Verbal interaction amongst students during physical education

Abstract

This following paper presents an ethnographical study in which verbal interactions during Physical Education between students of Secondary School are analysed. Research tools include observation of lessons with elaboration of narrative registers supplemented by audio recordings and the semi-structured interview. 343 students distributed into 11 class groups participated in the study for a total of 17 sessions. The results indicate that, during the observed lessons and in the light of the interactions analysed, instances of violence or friction between peers were isolated cases. On the other hand, there is a widespread presence of unpleasant situations of dissent, although they did not necessarily produce tension. There was a lot of mockery and periods of cohesion were scant. Insults and expletives were traded in nearly every conversation analysed.

Keywords

• Interaction between peers
• Ethnographic observation
• Physical education
• Secondary education