شبكة المعلومات العربية التربوية

This research intends to understand teacher student interaction in English classrooms in international high schools, the objectives of the research are: 1) to detect how teachers interact with students in English language classrooms, 2) to identify interaction challenges from the perspective of the teachers and 3) to understand how students perceive their interaction with teachers. The research employs a cross sectional methodology to unveil the challenges which face both teachers and students to interact with one another. Qualitative methods are used to gather data; interviews, focus group discussions and observations are used to validate what the teachers and students say. The results indicate that adequate classroom interaction facilitates better language development, not only that but effective interaction motivates students to learn and be engaged in learning. Challenges wise it is found that students’ beliefs and actions are holding them back from interaction, but teachers’ attitudes and behavior also has effects, recommendations for teachers it is suggested that teachers integrate various patterns of interaction in the classroom, such as group work, debates, presentations or maybe even role play. Teachers should consider adopting various teaching methods which encourage students to develop higher thinking orders such as critical thinking, problem solving and analysis; challenging students through such methods will increase interest and interaction. (Author's abstract)