This book provides an account of classroom observation in a historical and educational perspective. Drawing on extracts from classic studies in this field, Dick Allwright reviews the development of research and experiment since the 1970's. The book thus not only provides a background to recent research, but also identifies areas for future development. Stress is laid on the link to be made between practice and research and it is argued that policy-making. either at classroom or institutional level, is heavily dependent on descriptive accounts of classroom reality.

Introduction 1 Observation 'arrives' in language teaching research 2 Observation 'arrives' as a feedback tool in teacher training 3 Second thoughts Follow-up acidities and points for discussion 4 First alternatives to Flanders Follow-up activities and points for discussion 5 Classroom observation and second language acquisition Follow-up activities and points for discussion 6 Classroom observation - retrospective, intros