ABSTRACT
Whenteachers,supervisors,employers,studentsorsalespeople discussthesamelessons,texts,tests,methodsandschoolsof languageteaching,theyoftensoundlikethecharactersinthe Japanesemovie,Rashomon-theyeachgivecontradictoryand equivocalaccountsofthesameeventsoritems.Toclassifythe communicationspeoplesendandreceiveinbothteachingand non-teachingsettingssothatwecanmovebeyondRashomon, andgivesimilaraccountsofthesameevents,aninstrument hasbeendevelopedcalledFOCUS,anacronymforFocifor ObservingCommunicationsUsedinSettings.Thelanguageof FOCUSistechnical:composedofoperationallydefinedterms thatarenon-judgmental.
