Seventh journal

A Pleasant Visit

I believe that being a student teacher is a priceless opportunity to get a first-hand view of what really involves being a teacher. Sometimes, undergraduate students tend to think that they already know all the outstanding information needed regarding the teaching act. Though, they may be totally wrong since one thing is all the theoretical set of factors that you learn, and a different thing is the realities that you have to face in a real classroom experience. In this sense, teachers can fall into the trap of strongly believing that their classes are perfect and that there is nothing to change.

In this order of ideas I think it is crucial to resort to some good techniques to identify possible constrains that are affecting the natural flow of your classes and that you as a teacher might be ignoring. To put into practice tips and techniques for teachers development, instructors have to be very open minded and smart to accept reviews about their classes and what is more important to take immediate action towards to problem already identified.

As a teacher in training I love receiving feedback about my performance. I usually ask teachers about the quality of my job. I like paying attention to the aspects they name since they already have been through the experience and acting to change the aspects they mention. Last week, I had the chance of being observed by a classmate from the Reflective Teaching class. She made an initial observation, then she made a short survey and then she gave me an interesting and unexpected feedback of the class that I conducted. I felt ok with the activity since students´ answers were positive and have aspects to improve in the class.

This current week I started to apply some corrections regarding classroom management that was the principal issue identified. I felt quite satisfied since students´ homework are much better now. I can tell that they did not use Google Translator to do their jobs. Students showed me that they are learning and that they still have their good attitude and motivation levels very high. Regarding classroom management, it was pretty good to have decided that before class some students who use to be distracted and bothering each other switch seats to separate them. Now, they are focused on the class and they seem to take notes and be involved within the English class. 

My classmate did come again this week to make some observations. She noted that the classroom management strategies that I used were effective and that students made much better jobs on their homework. Nevertheless, as I am still learning how to become a real teacher, my classmate made again a set of recommendations in order for me to have a better teaching experience and for students to have an enjoyable learning process.