(I) One of the ways of observing teaching and learning in
second or foreign language classrooms is to describe
classroom behaviours without a set of predetermined
categories. (II) Instead, the observer takes extensive
notes of the activities, practices and interactions
between teachers and learners. (III) This approach to
classroom observation, often referred to as
ethnography, is similar to the way in which an
anthropologist takes field notes in studying a group of
people in their natural surroundings. (IV) Ethnographic
approaches to understanding teaching and learning
involve qualitative studies that are much broader in
scope than the other studies. (V) In doing ethnographic
research in classrooms, the observer can either be a
participant in the classroom activities or a
non-participant who sits quietly and unobtrusively.


Which of the sentences in the given paragraph is
irrelevant, violating its unity and coherence?