UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO AT HUMACAO ENGLISH DEPARTMENT Humacao, P.R. ______________________________________________________________________ EDPE-4006
Group Profile
Melanie Quintana Torres EDPE 4006 Dr. Maritza Reyes January 27, 2015
Since the first day of observations, one could perceive that the group 10-‐4 of Mrs. Ortiz was very diverse and it would be lovely to work with them. Luckily that’s my practice teaching group. The group is very talkative, but the way I see it, being a talkative group it’s an advantage. Group participation in that group is never a problem. Even if the students don’t know the answer they tried to work things out. Or at least that’s what I’ve observed in my first week in practice. The school’s name is Escuela Superior Tecnologica Manuel Mediavilla Negron and like the name suggest it’s a vocational school. The school plays a major role in the kids’ lives. It plays a major role because the school prepares its children to acquire the necessary skills for their work life in the future. Hence, it’s not a normal curriculum therefore the ambience is different. Collecting the group profile questionnaire was easy. I handed the students the paper and after they finished their classroom work they answer it. A few of the students had doubts about some questions but, after I clarified their doubts everything ran smoothly. The students seem eager to answer the questionnaire with almost no complains. Something unusual in my group is that I have a blind girl and I had to fill her questionnaire based on her answers. But, I love the experience and opportunity. I started the questionnaire with basics questions like gender. This group is ruled by boys. Even though there are more boys than girls the teacher has excellent group control and the boys know how to behave. I expect the same behavior from them so based on what I have observe from my cooperating teacher I will use her techniques of classroom management.
Sex
48% 52%
Female Male
The age difference in this group is pretty similar. Only one student is fourteen years old. The others are fifteen and sixteen; basically they have the same age. In terms of classroom discipline this could be a little difficult because at that age children are difficult but, the key is classroom management. In terms of learning almost every child supposedly has the same mentality hence learning should take place easily.
Age 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0
14 15 16
14
15
16
Based on my findings the majority of the students were born in Humacao. Only one was born in the city of Caguas. The majority were born indeed in Puerto Rico only one was born in the U.S, in Connecticut. The one student that was born in the U.S is no problem because he has spent the majority of his life in Puerto Rico therefore adaptation is no problem with him. Academically speaking the student who was born in the United States can be more eloquently speaking English than the others but, as a teacher one has to be prepared to diversity in the classroom.
Where were you born? Caguas 9%
ConneYcut 5%
Humacao 86%
Based on the fact that the Mediavilla high school is the only specialized vocational school in the east rural area, the students can vary a little. My research shows that almost every student lives in Humacao or in cities nearby, for example; Las Piedras, Naguabo and Yabucoa. But still, the main majority is from Humacao specifically nearby places. This is an advantage because they may know each other’s and can help with emergencies or when students cut class.
Where do you live? 16 14
15
12
Naguabo
10 8
Humacao
6
Yabucoa
4 2
3
4
4
Yabucoa
Las Piedras
Las Piedras
0 Naguabo
Humacao
Based on my findings there’s was not much diversity in this question. Almost every student have not live outside of Puerto Rico. The few that did live outside of Puerto Rico either were born in the U.S or where the only a brief period of time. Academically speaking the student who was born in the United States can be more eloquently speaking English than the others but, as a teacher one has to be prepared to diversity in the classroom.
Have you live outside Puerto Rico? Yes 16%
No 84%
The four students that live in the U.S live in totally different places Ohio, New York, Buffalo and Connecticut. The four places have different locations one are cities other are more rural. In terms of English the way of speaking in New York is very different from the one in Ohio. This could be interesting to see in terms of accents. But, we all have accents and diversity is a big part of life.
Where? Ohio
New York
Buffalo
ConnecYcut
25%
25%
25%
25%
In Puerto Rico we all have big families. My research confirm me this. Only 2 students have families of 2 , 6 students have families of 3. The main majority have families of more than 5 people. 11 students live with a nucleus of 4 and 6 have 5 or more meaning that the majority live with 3 others in their houses.
How many members of your family live in your house? How many members of your family live in your house? 11
6
6
2 0 1
2
3
4
5 or more
It is very good to know and to realize that more than half of my students live with both parents. Puerto Rico has a high rate of divorces and it feels so good to know that my students have both of their parents influencing them and raising them. 61% feels like almost a 100%. 26% lives with only their mom a 9% lives with only their dad and 4% live with other relatives. The majority of my group lives with both parents and their mom, the one that live with others or their dad is very little. There’s not much variation with this question in my group.
With whom do you live?
Other 4%
Dad 9% Mom 26%
Both Mom and Dad 61%
I was very exciting to realize that many of my students watch satellite T.V. something as little as watching T.V can influence a lot their English. 15 of them watch satellite T.V versus 9 who doesn’t.
T.V Programing T.V Programing 15
9
Satellite
Local
Taste in sports varies a lot, especially in boys. My research showed me that the main majority of boys played all kind of sports versus girls that only played volleyball. It is good to know though that they exercise and play.
Favorite Sport? Basketball
Voleyball
Hockey
Kick Boxing
Basebal
None
5% 5% 4% 45% 41%
Many schools have libraries and the students won’t even go near them. This is not the case of
my group. 58% of my students visit the Library versus and 42% that doesn't. I love that my group is very diverse and different. It makes me very happy that the take school and reading seriously
Do you use the School library?
No 42% Yes 58%
Technology is taking over everything. Many people can't function without it, especially this new generation. That's why I wasn't impressed when all my students or a big majority had computers and internet in their homes. 79% have computer in their houses and 23 students out of the 24 have internet in their homes. Only 21% have no computers at home and 1 person has no internet. This is an advantage for my group in terms of homework and special projects. It is important to mention that the ones that did not have computer mentioned that they had cellphones with internet.
Do you have a computer at home? No 21%
Yes 79%
Do you have internet at home? 25 20 15 10 5 0 Yes
No Do you have internet at home?
Because my school is a Vocational school that specializes in special workshops is not a surprise with the results. 62% when asked which class was their favorite answered their workshop. The others answered with classes like English with a 13%, Spanish with an 8% and history with a 17%.
Best Class? English 13% Spanish 8% History 17%
Workshop 62%
It’s a little sad to know that their least favorite class is English. That means that I need to be very patient and enamor my student with the English class. It is really surprising based that almost every workshop they take really need English in the future and it’s sad knowing that they don’t appreciate this.
Science 10%
Worst Class?
Spanish 10% English 33%
History 9%
Physics 38%
As shown in the graphic below these students see a future in themselves. Each one of their careers is different but it’s so good that they want to keep studying and don’t want to comfort themselves with the workshops of their schools. I see this as an opportunity to keep motivating them for a brighter future.
What would you like to study in the future? What would you like to study in the future? 6
5 3 1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
Each student is different hence their hobbies. I love the fact that I have a group with personality and diversity. This motivates to challenge my students and to keep challenging them.
Hobbies 6 5 4 3 2 1
Hobbies
0
75% of my students go to church. It is good to know that their parents take the time for this and that they show their children values which is so lost in the Puerto Rican culture.
Do you go to church? No 25%
Yes 75%
There’s a 50/50 percentage of my students that wears glasses, this is important to know because of seating arrangements and to be aware when they don’t bring their glasses to class.
Do you use glasses? Yes
50%
No
50%
I believe that parents play a big role in their child’s life, especially in the kid’s school. I’m very happy with the results of this two questions. The majority of the parents in my class participate in my children’s activities and homework. I believe this is the most important tool to work with my kids.
Your parents assist regularly to school acHviHes? Your parents assist regularly to school acYviYes? 21
3
Yes
No
Does your parents help you with Homework? No 14%
Yes 86%
I’m so very glad with these last results, I love the fact that my young adults love to read. The fact that my students love to read open up the possibilities of a whole new classroom dynamic. I’m looking forward to work with these kids.
Do you like to read?
No 46%
Yes 54%