor and listening.
  • Immediately after class, on the second copy, write clear, compete answers to these questions using complete sentences. Check your grammar and spelling!
• Purposes of the observation: cultural and language practice, experience before you register for summer and fall classes, good discussion material, fun

*Arrive at least 5 to 10 minutes early. Allow extra time to find the building and room. Sit in the back. *If the class is small and it's convenient, quickly introduce yourself to the professor before class: "Hello. My name's ___________. As you know, I'm from TIUA and I'm observing your class today." *During class, show that you're paying attention by maintaining eye contact with the professor or the student who's talking. If you are taking notes about the class, still pay attention to the class. Take brief notes in class and then complete this observation sheet immediately after you observe the class. *Stay awake! It would be extremely impolite to sleep and it would jeopardize relations between Willamette and TIUA. *Remember that you are a guest. Please do not talk to each other in Japanese or English during the class! *If it seems like the right thing to do, thank the professor before you leave: "Thank you very much for letting me visit your class. It was a valuable experience." If the class you are assigned to attend isn't in the classroom or there is some reason why you cannot visit, choose another class on the list that meets at a later time. Say to the professor: "I'm a TIUA student. I was supposed to observe a different Willamette class today, but . . . . May I observe your class?" Call me or visit me on Wednesday if I can help you find another class.

 

Class observation day and date: ______________________________________

The class name, time and exact location: _______________________________________________________________

Did you have any trouble finding the classroom? Any other problems?

What happened before class? (For example: Did the students talk to each other? Did the students and the professor arrive early or late and what did they do before the class began?)

How the room arranged (rows, horseshoe/a "U", circle) and how many students were in the class?

How did the professor get the attention of the students and begin the class?

If students arrived late, what did they do and where did they sit? Did they say anything to the professor or their classmates?

What was the format of the class? (Did the professor lecture? Did students give presentations or lead the class? Was there an all-class discussion? Did the students ask questions. Describe the different activities you saw.)

Did the students ask the professor questions? A lot? A few? Describe the kinds of questions asked (for example, asking for clarification, asking for more information, asking about assignments). Did the students offer their opinions or argue with the professor? What were the circumstances?

What major topic or topics were covered during the class?

Were the students taking notes? Did it seem the same as when students in your home country take notes in class? (Did they write as the professor talked or only copy what was written on the board or on visual aids such as overheads?) 

Did the students talk to the professor before or after class? How many and how did they approach the professor? (What words did they use to get the professor's attention or introduce their question or comment?)

How would you describe the atmosphere of the class?

Based on your brief observation, describe the relationship between the professor and the students. Is it the same or different from the relationship one might observe in Japan? Why do you think it's the same or why is it different? How does the professor-student relationship affect learning?

Approximately what percent of the spoken English did you understand? (Tell the truth -- I'm just curious.)

What, if anything, surprised you? Why did it surprise you?

In your opinion, what are the most interesting and important similarities between classes in your country and the class you observed? Why do you think these similarities exist?

In your opinion, what are the most interesting and important differences between classes in your country and the class you observed? Why do you think these differences exist?

Did you learn anything from the experience (about culture, about education, about a subject)? What did you learn?

Did you enjoy the class observation? Why or why not?

Is there anything else you observed that is especially interesting or that may help you or other foreign students when they take a Willamette class?

What questions do you have?