ABSTRACT
AS OBSERVATIONS ON the serial visits begin, the dual role of outsider and insider may be very demanding for the student teacher. On the one hand, as an observer it is very tempting to focus upon the class teacher exclusively and to analyse his or her classroom behaviour in a very critical way. On the other, it may be tempting to assume that there is no room for manoeuvre — that the student will need to reproduce the class teacher's routines and approaches since these are tried and tested and any deviation will result in disaster. As time goes on, this focus on the teacher may be relaxed and greater attention may be paid to the pupils and their learning.
