WEEK 8- Grammar (Food)

Daniel, cenia, Astrid 

Hi everyone this week was amusing, we learn new things from the teams and this week was the time for Daniel, Xenia, and Astrid team, they were teaching Grammar and the topic was Food despite there were not too many children the class was given as usual.

What I like from the class: First, Daniel´s performance he was confident, he did not have problems to start the class, he had a well control of the time, gave clear instructions. In spite that the presentation was pretty difficult for children and something striking was that I thought It had not been so clear but there was no problem in the other stages so it means children understood the explanation and the uses of is it and are

they. The other thing was the time to copy; he gave them time to take some notes about the grammar class. The second person to give the following stages was Xenia, something I want to highly is the attitude of her, she had the smile that make students feel comfortable, she looked excited giving the class and doing all the activities. I think that the activities were appealing for students, they were in movement and that is vital when teaching children, they need to be active, the materials they used were interesting, and they decorated the classroom according to the topic they finished the class on time, there were no delaying. The last person to pass was Astrid, she gave the production if I am not bad. She had a good attitude and develop each stage quite good, she looked enough confident and had a good control of the class.

What I did not like: well there were certain things which I noted when the group developed the grammar class first the problem with the tape, Astrid was looking at the teacher quite a few time when she was giving her part. She seemed as if she was expecting the approval of the teacher with her eyes or maybe with gestures, she seemed at first like a little anxious or concerned about something, she had one of the hardest part and I am not talking about teaching a tough topic but facing an unwilling kid to pass in front to do the activity, at the end she took the decision of replacing the kid and did it by herself with the other girl. This is the first time I saw this awkward situation, but I think she handled it well.

Things to improve: in this section, I would say that there a few things which they have to improve. They are not the big deal but I know they will improve them. First the explanation of grammar was little confusing, it could have been done more simple, the other thing is related to grammar using the question ( is it) Astrid ask in her part of the class this little mistake she said to the children (it is cheese )
in form of question and the correct had to be (Is it chees?) furthermore, she had problems with the masking tape, I think that we can use other type of tape, one more resistant to avoid this kind of inconvenience.

In conclusion: the group was good at giving the grammar class, I consider they showed us a well way to teach this skill, in my opinion I think that this skill is the toughest to teach but they did it well of course we have to learn from this class and the team have to keep on working and trying to get a better level than today, up to now I believe that we all in the class have learned from each other and that is completely magnificent this is the purpose of the class and it is being attained. 

Week 7 - Listening (Profession)

Teachers: Daniela, Alexandra, Johanna

Hi everyone! I am glad to be here again, this week was another one with great apprenticeship the focused skill was listening and the teachers were Daniela, Alexandra and Johanna. This was the second time for them presenting a class; it was not the same as other classes due to inconvenience of the raining weather and the lack of children despite that the class was given as usual.

What I like from the class: First the materials which was used was appropriated for the topic colorful attractive with balloons and great worksheets with a well level of difficulty for children to complete them. Even though there were no children, we were the students who received the class from the three girls; we were closer than usual to see the development of the three teachers. I love Daniela´s performance she gave the class disregarding that we were her classmates, she took the control over us and she was confident, perfect tone of voice, awesome attitude kind of serious but at the same time kind and tender. I am quite sure kids will love her when she becomes in a complete teacher, she was in charge to open the class, gave the warm up, and taught us new words related to professions.  I want to highlight one thing that I liked which was the poster pasted on the board, if I am not bad the first activity matching the professions with the correct name, she asked us to past in front to solve them; she took the time to monitor us when we were working in the worksheet as well. The second person to give the other stages was Johanna, she gave the first during activity that

is getting the general idea, this time about the audio, she introduce herself with us and she acted as if we were real children I liked that. She had the confidence, she monitored us and used a well tone of voice I could understand her. The explanation of all the girls were clear and short and that was one more point in favor for them, the energy was excellent performing of her own style calm but taking the control of us. The worksheet she used was great because it was not so easy to solve, I think that making children think, it is an astonishing idea. The last girl was Alexandra she did something that impressed me, she behave completely as if we were children and I mean she even kept quiet while she was teaching, I could note the great confidence that she had in herself, the energy was
appropriated to give a class for children. Her attitude was serious but I did not feel frightened by her even I felt really amused when she ask us to complete the last activities with the puzzle. I think the class would have been a complete success if children had come,
 they would have enjoyed it.

What I did not like: well I got not too much to say in this section, just some little details they have to work on. First the audio was a little difficult regarding about kids, they would probably had problems with it. There some words that they did not explain and the audio contained the past tense as well and we have not taught that tense yet; we only have to be careful with that. The other thing was almost at the end of the class the post stage, we were required to ask the professions of the other classmates and the problems in here was that we did not have an example a model to follow, children would have struggled a little bit with this activity.

Suggestions and possible solutions: for the issues, I can recommend you to write the script of the audio and check it before to record it; we have to bear in mind the structure of it either in grammar, new words and the tenses. What we can do in here is to write it and ask to the teacher to check it. if it would be a suitable audio for children to understand, In the activities we can try to explain and model as much as possible, it does not matter how simply might be the activity but children have to have a clear example of what there are supposed to do. I know that there may be some things we can improve all the time but this is aim of being in this class, make mistakes as fast as we can so that we can learn, improve and advance faster.
I take myself into the improvements because I know how is to prepare an audio for a listening class and it is not as simply as you think; it requires time to prepare it.

Conclusion: All in all, the three girls were awesome in can see that they are finding their own style for teaching. They are shaping themselves from their own mistakes and from the others, now it is time to look forward and improve more, Keep on working at the same pace if you can more, well let’s get into the next level.

WEEK 6 – Grammar (Professions)

Teachers: Claudia, Michelle, Sonia

Hi everyone, today i am pleased to talk about the class of this week the teachers were Sonia, Michelle and Claudia. The topic was Professions and they were teaching the Grammar skill though I was not able to be in the whole class, the little while that I could see gave me a good impression from these girls.

What I like from the class:

First the materials they used was catching the attention of students, the decoration of the classroom was related to the topic, the dedicated time to make up them.  And that is something that we have to note. The activities were appealing for children and I am quite sure they enjoyed the class; they seemed to be enthusiast at the moment of doing the activities in all the stages. From the team, I like Claudia´s performance she started with the warm up and present the topics, she explain well the new grammar which was about using (He is a/ She is a)  I can assure that children understood the explanation even though there was a boy who I think is the youngest in the class and he was kind of confused at the moment of doing some worksheets activities, but the other thing I want highlight is that Michelle took some time explaining the exercises to that kid. She made a while to these children and that is something we have to

acknowledge, it was awesome from her part, she showed us how teaching works not only give the information to children and continue the activity that is in the lesson plan but take time to make clear the information given to children who has more troubles understanding them. The three girls were cool when teaching they used good voice projection, Sonia had some problems to speak I could note that she had sore throat or the flu and therefore she had problems with her tone of voice but despite that she performed a good class. All of them were monitoring at the moment of the activities, they were helping children with any doubt and it was incredible the management of time, they were on time in each stage and that is something absolutely incredible. That tells me that they practised before presenting the class.

What I did not like from this class:  well this is not related to the group but as I mentioned before I was not able to observe part of the class because I had to help them take children to the bathroom, but getting back to the class. I could note that the voice projection of Sonia was not as good or motivating for children to get completely engage in the activities but it was due to her flu so it is not her fault. Besides, there was the other girl Claudia who I just could watch for a little while and at the end the teacher mention that her tone of voice was not so well and I think she just can try to open more when speaking and also i was not at the moment when happened this but she mentioned that at some points she was talking looking at the floor and not towards children. I think that she was only nervous and the most important is that I am sure she and the others will learn from this experience teaching.

What they have to improve: is only the tone of voice, the attention to children, and I got to mention which I think is the most important ask student before the class if they want to go to the bathroom so that we can avoid children lose parts from the explanation, the other one is to take attention to the whole group not only one side but all of them. It is kind of difficult because sometimes there are certain students who need more help than others. The last one is not to give long explanations teacher told us at the end in the feedback that one of the team had talked too much and we know that it is not something good and less for kids but besides that they did it great. 

In Conclusion: I consider this group one of the most capable to give a class, the girls are getting the confidence each time they pass in front, I think that they learn from their mistakes and it is reflected at the moment of being the teacher, besides this group gave an excellent class of grammar one of the skills which I consider it is not easy to teach and did it great. All in all, I liked the class.

WEEK 5: Listening (Zoo Animals ) David, Abigail

What I like from the class: were the materials, I think they were catching the attention of students, the environment was good. There were not many students what makes easier to give the class, the attitude of Abigail was great, she explained well the activities and she modeled as much as she could, she was good at explaining before doing the activities and she used the materials properly, she used a well tone of voice, the energy was not such an impressive bright but was enough. By my side, I think I did it a little bit well, I guess I used a well tone of voice, my energy was not as the first class, but I still could give the stages in the way students could understand at least we could give the important stages which the teacher told us were the most important. Some students were talking and were distracting the others but despite that I think we both controlled a little the situation.

Zoo Animal class / Listening

What I dislike from the class:  the time which we did not controlled well, the moment when we began the class was pretty late, we were delayed the beginning due to the track, I thought I had all prepared, but the things did go as I planned, and that was the moment when I got stressed and with the anxiety I lost control of my thoughts. I could not think clearly the presentation of the new words was not as good as it was supposed to be given and I take the responsibility of my mistakes, the explanation was not clear for kinds to be understood. I know I could have explained better since that moment I did know I had failed in that stage. I did not explain the new words in order, I present the use of (What is it? and What are they) first instead of presenting the new words at the beginning and the proceed to explain the uses of the two questions. Besides, I participate in the class of my partner Abigail and that was not good.

Things we must improve for the next class are:

-The management of time; we started late the class.
-Control of children; when the want to go to the bathroom allowing only one or maximum two and let the other to go later. when they start talking control them but with respect in a tactful way and never let them control the class.
-The material; we need to organize more our material when presenting the class avoiding to delay the other stages for being looking them.
-Things we write on the board; avoid filling out the whole board keep it as clear as possible.
-Check things work; before giving the class, we must check if the devices we are going to use work.
-Give the instructions before giving the material to students.
-Complexity of materials; we have to take into account the kind of activities we are going to use keeping in mind the proficiency´s level of students.

In conclusion, I take the whole responsibility for my mistakes. We must work harder and I hope you learn from the errors we made. I know they are not difficult to recognize so try to avoid making them when you present your class for sure there is no time to lose or feeling self-pity, there is no time for feeling remorse of what we did. We still have the last shot and we will try to improve the things, I am quite sure we will attain it.

WEEK 4: Vocabulary (Zoo Animals)

Class of Vocabulary

Teachers: Daniela, Johanna, Alexandra

What I like from the class: this week was incredible, the whole performance of Daniela. She was astonishing

from the beginning to the ending, her attitude, energy, tone of voice, the use of English Spanish, the control of the class with the amusing activities she brought with her completed one of the best performance, I have ever seen from my classmates. Let’s start with her attitude, she was awesome I could not believe she was a student due to the easy way she took students over but was not such an imposing control that get stressed students. it was something with balance. I want to mention something that took my attention was when some students came late to the class and she had already explained the instructions. I think that was in the warm up even though these students came late she did not stuck, I thought she was going to explain again the activity as the first time but she did not and it was perfect because she did not waste time repeating
the activity, instead she gave them a brief explanation and it was magnificent.

 Johanna did a great job as well, she explained well the activities, she use perfectly the materials, she had the good vibe the good energy and she did use English Spanish properly. I love the explanation of matching she gave an example on the board and cardboard was awesome. Alexandra was good giving the class, she had some tough moments where students started to talk and they did not pay attention to her, but despite that she did not allow that they took the control of the class and she got serious with them but not in a bad way that kind of situation when students get frightened by the teacher, I mean in the way that they could respect her, and that was absolutely perfect.

What I did not like from the class: well, I am supposed to write something in this part but honestly I could not see such a big mistakes that one can say that are terrible and that affected the class´s development, it was not like that. Nevertheless,  there are certain things which they can improve such as; the pronunciation of words like ( Tiger), the unexpected problem of masking tape and only those little things which I know they will be more careful next time when they present their second class.

Thing to Improve: In the things which they have to improve I think that they only need to keep on working like they did and trying to do things even better next time. I have always had the thought of taking a self-evaluation about the thing we do. An inner assessment and I know that they did it awesome, but I do know they can do it even better each time they have the chance to give a class. All in all, I can see features of such a great teachers in these girls and something important this has not to be the end, this has not to be the limit of their development. Because when we outdo ourselves we will have to find out where our limits are.


Things which i will probably do in my next class:
Taking the control as Daniela did, the attitude and try to find my own style for teaching, i consider this class an excellent example for us to take into account in the moment to present ours, model as much as possible for students to understand the instruction or explanation of a topic we are required to teach. the activities which were undoubtely engaging for kids, the materials they used in class were really appealing absolutely colorful and catching attention. 

WEEK 3 Reading - Family Members

What I like from the class:

This week we continue learning new things from other teams, we saw the different performance from other classmates teaching reading and listening skills, I will not talk about both teams but I will only say that both did it well and I guess they learn from this experience of being in front explaining the different stages which they have do teach. This time a want to talk about Astrid, Xenia and Daniel teaching the Reading Skill, I think that from the beginning they were excited because it was the first time for them teaching this skill. 

What I like from Astrid is the way she motivate students and besides she made student repeat the words and when there were those who did not, she continue asking them to repeat until the whole group participate and that was awesome also her attitude was in the acceptable level for kids to feel comfortable, I consider the three of them did it great even though Xenia did not have enough time she coped that difficult situation and the most remarkable is that she attained to complete the post, we have to accept that she seemed upset at the moment of teaching , but besides that she was astonishing also I noted that at the beginning of the class there was a girl who came late and she was near the door and Daniel asked her to move to another place but she did not want to, but I observed that Xenia asked her again and she accepted Xenia request then she moved the little girl to another desk where she could see the board this little thing showed me that she has features of a good teacher, the kind of teacher who care about her students.

I did not like form the class:
Nevertheless, there were some things which they can improve firstly we have to be careful in one area which is the word spelling. I noted that the word Nephew was not well written and as a teacher we cannot make this mistakes since we are the person in charge to teach a new language and students will learn from this either it is correct or not. We have to bear in mind that from this age is when they get the most impact when learning a language, as we know the very young age is when children develop the cognitive side of the brain and the development is in a great level of absorption that is why we can take advantage of it, teaching them the proper spelling and pronunciation of the plenty of words in English. the time was the big problem of the class there were some stages that took more time than the expected at some points i could see the hurry from the members of the group due to this problem but at the end they could handle the situation.

Thing to improve:

The time despite this issue, Daniel performance was interesting one, I like what the teacher said that he was concerned about Xenia´s time, he speeded up his activities when noted that the time was running out. He acted as a good friend, he was not only focused on his grade but also on Xenia´s performance and that is what we have to learn, the humanity of working and face the problems together, and I want to highly this because the purpose is not just about getting the best grades, being the best student but being kind a person, helping us each other and grow up together to become not only in excellent teachers but also in good people. we cannot be really tough with this group they handle the difficult of time and could achieve the aim to teach the stages.

In conclusion: 
All in all, there were many good thing which we have to learn from this group and even things which we also have to take into account when is our time to perform our class. i will learn from this group because they experienced something even the teacher would not like to be in, but besides that the attitude and energy of each of them was great the could control themselves and found out a way to solve the problem. I really got that stick on my mind and now it is time to apply it in out chance to give a class.

WEEK 2: Vocabulary (Family Members) Rebeca, Federico, Ariana

What I like from the class:
This week was incredibly useful for me, I want to emphasize only one thing from the class of my classmates Rebecca, Arianna, and Federico. What a control!! I cannot forget the category of teaching from their part. I liked to observe the performance of each of them for sure there would be difficult to have the perfect class but they prove and show me that is possible to do it with a great effort and an excellent energy while teaching we can get anything, all of them were awesome Rebecca with her experience with kids and Arianna with her attitude serious but not to scare children, Federico with his humor even though he was a little jittery, he did it well. It was their first class and despite that they did a good job teaching the Family member to kids, I love the materials and the Family tree, they used for a better comprehension of the new vocabulary. Also, The two girls were awesome I could note that they have practice teaching, I like the first activity, students did not want to participate repeating with Rebecca but she did not stop to insist and to ask them to repeat and it worked. I think Rebecca had the difficult duty of making them feel comfortable after that I could notice they were more relaxed and the striking from the performance of both girls was their attitude Rebecca showed the confidence of being in front of students and Arianna had the total control but not in a strict manner but she gave a little power to students and that was astonishing she include them into the class into their own learning

What I did not like:
I have no much to say in this section because they did not make many mistakes, the only things is the time to start the class, they have to be on time not in time due to teachers need to prepare material, organize the desks in the correct form to take children´s attention since we know the correct arrangement of desk is crucial to develop a good class, the other thing is the tone of voice and energy of Federico but I consider we cannot be rude in this part and despite the little things, we have to remember that it was their first class and it was great.

Things to improve:
 it was surprisingly amazing the class´s development but I think they only need to be careful with the time to begin the class juts that and continue improving and working like they did in this class, despite the well development we have to bear in mind that we have to look different and novelty ways for teaching that is why, they cannot stop improving and not only them but us as well.

In conclusion:
I will take example from their class and will learn from each of them even from their mistakes. I want to tell the person who reads this that this is not about who is the best in the class, I do not mind that and you should not neither, we are here to learn, we are here to change the things if we do not learn from each other, if we do not help us one another, we are not going to make anything worth, the thing is to change the way of learning and teach English, So that we can be able to create new things and not only repeating over and over the same.