Discourse Analysis of Teacher and Students in Pre-Intermediate English Class

Abstract

This research will examine the classroom discourse and interactions between a teacher and students in an ESL class. It will analyze how discourse occurs and how it can facilitate language learning. The participants were adult university students or employees. Via live classroom observation and audio recording of classes, the data were collected. The findings suggest that the teacher controlled all students, and led all class activities and the teaching process. The teacher frequently used pronouns ‘you’, ‘we’, ‘I’ while teaching as well as words such as “perfect,” “correct,” and “very good” to motivate students in-class participation. Students mostly used the pronoun ‘I’ to answer the questions. Most of the questions were closed-ended, so students did not have a chance to elaborate or share their ideas. The discourse occurred in an “IRF” -- Initial, Response, and Follow up. Lack of coherence and cohesion were widely visible in classroom interaction and most of the sentences uttered were ungrammatical.