20 June 2004

Dear Li Peidong

Thank for enabling me to share your thoughts in your action research project.  Moira has asked several of us to offer some comments on your work - Thank you! I am beginning to understand a little more about China and its rich cultures through Moira's eyes. I welcome this opportunity to understand more from you.

Here are my reflections on your work:

Your work is a shining example of collaboration between two experts; your tutor Moira and yourself.  I can sense an excitement as well as a determination in mastering new methodologies and branching away from a more 'spoonfed' approach.  There is ease and sophistication in how you express your ideas for which I compliment you.  The more traditional approach to language learning through grammar translation reminds me of my own experiences and was how I might well have taught modern foreign languages had I not had a tutor who was so creative!

I am fascinated by the description you give of your pedagogical maturation and liberation as a teacher and would welcome a slightly fuller account of how (not just that) your own confidence grew at Shanghai Studies University and how this informs your own practice as a core value.  You give a convincing account, well evidenced by comments from your students, about the weakness of over emphasis on grammar translation without regard for the paradigm present/practice/perform (independently) and I perceive bravery in admitting your own shortcomings.I would like to see a reference not just to action research texts and practice but to the wealth of literature relating to teaching modern foreign languages and English as a foreign language.  I think you could also usefully engage with the work of Markus on the formation of positive possible selves.  This aligns well with your thoughts on helping students to develop their self confidence.

On a critical note, there is some difference between the meticulous care and attention you give to enabling your reader to step inside your classroom and meet students in early sections of your paper and your rather abrupt summary.  Might I encourage you to develop the section What Did I Do? Though interesting,

I want to see more validation of your work from your students and colleagues. 

How would it be if you shared just a little of some of your own uncertainties in learning and explained how you grow your own confidence through experience. Sometimes we teachers seem almost too unapproachable.

but if we openly share our strengths and celebrate them together we feel more ready to venture into our weaker areas and share those too - I urge you to join in research by asking How can we develop our own and one another's confidence?

My summary

A very impressive piece of work and my comments are offered in recognition of your achievement.  I have learnt so much from your writing - you bring life to your writing through your own evident vitality, your honesty and your courage.

Thank you for allowing me to see through your eyes and recognise how you have been seeking to improve your own teaching and your own and students' learning.

Might I suggest you take photos of your classroom and insert them in your text.

If you will agree, I would like to post your writing here on my website at www.TeacherResearch.net so that teachers in other countries can enjoy it too.  I would also like, with your permission, to suggest to my colleague at Becta (British Educational Communications Technology Agency) that he posts your work onto the database of teacher research that we are currently working together.

Warm regards,

Sarah

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Sarah Fletcher
Lecturer in Education
The University of Bath,
Claverton Down
Bath BA2 7AY

www.TeacherResearch.net

Tel. 01225 826857
FAX  01225 826113