This study investigates the opening stage of English class in the elementary school. It specifically explores the significant features of the interactions among teachers and students. A non-native Korean English teacher, a native English teacher, and 25 elementary students participated in the study. Twenty-three opening parts of the English classes were collected, transcribed, and analysed for the study. Data analysis showed that 1) the openings consist of greetings, reviewing, promoting motivations, and giving class objectives, 2) students had authentic communication, in that they moved out of the I-R-F sequence and even took the lead in the conversation as in Waring (2009)’s study, and 3) there were three types of learner initiatives in the class opening, which were reported by Waring (2011). It is also worth while to note that students self-selected, volunteered to respond, and began a sequence on the assigned turn regardless of their English competence. Some implications were suggested for meaningful interactions in the opening stage of English class in the elementary school.

• 김솔(수영초등학교) | Kim, Sol
• 박선호(경인교육대학교) | Park, Seon-Ho 교신 저자
• 최희경(경인교육대학교) | Choi, Heekyong