Considerable research has gone on in recent years into exactly what happens in the language classroom - what and how learners learn, what teachers actually do, and what kind of events take place. Sometimes the findings show that what happens is not what is expected when lessons are being prepared and taught. Allwright and Bailey set out to define the aims, principles, and objectives of classroom research, to describe the findings and relate these to teaching practice. All teachers will find much that they can relate to their classrooms. It contains points to discuss, suggestions for further...

This book provides an account of classroom observation in a historical and educational perspective. Drawing on extracts from classic studies in this field, Dick Allwright reviews the development of research and experiment since the 1970's. The book thus not only provides a background to recent research, but also identifies areas for future development. Stress is laid on the link to be made between practice and research and it is argued that policy-making. either at classroom or institutional level, is heavily dependent on descriptive accounts of classroom reality.