Tag Archives: Tom Godfrey

Errors Are Not Just Errors: They Are Performative Moments

Error correction is one of the most powerful performative moments in teaching In language teaching, we often talk about errors as if they are purely linguistic events. A learner uses the wrong tense. A word is mispronounced. A sentence is … Continue reading

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Every Teacher Action Sends a Signal

Meta-Performative Awareness In the previous post, I argued that “good rapport” is not enough as a way of talking about teaching. Not because rapport is unimportant. It is extremely important. But when we say a teacher has “good rapport”, we … Continue reading

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Good Rapport Is Not Enough

Why teacher education needs a better language for what teachers communicate. “You have a great rapport.” “Create a warmer atmosphere.” “Try to be more engaging.” “Encourage more participation.” “Don’t undermine learner confidence.” These are all important comments. The problem is … Continue reading

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Can Presence Be Taught?

Towards a Performative Framework for ELT If we can assess rapport, presence and engagement, we should also be able to help teachers develop them. This may sound obvious. But in teacher education, these qualities are often easier to recognise than … Continue reading

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What Are Performative Skills — and Why Do Teachers Need Them?

Performative skills are essential in teaching, enabling educators to influence how learning is experienced in real time. These skills encompass voice, gesture, timing, and response, significantly affecting students’ feelings of safety and engagement. Teachers need meta-performative awareness to understand the implications of their actions, fostering a supportive learning environment. Continue reading

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Presence Is Not Personality: The Missing Language in Teacher Education

When we mystify presence, we make teacher development less accessible A lesson can be well planned, well staged and well resourced — and still fall apart. Every teacher educator will recognise the moment when… The trainee teacher stands in front … Continue reading

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We Don’t Yet Have the Language to Talk About What Teachers Do to Learners

Meta – Performative Awareness in Teacher Education Teacher education talks endlessly about methods, planning, aims, staging, outcomes, materials, and technique. But some of the most powerful things teachers do are still described in frustratingly vague terms:good rapportpositive atmospherestrong presencesupportive manner … Continue reading

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The Missing Dimension in ELT Teacher Education

Why teaching is not only about what teachers do, but what learners carry forward As a teacher educator, I have spent many waking hours circling back to the same question: What difference does a teacher really make? In contemporary teacher … Continue reading

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Why Teacher Education Needs a Performative Framework

How can we train teachers to respond to learners in real time? In teacher education, some of the most important aspects of teaching are often the least clearly understood. As a teacher educator, a large part of my work involves … Continue reading

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From Performative Skills to Meta-Performative Awareness

A New Way of Thinking About Teacher Development In teacher education, we often focus on what teachers know and what teachers do. We help teachers develop knowledge of language, pedagogy, planning, assessment, and classroom management. We also help them build … Continue reading

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