The Emotional Challenge of Listening and Dialogue

In this article the writer explores the importance of and difficulty surrounding dialogue between students and teachers. This discussion is set within the wider context of a debate about the education of the emotions in our society and the argument is that this dialogue has a part to play in the education of the emotions. Thinking in the field of psychotherapy is drawn on as well as the writer's experience as an educator, counsellor and trainer. She is currently working in higher education and concerned with teacher education and research. This background is relevant in that this experience is drawn on and it also shows up the focus of much of the work. This is concerned with personal, social and emotional development in education and with making this integral to education and organizations.     

Varieties of discourse in supervisory conferences

The logic and substance of discourse between university supervisors and student teachers during post-observation supervisory conferences were studied in an elementary student teaching program in the United States. The findings describe these aspects of the discourse in relation to the program's goals and (a) the conceptual levels of supervisors and student teachers, (b) the content area of the lesson under analysis, and (c) the structure of the supervisor's role. Implications of the findings for research, program development, and for the preparation and training of supervisors are discussed.