Pre-Service EFL Teacher Questioning Strategies During Practicum
A Case Study in Indonesia
Abstract
The role of teacher questioning in EFL classrooms is pivotal for fostering student engagement and language development. However, research on questioning strategies during school-based teaching practicum, a crucial phase in pre-service teacher education, remains scarce. To address this issue, a qualitative single-case study was conducted with one pre-service EFL teacher teaching 11th grade students in East Java, Indonesia. It explores the types of questions and questioning strategies employed by the teacher during teaching practicum. Data were collected through classroom observation and field notes. The findings reveal the use of five primary question types-referential, comprehension checks, display, confirmation checks, and clarification checks-alongside strategies such as rephrasing, repetition, decomposition, and simplification. These strategies were instrumental in promoting classroom interaction and supporting student comprehension. The study underscores the need for more targeted training in questioning techniques within teacher education programs to better equip pre-service teachers for effective classroom management and interaction.
References
Ardini, S. N. (2018). Repair Strategies of Teacher’s Talk in EFL Classroom. ETERNAL (English Teaching Journal), 6(2). https://doi.org/10.26877/eternal.v6i2.2373
Arinda, P., & Sadikin, I. S. (2021). Dialogic Feedback To Promote Deep Learning For Efl Speaking Learners In Online Learning Environment : Students ’ Voices. PROJECT (Professional Journal of English Education), 4(5), 803–813.
Brown, H. D. (2007). Principles of language learning and teaching. White Plains, NY: Pearson Longman. In Language (Vol. 57, Issue 3).
Butterfield, J., & Bhatta, B. (2015). IRF sequences in team-teaching EFL classrooms. The Asian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 2(3), 176–185. http://caes.hku.hk/ajal/index.php/ajal/article/viewFile/241/363
Carlsen, W. S. (1991). Questioning in Classrooms: A Sociolinguistic Perspective. Review of Educational Research, 61(2). https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543061002157
Cavanagh, M. (2021). Pre-service Teacher Reflection and Feedback Using an Online Video Platform During Professional Experience. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 46(2), 72–85. https://doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2021v46n2.5
Chow, B. W. Y., Hui, A. N. N., Li, Z., & Dong, Y. (2023). Dialogic teaching in English-as-a-second-language classroom: Its effects on first graders with different levels of vocabulary knowledge. Language Teaching Research, 27(6), 1408–1430. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168820981399
Cynthia A. Brock. (1986). The Effects of Referential Questions on ESL Classroom Discourse. TESOL Quarterly, 20(1), 47–59.
Davoudi, M., & Sadeghi, N. A. (2015). A Systematic Review of Research on Questioning as a High-level Cognitive Strategy. English Language Teaching, 8(10). https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v8n10p76
Day, R. R., & Park, J. (2005). Developing reading comprehension questions. Reading in Foreign Language, 17(1), 60–73.
Eisenring, M. A. A., & Margana. (2018). An analysis of teacher talk in a senior high school in Palu , Central Sulawesi through the use of self-evaluation of teacher talk (SETT). Journal Pendidikan Humaniora, 6(4), 188–200. http://journal.um.ac.id/index.php/jph
Ekawati, D., Ampa, A. T., & Azis, A. (2021). an Analysis of Teachers’ Questioning Strategies During the Classroom Interaction At Sman 4 Makassar. Jurnal Keguruan Dan Ilmu Pendidikan (JKIP), 8(1), 68–80.
Ellis, R., Skehan, P., Li, S., Shintani, N., & Lambert, C. (2019). Ellis , R ., Skehan , P ., Li , S ., Shintani , N ., and Lambert , C . ( 2019 ). Task-based language teaching : Theory and practice . Cambridge : Cambridge University Task-Based Language Teaching. September.
Erdogan, I., & Campbell, T. (2008). Teacher questioning and interaction patterns in classrooms facilitated with differing levels of constructivist teaching practices. International Journal of Science Education, 30(14), 1891–1914. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690701587028
Fitriani, S., Makhsum, C., & Samad, I. (2016). The Investigation of Questioning Modifications Used in EFL Classroom. Journal of English Education, 1(2), 118–123.
Fitriati, S. W., Isfara, G. A. V., & Trisanti, N. (2017). TEACHERS QUESTIONING STRATEGIES TO ELICIT STUDENTS VERBAL RESPONSES IN EFL CLASSES AT A SECONDARY SCHOOL. English Review: Journal of English Education, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.25134/erjee.v5i2.537
Gülten, A. Z. (2023). Classroom Questioning:Pre-Service EFL Teachers’ Questioning and Modification Strategies. Shanlax International Journal of Education, 11(S1-July), 54–61. https://doi.org/10.34293/education.v11is1-july.5890
Huang, H., Li, M., & Dai, C. (2025). Adapting to Complexity: Teacher-Student interactions in synchronous online language classes through a dynamic systems lens. System, 133(May), 103732. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2025.103732
Jocuns, K. F. (2021). Dialogic Teaching as a Way to Promote Students’ English Language Use in EFL classroom. Pasaa, 62(December), 173–203. https://doi.org/10.58837/chula.pasaa.62.1.7
Jusoh, Z., Abdul Rahman, J., & Salim, H. (2020). The Use of Question Modification Strategies in ESL Class. Arab World English Journal, 11(1), 69–78. https://doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol11no1.6
Karima, N., Suherdi, D., & Yusuf, F. N. (2020). Interactional Modifications for Comprehensible Input: A Case Study of Two EFL Teachers. 430(Conaplin 2019), 138–142. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.200406.028
Kellem, K., & Halvorsen, A. (2018). Special Extended Teaching Note Understanding and Utilizing Form-Focused Instruction in the Language Classroom. ORTESOL Journal, 35, 27–35.
Kleinsasser, R. C., Richards, J. C., & Lockhart, C. (1995). Reflective Teaching in Second Language Classrooms. The Modern Language Journal, 79(1). https://doi.org/10.2307/329404
Lantolf, J. P., & Poehner, M. E. (2020). Sociocultural theory and the pedagogical imperative in L2 education: Vygotskian praxis and the research/practice divide. In Sociocultural Theory and the Pedagogical Imperative in L2 Education: Vygotskian Praxis and the Research/Practice Divide. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203813850
Lawson, P. O., Sinclair, J. M., & Coulthard, R. M. (1977). Towards an Analysis of Discourse: The English Used by Teachers and Pupils. TESOL Quarterly, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.2307/3585455
Long, M. H. (1980). Article- Native Speaker Non native speaker conversation- Michael Long1983. 4(2).
Long, M. H. (1996). The Role of the Linguistic Environment in Second Language Acquisition. In Handbook of Second Language Acquisition. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-012589042-7/50015-3
Milawati, M., & Suryati, N. (2019). EFL Teacher’s Oral Questioning: Are Her Questions and Strategies Effective? Dinamika Ilmu, 19(1), 37–55. https://doi.org/10.21093/di.v19i1.1545
Mustika, N., Nurkamto, J., & Suparno. (2020). Teacher ’ S Questioning in Senior High English Classroom : an Investigation of Students ’ Critical. International Online Journal of Education and Teaching (IOJET), 7(1), 278–287.
Namaziandost, E., & Imani, A. (2020). Compensatory strategies and Iranian intermediate EFL learners’ speaking fluency: focusing on self-repetition and comprehension check strategies. … Journal of Linguistics …, 1978.
Nassaji, H., & Wells, G. (2000). What’s the use of “triadic dialogue”?: An investigation of teacher - student interaction. Applied Linguistics, 21(3). https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/21.3.376
Nggawu, L. O., & Thao, N. T. P. (2023). The impact of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) Approach on Students’ Speaking Ability in a Public Indonesian University: Comparison between Introverts and Extrovert Groups. International Journal of Language Education, 7(3), 393–413. https://doi.org/10.26858/ijole.v7i3.50617
Nicholson, S. J. (2014). An Impetus for Change: Classroom Analysis Using Sinclair and Coulthard’s Model of Spoken Discourse. International Journal of Linguistics, 6(2), 188. https://doi.org/10.5296/ijl.v6i2.5464
Pan, Y., Wang, L., & Zhu, Y. (2024). Strategic questioning for formative assessment in TEFL: insights from blended synchronous learning environments. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-04086-y
Rahayu, N., & Suharti, D. S. (2023). Portraying EFL teacher’s questioning strategies and practices: the case of a vocational school in Indonesia. Journal on English as a Foreign Language, 13(2), 427–451. https://doi.org/10.23971/jefl.v13i2.6280
Schmidt, R. W. (1990). The role of consciousness in second language learning. Applied Linguistics, 11(2), 129–158. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/11.2.129
Shafeei, K. N., Hassan, H., Ismail, F., & Abdul Aziz, A. (2018). Incorporating Higher Order Thinking Skill (HOTS) Questions in ESL Classroom Contexts. LSP International Journal, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.11113/lspi.v4n1.49
Shomoossi, N. (2004). The effects of Teachers’ Questioning Behaviour on EFL Classroom Interaction: A Classroom Reseacrh Study. The Reading Matrix, 4(2), 96–104.
Smit, N., Van Dijk, M., De Bot, K., & Lowie, W. (2022). The complex dynamics of adaptive teaching: Observing teacher-student interaction in the language classroom. IRAL - International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching, 60(1), 23–40. https://doi.org/10.1515/iral-2021-0023
Swain, M. (1985). Communicative competence: Some roles of comprehensible input and comprehensible output in its development. In S. Gass & C. Madden (Eds.), Input in second language acquisition. In Newbury House.
Swain, M. (2000). The Output Hypothesis and Beyond- Mediating Acquisition through Collaborative Dialogue. In Sociocultural Theory and Second Language Learning.
Sydnor, J., Daley, S., & Davis, T. (2020). Video Reflection Cycles: Providing the Tools Needed to Support Teacher Candidates Toward Understanding, Appreciating, and Enacting Critical Reflection. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 20(2), 369–391. https://www.learntechlib.org/p/185373
Tan, S. Y., Tee, M. Y., & Samuel, M. (2017). Persistent monologicality amidst variation in teachers’ questioning practices in Malaysian english language classrooms. Journal of Asia TEFL, 14(4), 621–637. https://doi.org/10.18823/asiatefl.2017.14.4.3.621
Truong, H. N. (2024). Students’ Perspectives on the Use of Teacher Questions to Promote Critical Thinking in EFL Classrooms. International Journal of Language Instruction, 3(2), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.54855/ijli.24321
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind and Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. In Harvard University Press.
Walsh, S. (2011). Exploring classroom discourse: Language in action. In Taylor and Francis Ltd 5 (Vol. 9780203827826). https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203827826
Wu, K. Y. (1993). Classroom Interaction and Teacher Questions Revisited. RELC Journal, 24(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/003368829302400203
Yang, C. C. R. (2010). Teacher Questions in Second Language Classrooms: An Investigation of Three Case Studies. Asian EFL Journal, 12(1), 181–201.
Yang, Z., & Brindley, S. (2023). Engaging students in dialogic interactions through questioning. ELT Journal, 77(2). https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/ccac021
Yude, U. H., & Zainil, Y. (2018). Analysis of teachers’ questions in the EFL classroom at junior high school in Padang. Journal of English Language Teaching, 7(4), 404–409. https://doi.org/10.24036/jelt.v10i3.113878
Zare, J., Noughabi, M. A., & Al-Issa, A. (2024). The impact of data-driven learning form-focused tasks on learners’ task engagement: An intervention study. ReCALL, 36, 306–323. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0958344024000120
Zhou, D. M. (2018). edTPA as a Tool to Measure Teacher Readiness: A Case Study on First Year Teachers. Georgia Educational Researcher, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.20429/ger.2018.140205
Copyright (c) 2025 Uun Muhaji

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
In submitting the manuscript to the FOSTER: Journal of English Language Teaching, the authors certify that:
- They are authorized by their co-authors to enter into these arrangements.
- The work described has not been formally published before, except in the form of an abstract or as part of a published lecture, review, thesis, or overlay journal.
- That it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere,
- The publication has been approved by the author(s) and by responsible authorities – tacitly or explicitly – of the institutes where the work has been carried out.
- They secure the right to reproduce any material that has already been published or copyrighted elsewhere.
- They agree to the following license and copyright agreement.
License and Copyright Agreement
Authors who publish with FOSTER: Journal of English Language Teaching agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the FOSTER: Journal of English Language Teaching right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors can enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the FOSTER: Journal of English Language Teaching published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or edit it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) before and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.


.jpg)
.jpg)
1.jpg)
.jpg)