Class #4 - Participation.

Saturday, September 24th 2016

7:30am - 11:30am

This time, it was the turn of my colleague  T.A Abi with a vocabulary lesson.

Activity #1.Guessing game.

Students made groups, each groups had pieces of papers with lettres, T. A. Abi made mimics and gestures about the prepositions of movements that they studied the last class: over, under, into, through... etc. by using a box and a ball. Students had to use the pieces of papers with lettres to form the prepositions that they studied the last class.

It was a good activity, students likes activities in which they have to compete.

Activity #2. What were you doing during the week?

Students made groups to discuss the question "What were you doing during the week?

Activity #3. Descriptions.

Some students past in front of the board to take a picture of places of El Salvador. Students had to say somecharacteristics of those places.

GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES.

T. A. Abi presented pictures about famous places around the world like: Niagara falls, The Sahara Desert, The Rocky Mountains, etc.. She taught the pronunciation of the words.

Activity #4. Listen and complete.

T.A. Abi. played and audio. the first time, students had to guess how many people were talking, and the second time they will have to complete an exercise from the text book.they compare answers with the whole class.

Activity #5. Speaking activity. 

T.A. Abi. gave to students a piece of paper with the name of a place around the world, Students had to talk about that place.

After the class of my colleague, it was my turn with a grammar lesson.

Activity #1. What was your favorite TV show when you were a child?

I wrote on the board the question "what was your favorite TV show when you were a child?

Students asked to the person next to them the question, then, some of them share their answers with the whole class.

Activity #2. Read and Identify.

I pasted on the board a poster with a short story in simple past and past continuous, I asked to students to identify the tense of the verbs in the story, This activity was for introduce the topic.

SIMPLE PAST & PAST CONTINUOS

I pasted some paper pages with the structures of simple past and past continuos, I explained the differences between both and their rules.  I emphasized the use of "when clauses" with simple past and "while clauses" with past continuos. then we practice with some exercises.

 Activity #3. Scrambled words.

Students made groups of 5; I gave to each group an envelope which had pieces of papers with words, Students had to form different sentences using the structures that were presented in class.This activity was useful to practise grammar structures.

PROJECTS.

This was an evaluated activity. Students worked in pairs to create a story about an amazing trip that they did in vacation, using simple past and past continuous.. They were very creative showing their stories with pictures and drawings.They presented their stories in front of the class.

They were really creative with their stories, I liked to see how much students have learned this was a good way to know it.

Note: I realized that time isn't enough. I couldn't finish my class because students had to present their projects and that was an evaluated activity, so I had to give them the chance to be prepare for their presentations for that reason, I asked to them to work in exercises from the text book as a homework.  

Class #4 - Participation.

Saturday, September 24th 2016

7:30am - 11:30am

This time, it was the turn of my colleague  T.A Abi with a vocabulary lesson.

Activity #1.Guessing game.

Students made groups, each groups had pieces of papers with lettres, T. A. Abi made mimics and gestures about the prepositions of movements that they studied the last class: over, under, into, through... etc. by using a box and a ball. Students had to use the pieces of papers with lettres to form the prepositions that they studied the last class.

It was a good activity, students likes activities in which they have to compete.

Activity #2. What were you doing during the week?

Students made groups to discuss the question "What were you doing during the week?

Activity #3. Descriptions.

Some students past in front of the board to take a picture of places of El Salvador. Students had to say somecharacteristics of those places.

GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES.

T. A. Abi presented pictures about famous places around the world like: Niagara falls, The Sahara Desert, The Rocky Mountains, etc.. She taught the pronunciation of the words.

Activity #4. Listen and complete.

T.A. Abi. played and audio. the first time, students had to guess how many people were talking, and the second time they will have to complete an exercise from the text book.they compare answers with the whole class.

Activity #5. Speaking activity. 

T.A. Abi. gave to students a piece of paper with the name of a place around the world, Students had to talk about that place.

After the class of my colleague, it was my turn with a grammar lesson.

Activity #1. What was your favorite TV show when you were a child?

I wrote on the board the question "what was your favorite TV show when you were a child?

Students asked to the person next to them the question, then, some of them share their answers with the whole class.

Activity #2. Read and Identify.

I pasted on the board a poster with a short story in simple past and past continuous, I asked to students to identify the tense of the verbs in the story, This activity was for introduce the topic.

SIMPLE PAST & PAST CONTINUOS

I pasted some paper pages with the structures of simple past and past continuos, I explained the differences between both and their rules.  I emphasized the use of "when clauses" with simple past and "while clauses" with past continuos. then we practice with some exercises.

 Activity #3. Scrambled words.

Students made groups of 5; I gave to each group an envelope which had pieces of papers with words, Students had to form different sentences using the structures that were presented in class.This activity was useful to practise grammar structures.

PROJECTS.

This was an evaluated activity. Students worked in pairs to create a story about an amazing trip that they did in vacation, using simple past and past continuous.. They were very creative showing their stories with pictures and drawings.They presented their stories in front of the class.

They were really creative with their stories, I liked to see how much students have learned this was a good way to know it.

Note: I realized that time isn't enough. I couldn't finish my class because students had to present their projects and that was an evaluated activity, so I had to give them the chance to be prepare for their presentations for that reason, I asked to them to work in exercises from the text book as a homework.  

Class #3 - Participation

Saturday 17th, September,2016

7:30 - 11:30

This time, I taught a vocabulary lesson. 

Activity #1.  How was your week?

Students made pairs and asked the question " how was your week?"each other, then, some of them shared their answers with all the class. The purpose of this activity was to review the previous knowledge that was simple past.

Activity #2. Are you a daredevil?

Daredevil: a person recklessly daring person.

I explained the meaning of  Daredevil. Then, Students asked to the person next to them the question "are you a daredevil?" many of them said " No, I'm not a daredevil" because they are afraid of heights.

Topic: Prepositions: Movements.

I showed to the students 9 prepositions: up, down, over, under, across, through, around, into, and, off. I explained their meaning of each word and their use, then, I pasted some pictures about some activities in which they had to help me to match them to the correct preposition.Then, they helped me to make some sentences base on the pictures. 

Some of the sentences were:

Bob walked around the forest.

Bob rode his bike through the forest.

Bob jumped off the helicopter.

Activity #4. Guess game.

Students made 2 groups, each group had to choose a leader. The leader had to take a little paper and make mimics in order to his group guess the prepositions that he took.

Activity  #5. My last vacations.

Students had to think in activities that they did in their last vacation and try to use the prepositions that were presented. Then, they did 2 lines facing each other to shared their experiences.they changed partner 3 times.

PLAY: "LAS DOS CARAS DE BARTOLO"

After the break, all the students from the scholarship had the opportunity of enjoy the play: " las dos caras de bartolo" by El Departamento de Arte y Cultura de la Universidad Don Bosco.

With a combination of comedy, romance and music, it' was a great play, I really enjoyed it. They did a really good job!

Note: To be honest, I was nervous, it' was the first time that I stood in front of them as their teacher, and I didn't know what would be their reaction, but I did it! I feel happy, because they helped me, they really paid me attention and they participated very well in all the activities and the most important thing they learned something new.

Class #2 Observation - Participation

Saturday 10th, September, 2016

7:30am - 11:30am

Activity #1 Review

Teacher pasted on the board some Wh-questions using the verb"be" in past form "was/were". One of those questions was "When was the last birthday in your family?" Teacher took time for let students repeat those questions and she gave her own examples.Then, Students discussed and shared their answers with everybody.

Activity #2  Milestones.

It was our turn! I wrote on the board the question:

 "What age do people usually...?

1. leave the school

2. learn to drive.

3. graduate from the University.

4. get married.

T.A Abi explained to the students the meaning of the word "milestones" and she gave some examples.Then, I explained to the students the questions and what they had to do.

Students had to make pairs and discuss those questions, thinking in what age people usually achieve those goals and giving their own opinions about what is the perfect age to do those things.Then, some of them shared their opinions with all the class.

We walked around to check how they were doing the activity and we helped them with some doubts.

Simple past tense - Irregular & Regular Verbs

Teacher wrote on  the board some verbs and she asked to the Students to help her.She explained the differences between regulars and irregulars verbs and she taught pronunciation of the verbs end in "ed".

Teacher gave to the students a list of irregular verbs. Students made 3 groups, the group 1 was with me, the group 2 was with  Teacher Ana Maria, and the group 3 was with T.A. Abi.We helped to the pronunciation of the irregular verbs. Then, Teacher asked to everybody the past form of some verbs.

Students showed interested in learning the difference between those sounds. This is someting very important, as teachers, we have to help to our students to develop this skill.

Activity #3 Role-play

what they love to do! Students had to think about what they did in the last Christmas, where they went, what they ate and etc. then, they had to perform the conversation in front of their classmates. Teacher made some observations and corrections with pronunciation.

Note: I understood that they like the role-plays because they can laugh, they like to be creative and maybe, they feel nervous when they are talking, but the feel comfortable to make mistakes, maybe because Teacher help them to feel like that. they have fun doing that.

Class #1 Firts day! Observation - Participation

Saturday, September 03rd, 2016

7:30 am -11:30 am

I was assigned to one of the groups of English for teenagers from Plaza Mundo's Program, those courses take place at Universidad Don Bosco. I share this group with another classmate who is T.A (Teacher Assistant) like me her name is Abigail. We will be supervised by a Mentor Teacher from Universidad Don Bosco her name is Ana Maria.

The students wondered  who we were and what were we doing there so, we introduced ourselves.

Activity #1. Listening activity.

Students moved their desks to be close to the mp3 player. Students listened an audio about 3 people that call their neighbors to ask for a favor. Students listened the audio 3 times. they had to recognized if where they lived, in an apartment or in a house and choose the correct answer. At the second. time they had to listen what each caller wanted and choose the correct answer.I did that activity too.

Activity #2. 

Students made 2 groups and each member of the group would be a number. they made 2 lines in front of a desks, teacher asked a question and said a number. Only the person who had that number could answer.

Activity #3.

As an introduction for the next activity, students asked each others "How good is your memory?" Students had to think and choose their answers between these:

• It's extremely good
• It's fairly good
• It's somewhat good

Many of them chose "It's fairly good"

Students made pairs, each pair had a picture,they took turns to play.they had to look the picture for 1 seconds and try to remember the objects that the picture showed. the person who remember more objects was the winner. Many of the students remember around 11 objects from the picture.they had to use the phrase "there is..." or "there are..."

Students enjoyed this activities, they describe very well the objects. I  would like to do that activity, think it's really good to review or practice vocabulary and grammar.

Adjectives and past for of the verb "to be"

Teacher presented some adjectives for describe emotions and feelings.

Teacher presented the simple past tense. she presented the past form of the verb "be" for sentences and make yes/no questions and Wh-questions by giving examples.

As a little practice, students asked each other some questions like:"were you happy yesterday?" "where were you yesterday at the morning?" they they made some exercises in the student book.

Activity #4. "The Detective"

To have fun, Teacher chose a volunteer, that person would be the detective, he had to go outside of the classroom for a moment. while, teacher and students had to choose a person to be the leader, that person had to made movements and gestures and everyone else had to do everything that the leader did. The detective had to guess who was the leader.

We played too, I think that I would  use it as a wrap-up to summarize all the content seen in class and have fun, I  liked that game, 

Activity #5. speaking activity.

Students made groups and they had to share their experiences. They had to talk about their firts day of school, their first pet, their firts kiss, and their first friend. using the past tense of the verb "be" Something interesting was that Students asked to the teacher why they didn't do any role-play, they really wanted to do it.

We walked around the classroom helping to the students with some doubts.

Note: I have to say that I really liked the attitude of the teacher, she is energetic, outgoing and she is always making jokes with her students, and they feel comfortable with her. she is very nice.On the other hand, Many of the students are always excited, they really like to participate and something that really called my attention was that they love role-play which is something weird.I really like that group.

Error Analysis - Activity

My Teacher asked me to check my last blog entries and look for mistakes that I made with spelling. I had to make a chart with 2 columns.

ERROR ANALYSIS

I wrote

I must have written

1- To be honest, it was very dificult to me learned English. 2- so I had to make a doble effort to don't fail.  3- was rejected to many people and still is 4- but that's not an barrier. 5- I had the oportunity to in a education program from the Colegio Don Bosco 6- It was difficult for me to make them have interest during the class, 7- and they pass all the morning siting in front of the board and when they had class with me,  8- but I made an effort and at the end they took their exam and finish the course. 9- were looking me, 10- I realise that the kids were more nervous than me 11- At the end of the class, I feel so happy to see that my little students feel excited to come the next class. 12- I really enjoyed teach to children 13-That was the close ceremony, 14- I have been study about the changes 15- because of our parents told us 16- extending meinly over the teen years  17- terminating 18- but they might starts 19 - dificult? 20- grain matter  21 id 22- Erick Erickson describe that 23- Erickson make a big emphasis 24- The successful completation  25- Of course I alredy pass Throught this stage 26-I didn't have to much Problems 27- was speack in public, 28- I didn't like participate 29- ic, I didn't like participate in fron of all my classmate, I could raise my hand whe the teacher ask something even, if I knew the answer.  30- always little patience 31- instead of help them to find 32- simply don't know what do. 33- Base on my own  34- with activities that involves sharing  35- I would like use activities 36- give them the chace to do it  37- teenagers enjoy be autonomous.

1. To be honest, It was very difficult for me learning English. 2. So I had to make a double effort to not fail. 3.was rejected by many people and still is 4. but that’s not a barrier. 5. I had the opportunity to be a teacher in a educational program from Colegio Don Bosco. 6.it was difficult for me to keep them interested in class. 7. and they spend all the morning sitting in front of the board and when they finally had class with me. 8. but I made an effort and finally, they took their exam and completed the course. 9. were watching me. 10. I realized that the kids were more nervous than me. 11. at the end of the class, I feel so happy to see that my little students felt exited to come to the next class. 12. I really enjoyed teaching children. 13. That was the closing ceremony. 14. I have been studying about changes.. 15. because our parents  told us. 16. extending mainly over the teen years. 17. ending. 18. but they might start. 19. difficult? 20. gray matter. 21. is. 22. Erick Erickson describes that 23. Erickson make a big emphasis 24 the successful compilation. 25. of course I already pass through this stage. 26. I didn’t have too much problems. 27. was speak in public. 28. I didn’t like to participate. 29. I didn’t like to participate in front of all my classmate, I couldn’t raise my hand when teacher asked something even if I knew the answer. 30. always little patients. 31. instead of helping them to find. 32. simply they don’t know what to do. 33. based on my own. 34. with activities that involve sharing. 35. I would like to use 36. give them the chance to do it. 37. teenagers enjoy being autonomous.

To be honest, I feel really embarrassed because in many words I forgot to write a letter and for that my words were incomplete.Also, I have to said that I wrote blog entries very fast, because I didn't have too much time and I didn't check it.

Something that I learned is that we need to be careful, what we think in Spanish language could be not the same in English language; also, we need to take time to be sure of how we want to express our ideas, if there is a word that we don't know, or there is something that we want to say and we don't know how say it, the best choice is to research.

I think that this is an activity very useful to improve writing, students can take time to reflect in how they can  express their ideas in a right way. Also, that could help them to be curious and learn more of the language.