PORTFOLIO Sofía Elena Martínez Panameño Teaching Practice 2
Portfolio Content • • • • • • • • • •
PDP Framework ESL Methodology Learning another language Gnomio Experience Online tutor Online student Values and attitudes toward online class Classroom experience (assistant) TTT Conclusions and recommendations
PDP Framework The PDP framework is based on research and using it helps ensure students are motivated, engaged and active before, while and after (pre, during and post – PDP) listening to, watching or reading a text.
The stages of the PDP framework are: • Pre stage: teacher prepare the student to the topic by understanding vocabulary, talking about the main idea and making predictions about what the topic is about. • During stage: the teacher focus the attention in developing the class and doing activities in which the students understand the topic. • Post stage: Students extend and integrate the understanding and knowledge they gained from working with the different activities during the class.
This helps to the teacher to prepare the class in a better way in which students can fell comfortable and the understand better the topics. The PDP helps to the teacher to get students’ attention because begins with an activity in which students can participate and there more students participation in the class. However sometimes it is difficult to realize the three activities in a good way. Each stage of the PDP framework is really important in order to make that students understand the topic. In each stage the teacher expects students’ participation and in my personal opinion all the activities that the teachers uses make that students interact and practice the language.
These are some activities teachers use in each stage: • Pre: word splash, match vocabulary to pictures, categorize vocabulary under headings, talk about the main topic. • During: listen/read and draw, answer general information, listen/read and arrange pictures or events in order, listen/read and find mistakes, listen/read and answer detail questions. • Post: discussion questions, create projects, make and tell a similar or personal story, Discuss a topic, the issue or the information in the text, speculate about the people in a reading.
For my microteaching sessions this was really helpful because I learned how to introduce a topic with activities in which students participate. And also I learned how to displayed activities in which students increase their speaking and reading skill. Now I know how to create a lesson plan including each stage of the PDP framework and how to manage the time in order to develop these activities in a class. There are some activities that teachers should include in order to reduce the teacher talking time and also to make that students produce the language in the different English skills.
ESL methodology English as a Second Language (ESL) is the study of English language by non-native speakers. English as a Second Language also refers to approaches and methodologies that teachers use in order to teach English for those whose primary language is not English. Teaching English is a really important task that produces a number of powerful rewards such as teachers make a difference in the students’ life and also empower students to take a place in a global world and get more opportunities to improve their professional development.
These are some methods and approaches teachers use in order to teach a second language: • Grammar Translation: in this method classes are taught in the students’ mother tongue. In this method, vocabulary is taught in the form of isolated word list. And little or non attention is given to pronunciation. • The Direct Method: in this method the learner should be actively involved in using the language in realistic everyday situations. Also students are encouraged to think in the target language. This method, first speaking is taught and then only reading and writing. The mother tongue is never used in the classroom.
• The Audiolingual Method: new material is presented in form of dialogue. This method is based on the principle that language learning is habit formation, the method fosters dependence on memorization of set phrases and over learning. • Community Language Learning: is a method in which students work together to develop what aspects of a language they would like to learn. One advantage of this method is that the class becomes a real community. • The Silent way: this method is based in the premise that teacher should be silent as much as possible and the student should be encouraged to produce the language as much as possible. In this method the student become independent, autonomous and responsible.
• Suggestopedia: is based on a modern understanding of how the human brain works and how we learn most effectively. Also this method encourages the students to apply the English language more independently, with this student takes responsibility for their own learning and also he or she gets more confidence. • Total Physical Response: this is a method that combines information and skills through the use of kinesthetic sensory system. One of the technique to teach using this method is that the teacher says the commands as he himself performs the action.
• The Natural Approach: in this method, communication is the primary function of the language. At the beginning of class, the emphasis is on listening. The teacher presents the students with a variety of easy to understand material (input). This input is always one level above the student’s communicative competence. This way, the students develop the ability to speak in the foreign language. Competence in a language cannot be learned. It has to be acquired. In class, the teacher should try not to use the students’ mother tongue at all.
The PPP (Presentation, Practice and Production) • Presentation: the teacher presents new vocabulary and explains the form of the language in a meaningful context. • Practice: students practice this new vocabulary through controlled activities such as worksheets or question and answer activities to check comprehension. • Practice: The students use or produce what they have learned in a communicative activity such as a role-play, communication game, or question and answer session.
Learning Another Language Learn another language can be challenging because we are not related with the language. In my personal opinion if the person don’t want to learn another language, it will be so difficult learn it. To learn another language people should be engaged with that language and try to do be involved in an environment in which they can practice the target language. For the microteaching session I had to learn a little bit about Latin, and to be honest was a lot of difficult understand the language. I could not pronounce many words in that language because I was so confused with the intonation of each word.
Learn another language takes time and dedication. You should practice a lot in order to improve your speaking, reading, writing and listening skill. I think that if you really like the language it will be easy for you learn it. There are some many reasons to learn another language such as : • Learn another language opens a lot of opportunities to improve the professional development. A lot of companies offer better positions for those people who know another language. And also the companies offer better benefits to those employees who speak a second language.
• Speaking a second language has cognitive benefits. This means that learning another language helps in memory improvement, longer attention span, and a reduced risk of age-related cognitive decline. • Speak a second language gives you the opportunity to know about other cultures • Another reason to learn a second language is to travel and know new people. • People who know another language can communicate with tourists in their target language.
• Another reason why learn another language is really important is that the knowledge of a second language enhances analytical abilities.
• Know another language is becoming essential because as I said before many companies want people who speak a second language. And those people who don’t know a second language will begin to get left behind in our shift towards a more integrated and connected global society. • After you learn a second language it will be easy for you to learn another language because you increase the abilities to learn a language by improving your techniques.
Despite of this there are people who are not interested in learn a second language because they think that they are not going to use it. Also people think that learn another language is so difficult for that reason they don’t try. People are so scared to make mistakes that they don’t practice and sometimes feel shy about speaking another language.
Gnomio Experience At the beginning I was a little lost about how to use Gnomio but after create my course I learned how to use it. Gnomio is a really good tool that teachers can use in order to make that students practice the language and also use technology to learn. Gnomio is really useful for teachers. In my own experience I learned how to create a online course, how to be in charge of a group of students and develop activities in which students develop their English skills.
In my course I displayed three forums in order to make that students share their opinions about their favorite reading and book, actor and actresses and also share information about how to use the relative nouns. In order to create a forum I clicked in turn on editing and I added an activity. Also I displayed forums because students have the opportunity to discuss about a specific topic and they can express themselves about it.
In my course I displayed quizzes. I think this was the most difficult part because I had to look for exercises that were adequate for my students. There were three different quizzes that each students had to develop. The first one was a multiple choice quiz about relative nouns. The second one was true and false quiz about a reading and comprehension exercise. The third one was a matching quiz about vocabulary related to film and entertainment.
In the chat section was a little bit difficult because some students couldn’t do it because they were working and some of them weren’t interested in the course. But with this I had the opportunity to chat and share ideas with the students. It was my first time chatting in English.
As I said before online courses are very useful because students practice the language also in today’s world is very common that people use technology to learn a new language. In my course I also display extra information in order to make that students feel comfortable in the course. Also if they had any doubt, extra information helped to them making the ideas clear for the development of the online class.
Online Tutor An online tutor is there to support and facilitate a learning experience – potentially without ever meeting the learners. An online tutor can add extra value to the overall learning experience. In my personal opinion as an online tutor challenged because you cannot interact with your students as you would do face to face. But with this kind of class you as a teacher uses the technology as a tool in order to improve the learning process. And in today’s world you as a teacher has to be related with all kind of technology and applications that students can use to develop their English skills.
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There are many ways in which online teachers support students such as: • Responding to learners’ question or doubt by message. • Initiating learning activities for individuals and group learners. • Providing feedback on tasks submitted, informally or as a part of formal assessments. • Coaching and counselling learners. • Giving feedback about forums or quizzes. • Providing extra information in order to help in the student learning process. • Moderating and contributing to online discussions and live chat.
There are some advantages for those online tutors, these are some of them: • Online tutors have the opportunity to work from home. With a computer and an internet connection, can connect with students and provide the help needed without ever leaving their home. • Online tutors work on their own schedule. A tutor can provide students with times they are available for tutoring, and because of the time saved in travel, they can schedule back-to-back scheduling times between different students. • Online tutoring can provide to the teacher the opportunity to take advantage of the technology. For example the use of online lessons, video chats and others.
However online tutor has some disadvantages such as: • The tutor does lose out on the ability to really connect with a student's needs when they're not right there face-to-face with them. • With online tutoring, there is always the possibility for technical difficulties, such as poor internet connection or microphone failure. • Some students can get very distracted by being on a computer because of the many other things they want to be doing. • Teachers are not sure about if the students are learning or not.
Like many things, online tutor has many advantages and disadvantages. But in my personal opinion online tutor are really important because as a teacher we need to be engaged with the students learning process. In a global world teachers has to be prepare to face many changes in the educational process. And know about technology can help to the teacher to have more opportunities to help the learn and develop their skills. Taking into account that most of the students are so immerse in the technology, teachers have to take this as an advantage and use it as a tool to teach another language.
Online Students My experience as a online student wasn’t good because there were some teachers that weren’t engaged with their classes. I talked with two of my teachers that have to enroll me but they weren’t interested. Another thing is that some teachers made their classes just for do it. There were some problems with the quizzes and activities, in some quizzes had a lot of grammatical mistakes. However there were teachers that did a really good job and were engaged with the online course.
There are some advantages for online students such as: • They learn in a comfortable environment because they can do the assessments in their home or any other place. • Online courses give students the opportunity to plan their study time around the rest of their day, instead of the other way around. Students can study and work when they are at their peak energy, whether that’s early morning or late at night. • The skills students learn to participate in their online courses translate to many professions, including creating and sharing documents, incorporating audio materials.
• Online education also provides students with the chance to network with peers across nations or even different continents. This often leads to other opportunities in terms of collaboration with other individuals in the implementation of a project. • All the information that you will need will be safely stored in an online database. This includes things like live discussion documents, training materials and emails. This means that if there's ever anything that needs to be clarified, the student will be able to access these documents fast, saving valuable time.
However, there some disadvantages for online students such as: • Lack of face to face interaction with the teacher. Student in some cases cannot interact with the teachers. This could affect the learning because there were many things that the students didn’t understand. • Online courses usually have deadlines for assignments, tests, commenting on lectures, etc. That’s not the problem. The problem is the time management and organization skills necessary to stay on top of your work, allot an appropriate amount of time to complete each task and balance your coursework against other priorities in your life.
In conclusion, online students can be helpful for many reasons. But depends on how both the teacher and the student is engaged with the classes. I think that online courses help me to review some grammar and vocabulary. I learned from those teachers that were interested on my development in the class . So, to me online courses are useful for those people that really want to learn.
Values and attitude toward online classes There are some values that each of us have to put in practice. With the Gnomio activity some of the students paid to other because they didn’t want to do it. It’s sad because it’s suppose they go to the university to learn but some of them just want to pass the subject. Since this activity began they didn’t make any effort in order to learn about how to use and create and online course. For this reason there were many online classes that were bad developed because any of these students didn’t know anything about the activities they should done.
Talking about values and attitude toward online class I could say that were many irresponsible people that as a student didn’t make any activity. And also some as a teachers didn’t include the activities on time and fi they included the quizzes there weren’t available on the date established by the teacher. In this kind of activity there were a few students who really were engaged with the online class. To be honest I tried to do my best in both roles such as a student and as a teacher. It wasn’t easy but I put a lot of effort in the online class. And it’s really sad that some people don’t take this serious because they will become teachers,.
Other value that students should practice is honesty. I think that it will be good that people who paid for the online classroom will be honest and think about what they did. I’m not saying that they said that they paid for the online classroom but I’m saying that they should think that if they really want to learn and also think that if they are really clear about be a teacher because it’s suppose that we are learning all that to become a better teacher. But if they don’t want to learn how are going to able to teach something that they don’t know.
In addition, talking about attitude I could mention the big problem that involves students that is the attitude to learn or just to past the subject. There are some classmates that are not interesting in learn something about the class for that reasons they do the activities just for do it. This will be the reason for those people who acted corruptive in the development of the online class. But also there are some people that really want to learn and make the activities in the best way possible in order to get more knowledge and become capable and the best teacher possible.
As a conclusion, I think that it depends on what each student want. We are in fifth year so I think that each of us has to be clear about if we really want to be professional because in real world those who people who paid for the online class won’t be able to face real situations that it could be do a class, develop lesson plans, create and online course and many others. So, we have to be honest and responsible for own our learning.
Classroom Experience (assistant) My classroom experience as a teacher was in Escuela Militar. I was in charge of a group of children. At the beginning were like 30 kids but at the end of the course I had only 12 kids. Be a teacher is challenged because there were some kids that weren’t interested in learn English, others thought that English is so difficult that were afraid to practice and didn’t participate in any class. For a teacher is difficult motivate and get children’s attention because the only thing they want in play with their friends.
There I had to face many situations. One of them was to prepare a class according with their age. As I said it’s really difficult to get their attention and they were children so I had to look for activities that were interesting and some game in order to make students participate. Some activities that I implemented in class were game such as “hot potato” , “Simon says”, to learn the colors they played the traffic light, and in some topics they mimicked. I tried to teach them vocabulary and some useful expressions because they didn’t know anything. Also I made some pronunciation activities, they read fairy tales it wasn’t easy but they did it.
Another situation that I had to face was the children misbehavior. There were some kids so disrespectful. Some od them didn’t participate and the age’s difference was a problem because the oldest felt bored easy and for that reason they began to make noise and distracted the other kids. As I said before it was challenged because I had to find a way in which students felt comfortable. I tried to speak English as much as possible because I wanted they were familiar with some words and expressions. I made that they said some words and expressions in English, for example when they wanted go the bathroom they had to ask in English and also to gave instructions I did it in English.
Despite of this situation I can say that I really enjoy teaching. And I like work with kids it difficult but when you see how they are improving their English is very heartwarming and satisfying. Some of my students increase their grades in their schools. Through this I learned so many thing about teaching and how deal with some situations. In this year I learned how to prepare a class and how to make activities in which students fell comfortable and in which they participate also I learned how to manage time in order to give a class, provide feedback and also check homework and quizzes.
In my personal opinion be a teacher is great because you as a teacher can help students to learn and also support them in order to improve their professional and personal development.
Teacher Talking Time Teacher Talking Time (TTT) refers to how much the teacher talks during a lesson. However, this will vary according to the stage of the lesson. For example, the teacher needs to speak more when providing explanations of and examples for the target language early in the lesson. Elsewhere he may speak less as students need ample opportunity to practice the new material. Overall, however, the teacher should roughly limit his speaking to 20% to 30% of the class time, with the remainder devoted to speaking/use of the language by the students.
In some cases teacher talk to much and don’t give the opportunities to students participate and share their opinions about the class. In my personal experience I had some teachers that talked too much and the classes were so bored that the only thing I wanted was go out of the classroom. Teachers should measure the talking time because when students feel bored or the class is not interesting some of the can feel unmotivated about the class. I think that each teacher should give the students the time to express themselves and the opportunity to produce the language in order to make students are interesting in learning.
There are some advantages of Teacher Talking Time such as: • Language should be presented in context, and this can be provided by the teacher rather than through a reading or listening. Listening to the teacher talking about real issues is more motivating than listening to or reading about complete strangers talking about people, places or events which, for the students, have no personal interest. • Every teacher question asked during a lesson demands a student response. • Also teacher provide clear instructions for the activities. • The teacher provides stories in which students can be familiar with the language. • The teacher provides natural conversations with the students.
However there are some disadvantages of Teacher Talking Time such as: • Limiting a student’s opportunity to practice speaking English. • Too much teacher talking means students only have one main source of listening - the reality of using English is very different. • If a teacher talks to a classroom of students, it doesn’t mean the students are actually learning anything. In fact, they may not be doing much at all and may have switched off from the lesson.
There are many thing to avoid TTT such as: • Give instructions below students level. • Avoid running commentaries. • Be economic with words. • Use visual aids and gestures. • Don’t repeat yourself unless is necessary. • Give the opportunity to the students to participate in the class by asking some questions and sharing ideas about the topic.
Conclusion and Recommendations Conclusion This semester I learned so many things that are going to help me as a teacher. I had a great experience by teaching kids and how to develop a class. Also learn how to create an online course it’s really important because as a teacher we have to be prepare in order to face different situations. To all this we have to put in practice our values such as responsibility, honesty, solidarity and orders. Be a teacher takes time and a lot of dedication so we as future teachers have to do our best and improve our skills in order to be the best teachers possible.
Recommendations: • Try to do your best in order to facilitate students’ learning process. • One recommendation for those people who paid for the online course it will be that they have to be honest with themselves and think about if they really want learn. • For those people who only want to pass the subject I could say that think about if they really want to be professionals because the main point of this major is teach and you cannot teach something that you don’t know. • Keep going with online classes because are many useful for students and also for teachers.