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Why Did I Ask That Question? Bilingual/Esl Pre-Service Teachers’ Insights, Zulmaris Diaz, Michael Whitacre, Joy Esquierdo, Jose A. Ruiz-Escalante

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

Questioning techniques have historically been considered the measurement by which teachers challenge and gauge student learning. Much has been said about questioning strategies used by teachers; yet little is known about the strategies used by pre-service teachers, especially those that are working with English language learners. This study presents findings from a qualitative study that explored what types of questions pre-service teachers use and their reflections on the use of such strategies. Eight bilingual/ESL pre-service teachers in South Texas were videotaped during a math and a language arts lesson, attended focus groups, and participated in an exit interview. The findings …