#4 - Research plan

Research question: What strategies do teachers use for developing students' oral proficiency, what are their perceptions of the relative strengths and weaknesses of various methods, and how is students' oral proficiency evaluated both formally and informally?

Method: Twelve French teachers in Forsyth county public schools will be interviewed, six from the elementary and six from the secondary level. Interview questions will include "What specific pedagogical strategies do you use to promote oral proficiency in your students?" and "What, in your opinion, is the most effective way to promote oral proficiency?" Classroom observations of randomly selected interviewed teachers will attempt to reveal concrete examples of their responses as well as evaluate the accuracy of their perceptions. Data acquired will be coded to reveal recurring themes among respondents. Such analysis should provide a clearer picture of when and how French teachers use methods that promote students' oral proficiency skills and how students' skills are evaluated.