Class observation with Dr. Ciapetta 1/20/2026

On 1/20/2026, I observed Dr. Ciapetta's class on listening for intermediate-level English learners. Dr. Ciapetta kindly explained to me the difference between TEFL and TESOL certificates before class started.  Class started with her asking students questions about the last lecture's topic, key arguments, and conclusions. Dr. Ciapetta then talked to them about re-listening to the lecture and tips for understanding lectures and new texts they read. They were to focus on the structure of the content, discussing the structure of reading and how the structure is the same in speaking at lectures and presentations: thesis, body, conclusion. The audio lecture was then replayed on the topic of family crisis. Students were encouraged to take notes during the lecture. After the audio finished, they were given 3 minutes to summarize the speaking points as best as possible with their partner. 

Dr. Ciapetta then told them they would listen again, stopping at parts to discuss. At the first pause, she specifically noted that she wanted them to focus on that key topic in particular, later pausing to ask them to focus on the key details of their argument in that portion. They were then given another 3 minutes to summarize just the section that the teacher paused for. After discussing with the teacher, she identified where they were struggling and played the audio at a specific part once again, asking them to focus on that segment and what the problem was. They then rediscussed, with Dr. Ciapetta helping them understand the lecture and discussing its points further with them. She then moved on to the next section, repeating the structures shown above for each topic within the lecture. 

For the conclusion segment, she gave them 2 minutes to summarize the arguments and anything else they understood. After the discussion, they then moved on to discussing vocab that came up in the lesson, talking about the forms of the word product and the various forms it takes (productive, product, productivity).  

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