Process and Product: A depiction of an action researcher’s learning from reflective writing in an Asian university setting.

Abstract

This paper is a scholarly personal narrative (SPN) emerging from an action research cycle. A strategy to deal with a puzzle in the TESOL classroom was found and trialed and its contribution to student success evaluated. However, during the trial, a critical incident occurred. This led to reflections and an emerging understanding regarding the complexity of intercultural communication, and particularly non-verbal paralinguistic features. Through the retrospective analysis of these personal reflections and discussion with students and colleagues, the author gained fresh insights into cultural differences in his educational context and experienced learning to prevent such misinterpretation in the future.