Here I am again!!
My fourth class was really interesting because the students were participating a lot. I was teaching the different uses of the apostrophe. It was really easy for me to explain it because they studied it when they were at Basis English. They understood very well all what I explained about it, and they were able of giving examples just after I had explained it.
I think that the part that engaged the students the most was the very controlled practice because the students were using the apostrophe in some written activities I brought to the class.
I was really happy because all the students were participating in different activities. I just had one problem with the warm-up activity because there were two students that did not have the chance of participating. The problem was that I did not notice they were not in the game. I assigned them a group and I asked them to make a line per group, but these two students did not stand in the line. Another problem is that the room was too small that is why, I did not see that they were out of the line. I think that it would have been better to change the activity because the space was not enough to make the lines I needed. Another option could be to look for another classroom or place.
The students were working in teams in the warm-up activity and they were also working in pairs in order to discuss the uses of the apostrophe. There were also some activities in which they had to work individually because those were very controlled activities.
I do not have a part of the lesson in which students had not been very involved. I tried to make them work as much as possible in every activity because I have noticed that they need to interact with different classmates through some speaking games and activities. I brought charts, photocopies and pictures in order to make students participate in different ways (written and speaking form). Unfortunately, as always I took some minutes from my tutor´s class. I needed to finish the last speaking activity in which I gave the students a picture and a subject. They had to create a sentence (orally) using the apostrophe in the correct place. It was really nice because they created the sentences without making mistakes. In that case, this activity permitted me demonstrate that the students had understood the structures and that my objective had been reached.
If I teach that lesson again, I will check if all the students are participating in the warm-up activity (well, in all the activities) in order to give them an equal chance of participation. I will also, check the time because this is a problem I have in every class!!
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I agree with you, Lili! The space is a hugeeeeeeeeeeeee problem!!! I think that English classes require more space because it's supposed to be a dynamic class, unless it's for adults or boring people hehe... The thing is that sometimes we don't develop some activities that might turn out to be fun for our students because we know that we don't have enough space!...That really bothers me!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you're doing great in this group!!! I know that it's really nice when our students participate! It makes our class easier!
Good job, Lili!
The best technique to check if you`ve reached your objective to make some questions at the end of the class or to ask them at the beginning of the class.Sometimes students don`t remember what they did a day before, then you can make the warm-up according the topic or the previous topic. I know that it is really hard to work in a small room, I`ve been working in one small room but the good thing is that they are not so many. Go ahead Lily you`re doing a great job.
ReplyDeleteLili,
ReplyDeleteI see your frustration when you cannot do an activity that you planned because the rooms are not big enough for the groups. I think that the teachers have to talk to the vice dean and explain the problem. No one has told me anything about the classrooms!
Anyway, I can see that you are overcoming most of the difficulties in your teachibng practicum; and by now, I think that all of you have experienced a situation in which the activity did not work the way we expected. However, I think that these students are enjoying most of your classes. I know you always try to bring something new for them and you encourage them to use their English.
Keep the great work!!
Cristian Meléndez
Lili, I know that one of the most rewarding things from teaching is the fact of having all the students participating in every single activity you do. This is nice because this helps you to do things more much better every day. Congrats because you are encouraging your students to get involve in your activities.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately there are things that affect our activities, but don't desperate, they are common things that teachers have to face every day and at the same time teachers have to learn to cope with : )
Lily, I really think that we learn from students in every class. Sometimes what we learn is not what we expect,but we should see teaching as a great opportunity to find new knowledge and take each experience as something that will help us for the rest of our lives.
ReplyDeleteI know you are learning from everything. Congratz!
Lili, I can see that your class was really nice. It is nice to hear you saying that your students were participating. I know that you are an intelligent person and that you are creative when planning activities to teach.
ReplyDeleteYou also mention that you had problems to do some activities because the room. Look! try to think about the room you are going to use when planning the activities. If your activity takes a lot of space, look for another activity in which your students can use their English.
Well done my friend. Teacher Lili!!!!!!!!!!!!