Friday, May 3, 2013

1st Class at Basic English (3rd Period)


Monday, April 29th 2013

Salutations everyone!!

Hope you being doing great.
This period I am teaching Basic with a totally different group of students from the ones that I had taught before inasmuch as this group doesn’t like to participate in the speaking activities; I guess, it is because they are still in a receptive stage in which the listening and the reading activities are easier for them in comparison with the activities that require production such as: the speaking and the writing activities. In addition, there’s something particular about this group; most of these students have failed at least once and actually most of them are about to fail, so this contributes to have a demotivating environment, increasing the lack of confidence in the students by the time of speaking or writing on the board. But thanks God, I have noticed that they definitely enjoy playing games that involve TPR as well as music, so I’ll try to go for that way in my next class.

About my class:
In my opinion, I planned a nice lesson. I used flashcards of dead famous people to have students talking about the past as a warm-up. Next, I split the class in two and had both groups collecting the verbs mentioned in a song (Don’t you worry child – by Swedish House Mafia) 

Then, I explained the grammar with the help of a video which provided many examples and one practice that I developed in general. Next, I gave each student a copy with some exercises to solve: a short reading with some blanks that they had to fill in, some comprehension questions, sentences which they had write in negative, and some unscramble questions. I provided instructions and examples for each exercise as well as I checked them orally. Finally, I did a speaking activity with the unscrambled questions in which ss stood up and interviewed a classmate for one minute. After that minute, they changed roles; they did it three times and my time there was over, so I couldn’t do the last activity which was a TPR game.

All in all, I liked my class despite of the mishaps I had with the projector, the students’ attitude by the time of speaking, and my nerves because I got nervous like in my first :S Anyways, I’m happy and satisfy of having this experience which will help me to better. Learning and Improvement is my goal in my professional life ;) J

12 comments:

  1. Hello Day-see. I see the group is sort of tough in the sense that some of them have already flunked the subject. I think you need to give the SS as much confidence as possible, so that you are able to stablish a good rapport with them; thus, they will feel comfortable when being with you. Add TPR activities but try to keep a balance of the class, so that it does not become a a mess. I see you varied the activities, so SS got stimulated and could get in a better way the content. Nice goal. Keep the hard work up!

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  2. Hello my Dear Deysi! I taught that group in the first period and I know them. They don't like to participate, and also they love to speak, but in Spanish. Most of them have failed at least once, and as you know it is complicated to teach people who don't want to learn because some of them have lost interest. They think that they will fail, so they don't want to put the "last" effort.

    Well, I liked the song that you used because it was according to the topic, and I could read that students did not get bored, so it is nice.

    TPR activities are the best to teach Basic Levels because they can associate what they do or see with the meaning of the word.

    I'm sure it was a nice class, CONGRATULATIONS DEYSI!

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  3. Ouch! Well my dear, that is hard. I just can tell you to encourage them. Let them know that they have the chances to succeed. They may be reluctant to participate, but if you encourage them well, you will see the change. I am sure you can make it well. Your song was very nice :). As my classmates said, you should apply some TPR activities and relate them to the content. You will do well, I am sure. Cheers!

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  4. Hello Deisy, I consider that teaching in a Basic English group is a great challenge. Sometimes students are afraid to participate for fear of being wrong, because maybe they do not have sufficient linguistic skills. But you have to give them confidence and encouragement and perhaps in the next class you will obtain better results.
    Indeed,teaching is not an easy task, but as you say, that learning and improvement should be your goal, and by what I see in your report ,you are succeeding. And let me tell you that I also learn of the activities that you carry out.

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  5. Hi Deysi! I know that it is a little bit hard being with that group, but it is nice at the same time, because we get experience! You did it very well, I know you did your best and I am sure you will be better next class! Continue working hard girl!

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  6. Hello Deysi!!!!
    I know it´s kind of difficult to start teaching a new group. If your students are demotivating its good that you develop TPR activities as you did, so they will have fun and learn at the same time. I like the activities you did because with them you can approach the listening, writing, reading and speaking skills.

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