Nonnative Teachers’ and Observers’ Evaluation of Teachers’ Teaching Quality: Perceptual Convergences and Divergences in Postobservation Conferences

Abstract

One of the major purposes of observation is the improvement of instruction. In fact, observers evaluate teachers’ teaching quality and negotiate their critical comments with teachers in postobservation conferences. This paper was an attempt to investigate and compare Iranian EFL teachers’ and observers’ evaluations of teachers’ teaching quality. Specifically, we attempted to figure out any possible perceptual matches and/or mismatches between teachers and observers concerning teachers’ teaching quality. To this end, postobservation conferences between three Iranian EFL observers (one female and two male) and 11 Iranian EFL teachers who worked at a language institute in Iran were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. Our findings indicated that two major themes were recurrent vis-à-vis observers’ evaluations; that is, their evaluations were mainly based on the specific teaching methodology of the institute as well as teachers’ and learners’ pronunciation and intonation. Three perceptual matches were found: teachers’ agreement with the observers’ comments regarding teaching methodology, pronunciation and stress patterns, as well as teachers’ general information. Furthermore, three major perceptual mismatches were found when teachers disagreed with the observers’ comments regarding teaching methodology, pronunciation and stress patterns, and teachers’ time management. Finally, our findings indicated that most of such perceptual mismatches were resolved through the dialogic interaction that occurred between the observers and teachers. A practical implication is that holding such postobservation conferences is of utmost importance as they might be mutually beneficial for both observers and teachers.