Analysis of the discourse of University professors in Class

Abstract

This is a study of the discourse university professors use in their classes. The corpus consists of twelve recorded classes by professors of Math, Biology, Physical Education and the Pedagogical Area. We analyse the speech acts taking place and the kinds of knowledge implied in each of them. Results show differences in the speech acts coinciding with differences in the professors' teaching conceptions as revealed by their answers to a written interview. Professors sustaining conceptions of teaching focussed on teachers' activity and transmission of knowledge use speech acts as expose, inquire, use of didactical resources and correct. In contrast, professors sustaining teaching conceptions focusses in the pupils' activity and facilitation of knowledge use speech acts as inquire, clarify and argue.