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1. At a EFL class, why the small talk(vs. just getting straight to the lesson)? What teaching principle justifies such an opening?
2. Why did teacher sometimes ask for closed textbooks? Isn't the written word reinforcing? Of what advangage was the chalkboard material? Why did teacher write it on the board before class?
Since I am a novice in this field, can any teacher here help me figure it out?
Million thanks^^
It depends on the small talk. If it warms upto the intended material for study, then it has a use. I presume the teacher asked for the books tobe closed to focus attention on whatever activity they wanted the students to do,
English teaching principle 
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