Basic Skills Forum

Synopsis of Article:

“Learning Contracts and Team Teaching in a University ESL Writing Class”

The Internet TESL Journal, Vol. VI, No. 10, October 2000 by Schwarzer, David; Kahn, Robert E.; and Smart, Kristi

http://iteslj.org/Articles/Schwarzer-Contracts.html

Summary by Maribel Hernandez

The article focuses on an ESL class designed as a “whole language writing workshop”. The authors state “the role of the teacher … is described as a kid-watcher, initiator and mediator, designing a distinct learning environment in which the revelation of a new culture develops”. In the article, the authors’ greatest interest was to study how students “make sense of what initially appears to be chaos”. One of their focuses was on the implementation of “learning contracts” in the ESL class. The authors found “Learning contracts are written commitments in which students state their specific objectives over a limited period”. The authors also speak about team teaching in the classroom and the teachers’ growth through research.