Janke Singelsma carries out research within the Language Use and Learning professorship into innovative forms of education. As a group teacher she experiences firsthand the benefits of the observation tool for language skills that she has helped to develop and research.

“Alongside my work as researcher at the Language Use and Learning professorship, I work as a group teacher in the upper classes of De Opslach primary school in Wommels. The combination of having your own class and carrying out research into innovative forms of education is fascinating. At the professorship, I am involved in various research projects. One such project involves investigating a method-dependent observation tool for oral and written language skills.”

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Drs. Janke Singelsma

Tools for clear structure

“It is difficult to give pupils feedback after they have, for example, given a presentation or written a letter. The comments you give can be based on feelings or intuition. This tool therefore gives both teachers and pupils a clear structure that allows them to have an insight into the development in a large number of oral and written genres. Also, it provides a benchmark showing you what has to be done better next time.”

“Especially now that this tool is also available in digital form, we can follow the development of the language skills through the years. As a teacher, I experience firsthand the benefits of using the observation tools in my class. The tools have been developed in collaboration with teachers. Theory and practice have to support one another in practice-based research. One cannot do without the other.”