Teachers’ Maxims in Language Teaching

Lois DiVincenzo

What maxims do you use to guide your teaching?

Common teacher maxims

Treat each person as an individualBe flexible and play it by earMaintain a sense of humor.

Celia’s teaching maxims

Be a positive person in the classroom

Show a lot of patienceEstablish a relaxed atmosphereDesign lesson plans according

to needsMake lessons easy to

understand

More examples of teacher maxims

Maxim of involvement

-Follow learners interests

-Maintain student involvement

Maxim of efficiency

-Use class time efficiently

George’s teaching maxims

Establish relaxed classroom atmosphereDevelop relationships with studentsAccept classroom noise as the normEncourage student to student interaction

More examples of teacher maxims

Maxim of order

-Maintain order during instruction

-Maintain discipline

Maxim of empowerment

-Give learners control

Implications for teacher education

Teachers should be able to identify:what maxims they usemaxims to evaluate their teachingmaxims that need to changeinappropriate maxims

Resources Used Richards, J. C. (1996). Teacher's maxims in language teaching. TESOL

Quarterly, 30(2), summer, 281-296. Retrieved September 09, 2013, from www.jstor.org/stable/3588144

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Resources Used http://

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Resources Used http://www.flickr.com/photos/31209204@N06/6978057311/in/phot

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