WE MADE IT!
Journal By Veronica Acuña Theory and Practice in English Teaching ULACIT
01 THEORY AND PRACTICE 2017
JOURNAL I CO 2017
The main aim of this journal is to keep a reflection on the teaching-learning matter. Besides, the self-evaluation of professional teaching competency, improvements to current teaching strategies and teaching skills. I would like to focus this reflection on my personal opinion on the importance of close and good relationships with others. The feeling people have when they are in a new group may change depending on the kind of person they are. However, we are social beings, people tend to seek out social acceptance, and that it is crucial in the classroom. The first day of the classes the professor Floria started the class with activities like ice-breaking games, which is essential to foster her students’ interaction. In each activity, the students met each other better. Laws Sophie and Mann Gillian (2004, p.65) mentioned “they use “ice-breaking” sessions to help one another to feel confident and relaxed, more willing to listen and risk sharing ideas, with less fear of being dismissed.” ULACIT has the policy to build up teamwork among their students. That day, the professor reproduced a video called “The Most Beautiful Thing”. It was an amazing video clip, which presents how simple is to get a wrong perception of others. And, the most important in my point of view is that shows the difference among people. We have different learning styles, but what is essential is that we are unique. And, it was something that the students understood after watching this video. Now, I will focus on professor’s perspective. For teachers raise awareness is something great because it gives values and promotes positive relationships. Professor Floria is simply wonderful on this subject. She has the power to touch students' hearts with the simplest things and it is worthy of admiration. Nevertheless, she is ensuring the ongoing reinforcement of quality of education. At the end, the professor explained the content and course evaluation using the syllabus as a guide. The students were aware of the information. It was an excellent class.
02 THEORY AND PRACTICE 2017
JOURNAL I CO 2017
During this week, the students worked on the presentation of the music project called “The music never ends”. However, in the weeks before they were working on the development of this subject as part of the program. But, every week they worked on making hours for an application called voxy. As well, they work on the answers to the essential questions about the origins of the music. Throughout the class, students worked on the groups designed by the teacher to do the project (the professor requested to work with different groups for each task) to make a connection among them, which it is an excellent idea to build bonds with the whole class. Simultaneously to the assignments mentioned before, the students had to accomplish language objectives in every class. We understand that part of the ULACIT methodologies is the competency-based teaching program. Nevertheless, the professor is essential in the development of those competencies that the university wants to promote. Professor Floria has an admirable knowledge of and is fluent in English, what is key in the learning process because she can correct the students in the proper way. Floria’s classes are very interactive, and she always has an ace up her sleeve to make her classes enjoyable and most importantly meaningful. There are many topics that cover grammar structures, and I would like to emphasize that the professor did not teach grammar in isolation, she always teaches base in context, where grammar is explained in such a way that it is easy to understand. And, something that it is present in her classes is that students are willing to learn. So, the professor asks many questions developing critical thinking in what they have learned in the class. Professor Floria always motivates students to learn to explore new things and to put on practice the language skills.
03 THEORY AND PRACTICE 2017
JOURNAL I CO 2017
For this week, I had to present the implementation Module. The topic I had to talk about was “Passive Voice”. We had to explain the subject and do some practices to assess what we taught at that moment. When I started teaching I felt so nervous and excited because it was the first time I had to teach without the support of the professor, I mean, I had the support, in other words, that the professor was part of my class. We were completely in charge of the class. After sighing deeply, I started asking questions to engage the students with the subject. At that point, the method I used was the inductive approach. According to Bilash (2009, p.1) “inductive instruction makes use of student “noticing”. Instead of explaining a given concept and following this explanation with examples, the teacher presents students with many examples showing how the concept is used.” In this case, students understood how the concept works. Then, we explained the theme using visual aids, like power point presentation. To finish, we did a practice to see if the students understood the subject. Overall, I think, I did a good job, of course, there are things to improve, but I am part of learning process. I have learned that motivation is essential as well as, time management. From my point of view, an important aspect is to impact the student. Another aspect I learned was to set limits among teachers and students, we can have a good relationship without losing the respect, and it is something that Professor Floria is quite clear. As I mentioned before, class management is important to optimize what students are learning and, it helps to create a learning environment in which all students feel challenged, and the most important they feel comfortable. The efficient use of time is an essential part of a learning process because it keeps a positive classroom environment, which is the basis in teaching. But, there are many factors that may influence the positive class management like the space in the classroom, the type of activities we prepare for the class, the visual support.
04 THEORY AND PRACTICE 2017
JOURNAL I CO 2017
This week, the students continue working on the subject of Passive Voice. The professor always starts the class with a positive greeting and asking about how was their weekend? (taking into account that the class is on Monday). As it happens in other classes, when they continue with the same topic, she starts with a review of the theme. Basically, she used a trivia activity, and it was son funny and meaningful because she asked questions about general culture. The most of the students did not know the answers. I have to say that this class was beautiful because they started with the introduction to a new topic. The Great Pacific Garbage Path was the second project. I have a strong affinity with environmental matters. For that reason, I loved the class. Besides, the way how professor Floria develops the classes. That particular day the teacher used a video clip from TEDx presented by Beth Terry the name of the TEDx is Living Plastic Free this video helps students to understand and get a different perspective of the impact we left in this kind of subjects. Teacher Floria always finds an innovative way to raise the awareness in sensitive matters. Of course, it is something that I will do for sure in my classes. As part of the course content, students had to write an essay regarding the pollution. So, students formed groups in they worked on the different types of pollution. My colleagues and I helped the students in the process of writing an essay. We walked around the classroom to assist the students. We clarify doubts and help the students in how they can develop ideas. Â Likewise, students had to follow a list of requirements, and those requirements were about the different grammatical structures they had worked previously. Students created a video and the script thereof. The students were excited about the activity. They worked hard to complete the task in the frame time. Some students develop TV programs and invent different scenarios for performing their ideas. At the end, they did a good job.
05 THEORY AND PRACTICE 2017
JOURNAL I CO 2017
During this week, professor Floria taught grammatical structures. Present Perfect Vs Simple Present and showing "likes" and "dislikes" (I’d rather, you’ better, and so on…). However, professor Floria did not start the theme like normally all the professors do. Her methodology is based on the student- centered learning. So, professor Floria is focused on the students’ autonomy. That day, she started with a video called Mashable Kinetic sculpture hides secret clock. And, she did a questionnaire about the video, my colleagues and I asked students the questions. It was something different that of course put the students in the position of think (critical thinking). Multiple intelligence is something that she mentioned. After that, she did a practice regarding present perfect. Students had to complete a sentence given by her. Then, students had to give examples using the structure they have learned. But, she mentioned, let say, details that sometimes we tend to forget, for instance, she explained briefly the contractions for /’d/ just to avoid misunderstandings with the modal 'would'. Likewise, she mentioned the difference between simple past and present perfect. For the preferences' subject, the professor gave a sentence/scenarios where students had to show the preference using the proper structure. It should be emphasized that her activities are some interesting and amusing. The time managing is essential in this kind of English classes due that are three hours at the end of the day. I learned a lot from this class because the topics were more about grammar that is a difficult topic to teach. Nevertheless, with professor Floria we do not notice that because she teaches naturally and she applies the content in a real context.
06 THEORY AND PRACTICE 2017
JOURNAL I CO 2017
I will say that it was wonderful. It was an excellent idea. The experience was incredible, and I know not only for me but for the students. I really, loved how professor Floria involved students on this kind of activities like field trips in raising awareness of environmental issues. It is important to face students in problems that affect our communities. And, many of us take for granted the importance of take care our resources. There are teachers, who teach this like teach math or another subject, however, professor Floria goes beyond in this matter. I mean, she took the time to find the proper place to go. That is what makes it different from other teachers at the University. That day, we went to Spirogyra Butterfly Farm Park Garden. And, I have to mention that this place is pretty close from the ULACIT. This delightful place is the home of hundreds of lovely butterflies and other species. After received a talk of the butterfly farm, students walked on a path nearby surrounded The Torres river. Teaching outside the classroom is an excellent resource to put students away from a traditional setting into a new environment. In other words, the class was alive for them and they could learn more. All the students partook of shared breakfast where the aim was to: share with each other y learn more about environmental issues. The students received a talk from one of the founders of the butterfly farm. This gentleman talked about the Torres river, which is a river in the center of the city. He started the conversation with a trivia game to ask questions regarding that river. He raised awareness and asked for volunteers to clean the river shores. To finish the field trip, the person in charge of the butterfly garden gave us pupa of a beautiful butterfly. So, students had to take care of her and let her free.
07 THEORY AND PRACTICE 2017
JOURNAL
This week students worked in Conditionals. They learned the difference between zero, first, second, and third conditionals. Besides, they learn the rules for each of them. So, they had to review the different verb tenses we can use to make a sentence using conditionals. Some of them forget the rules or when they can use the different conditionals, for example, the first conditional is used for facts, the first one for a possible situation in the future, and so on. Again, they reviewed the contraction for ‘would’ and ‘will’. Another aspect that caught my attention in Floria’s classes is the fact that she always tries to teach pronunciation using the International Phonetic Alphabet. This is not part of her course content, even though, I mentioned before that professor Florida marks the difference in her classes. Students always received the pronunciation tips quite well. In this classes, students worked for groups or in pairs. During this week they reviewed the topics that they have learned in the previous classes "likes" and "dislikes" (I’d rather, you’ better, and so on…). I have to say that her classes are very dynamic she spent more time in interactive discourse and less time spent in individually work, which is essential in language classes. Another important aspect is that her students are proactive and participative, in this sense, her classes have a good pace.
I CO 2017
08 THEORY AND PRACTICE 2017
JOURNAL I CO 2017
During this week, there were the elections in the campus of ULACIT. We had the elections for the ULACIT GOES.  She started the class asking questions regarding the political matter. Students participated for five minutes. Of course, she asked about ULACIT it was like ice breaking activity to starts the class. At the same time, she reminded the students about complete the voxy hours. That week, professor Floria introduce the topic of the family but not the traditional one. She started with questions that included words like offspring, siblings, bastards, matriarchy, polygyny and so on. After that, students worked in groups to discuss those questions they did not write down the answers they only had to talk like it was an open table activity. Students talked and got some vocabulary that they were not familiar. They learn about the different parenting structure. Gender equality and how the family is formed around the world. We watched a video that showed how the women had the power in their society. This video took place in somewhere Asia. Then, they learned how religion is not part of how humans form families. To develop their critical thinking professor Floria worked in Venn’s diagram to show the difference between our families and the Chinese ones (video we watched) once the students write the differences, she requested them to make an open table. Open table is an excellent strategy to involve all the class. They are face to face. They can generate questions and discuss essential in a language environment. This is for sure another strategy that I will implement in my classroom because the idea is to expose the student to the language. They need to talk more, and we can get this with something simple like an open table.
09 THEORY AND PRACTICE 2017
JOURNAL I CO 2017
As part of her classes introduction, she asked about last day, specifically, elections (Partido LiberaciĂłn Nacional) and all the events that occurred that day. She used a new term to define that day, the word she used was hectic. Â It was her icebreaking activity to started the classes. She mentioned about the final test and how grammar will be applying in context. And, all the stuff they have to complete for that week. She then started with a game to practice the conditionals. She formed groups of four. She wrote on the whiteboard to columns for group A and group B with different situations for example group A 1. Career/ work and for group B 1. Arts/ media just to give an example, the student played with a dice and throw two times to select a topic for group A and then for group B, after that, students said a sentence using the third conditional. Then professor used a worksheet with sentences that the students had to complete. Student number 1 answered the question number 1, then student number 1 had to choose another student to answer question 2, and so on. It was an interesting activity because the students had to formulate questions but using different verb tenses. And it was an excellent practice for the final test.
10 THEORY AND PRACTICE 2017
JOURNAL I CO 2017
I only wish I could have spent more time with the professor Floria and their students. I learned incredible things from her classes. She is a professor that has a very broad knowledge of teaching, and we can learn many things from her like strategies, and new methodologies. Professor Floria has an indisputable talent for making language a useful tool. she definitely holds a gift to teach. I like my professor because she is an open teacher, and she always is here to help us. It was a useful course because I had the opportunity to face myself with what teaching means. I remembered the day that I had to teach in one of her classes it was a hard time, but she gave us the support we need to give the class at that moment. She told us that we could do it. She said that my colleague and I will be excellent teachers, and she said that we did a great job, at the end of the presentation. And, those words meant a lot to me. I hope to put all this training into practice. I loved the way she gave the classes, I mean, she talked about different things, sometimes she had funny things to say, but she knew when to stop. The same thing happens with the respect; she is a respectful person. Â She is a person who takes cares of her students. In my personal case, I appreciate that she always asked me for my son, who is my life. So, we appreciate this kind of things. A teacher is not only a person who teaches structures or rules is a person who cares about their students. Thank you, professor Floria for being a wonderful human being. Thank you for allowing us to know you a little more.