Page 41 - ELG1804 Apr Issue 456

RESOURCES . REVIEWS & RESOURCES

Put a Name: SEVERUS SNAPE
Hogwarts Teachers:
Pedagogical Profiles

spell on Position: Potions Master

Appearance: severe, long, black hair,
dressed in black
Strengths: has a
commanding classroom
presence
your class Weaknesses: doesn’t
believe in the capabilities
of his pupilss, teacher-
centred approach,
discourages interaction

Name: SYBILL TRELAWNEY
Position: Head of Divination Workshop
Appearance: unruly, long hair, thick-
rimmed glasses, long and baggy clothes.
Amanda Yesilbursa explains how Harry Potter’s Strengths: believes in learning by doing,
sets up authentic, interactive activities,
boarding school Hogwarts could hold the key to learner-centred approach
better classroom interactions Weaknesses: lacks an authoritative
presence, doesn’t always
listen to her students, appears
wo years ago there were a series of series had in the lives of some of my student- preparing the schedule and material for a OK, I know. Hogwarts teachers teach First, there are plenty of them, and they to be incompetent in her field
events in my life that inspired me to teachers. Indeed, many of them had been course on classroom interaction skills that I magic, not English. are varied and exist together within a single
devise some slightly unusual teacher- motivated to learn English in high school was to teach for the first time. But teachers of all subject matters display context, which provides continuity.
Ttraining techniques. Why not incorporate the interest in Harry their beliefs about content, learning and Second, the depictions of the teachers at
First, my twins had reached the age where Teachers of all Potter and the images of teachers into my new teaching in the way they set up interaction Hogwarts are very stereotypical, even clichéd. Name: GILDEROY LOCKHART
they began to ‘get into’ J. K. Rowling’s Harry course? Why not support academic readings in the classroom, and in the discourse they Their behaviour and way of dressing, and Position: Professor of Defence Against the
Potter series, both the books and films. subject matters display on teachers’ beliefs and classroom interaction choose, often unconsciously, to bring about their subjects and methods of instruction fit in Dark Arts
Repeated readings and viewings ensued their beliefs about patterns with striking and engaging images of learning. conveniently with other images of teachers in Appearance: blond hair, sparkling smile,
during the winter break. Revisiting the series familiar teachers? Anyway, who wouldn’t love to be able to popular culture and literature. superficially charming
as a teacher-educator, I noticed the depictions content, learning and This way, it would be possible to tap into cast an Accio Lingua Anglica spell and have The teachers I generally choose to focus on Strengths: attracts pupils’
of the highly ritualised school environment shared conceptualisations of teachers. Video their students fluent in English at the wave of are Severus Snape, the potions master, Sybill attention Weaknesses:
and the teachers in particular. teaching in the way clips provide concrete, objective records of a wand? Trelawney, head of the divination workshop, self-important, boastful,
The second event was the sad loss of behaviour and its effects on others. Although I originally had prospective Gilderoy Lockhart, defence against the dark showy, starts activities that
Alan Rickman and the effect it had on they set up interaction Moreover, asking individuals to reflect English language teachers in mind, the arts professor, and Dolores Umbridge, high he is unable to control,
my prospective English language teachers. on the behaviour of fictitious teachers, such activities I have developed are just as relevant inquisitor. incompetent
January 2016 witnessed many gloomy faces in in the classroom as the Hogwarts teaching staff, can be less for teachers of all levels of experience. These characters provide sharp contrasts
the department and laments on social media fraught with emotion than asking them to So, exactly how do the Hogwarts teachers – Snape is severe, Trelawney a little Name: DOLORES JANE UMBRIDGE
over the passing of ‘Severus Snape’. because of Harry. talk critically about real teachers who have help us to reflect on beliefs and classroom dizzy, Lockhart narcissistic and Umbridge
It struck home what an important place the Third, while all this was going on, I was had a significant role in their education. interaction patterns? authoritarian. Position: High Inquisitor, Headmistress
Appearance: always wears pink, neat and
tidy, dresses formally, superficial sweet
n The appearance of the teacher silly wand-waving or incantations in this him and unwilling to speak out. considered to the ‘real’ world of appearance covers her cruel nature
WORKING WITH n How s/he uses the classroom space classroom.’ He remarks that potion- At this point, participants can be led to teaching. Prospective teachers are Strengths: is organised, has a
n The pupils’ reactions to the teacher making is a ‘subtle science and an exact think about a hypothetical authoritarian encouraged to pay attention to the commanding presence
VIDEO CLIPS These points act as a springboard art’ that he doesn’t expect many to English language teacher who tells his/ points outlined above in the classrooms Weaknesses: believes in teaching to the
for guided observation, reflection and ‘possess the disposition’ to master. her students that some have the aptitude of teachers they observe during exam, doesn’t give importance
 ACTIVITY 1: LOOK discussion, with participants comparing Taking this together with his severe to learn a foreign language while others teaching practice. to putting knowledge into use,
This draws attention to the visual notes on each teacher. appearance – long black flowing simply do not. S/he deliberately asks Critical discussion can be encouraged intolerant to challenges to her
aspects of the videos only.  ACTIVITY 2: LISTEN robes – and his intimidation of Harry difficult questions to trip students on the wider issues – teacher authority
The participants take notes on the with questions about wormwood and up and corrects everything that the favouritism, reward and punishment,
following points as they watch the short This focuses on the discourse of each bezoars, we can infer that Snape is an students dare to utter. What would the the effects of examinations on teaching Amanda Yesilbursa works
clips of the first lessons of each Hogwarts teacher. Participants are given the scripts authoritarian figure who takes his subject atmosphere be like in his/her classroom? and learning, and even the stereotypical as an English language
teacher: of each clip, and are asked to highlight matter very seriously. How would language learning be helped representations of teachers in popular teacher-educator at Uludag
n The layout of the classroom the words and phrases that reveal the In fact he sees it as superior to any or hindered? culture. University, Turkey. This ar-
n What the pupils are doing before respective teacher’s beliefs about subject other school subject.  ACTIVITY 3: CONNECT In this way, teachers can develop skills ticle was adapted from a talk
the teacher arrives matter, learning and teaching. He doesn’t believe that every child is of observation and reflection in what originally presented at the
n How and from where the teacher For example, Snape storms into the able to learn how to make potions. The final activity helps the participants Umbridge calls ‘a secure, risk-free’ 18th International INGED
Conference in Istanbul,
enters the classroom classroom roaring, ‘There shall be no This causes the pupils to be afraid of to connect what they have seen and environment. Turkey, in October 2017.
40 April 2018 editorial@elgazette.com 41