Lesson Study research and initial teacher education: how to teach interactive speaking in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in primary school?

Our contribution presents an experimental course project developed by teacher educators and student teachers from two partner institutions (Switzerland and France) in a collaborative study. The research group objective was to implement a Lesson Study seeking to improve interactive activities for young EFL learners at primary level. Each research lesson included a pairwork activity, which contributes to enhance English speaking time for every learner in class. Our analyses of two research lessons show a marked improvement in the way the student teachers implemented the key-phases of an EFL lesson integrating an oral pairwork activity. By combining research work in the academic institution with teaching experience in schools, Lesson Study seems to be an efficient way of helping student teachers acquire professional skills and didactic knowledge.