REFLECTION ON PREVIOUS FACE TO FACE CLASS (Wilson Rojas)
YOUNG LEARNERS
The
implication of knowing how to teach English to Young learners has represented
to appreciate many points of views and face theoretical issues, involvements
and also established ways of teaching that deals with the English teaching-
learning process. Based on the previous
face to face class I could realize that there are factors which showed us
strengths or weakness in order to teach this special population.
However, we as
teachers must familiarize with strengths and weaknesses, and take advantages
about strengths.
According to my own experience I thought that teaching young learner is
a “piece of cake” activity but this believe have changed my misconceptions
about it because I felt frustrated once learners began to play and walking
around the classroom and also I didn’t have their time and attention.
My next thoughts were some questions: “What sparks their interest for
learning? What do they like to do best? What excites them and makes them yearn
to know more? What topic(s) do they like best? How might work with young
learners whose interests don’t align with me at all stretch you?”
Finally, in the special population course class I learnt not only the
correct age scale about young learners but also about task demands and task
support which are related with cognitive, language, interactional,
metalinguistic, involvement, and physical aspects. But I would like to know how
to do a lesson plan for young learners because I have never had this academic experience
and one final thought: We don’t have to see a weakness as a lack of strength.
Wilson Rojas
Hi Wilson, Your task is clear for me because you mention about your expierence as teacher some years ago, you said that you believed that teach to the young learners was like a "piece of cake" but then it change your thinking because you had a students that all time walk and play around the classroom and you felt frustrated with this students because you can`t control him because they didn`t pay atention in your classeses.
ReplyDeleteI think you needed to prepare a funny extra activity like painting for him to maintain doing something after finish his task.
Thanks Daniella
DeleteI will consider your comment about preparing a funny extra activity in order to have young learners doing something after their accomplished their task.
Wilson your analysis is very good, many people included some teachers think that teaching young learners is easy, but when they have the opportunity to teach children their perception change, because they can notice that is a hard work.
ReplyDeleteHi Byron,
DeleteCan you give Wilson an idea of how to "fix" a lesson when it's "hard work"? Or give him some an answer to one of his questions? Let's remember to keep our comments specific :)
To be teacher is a difficult task becuase you go to face different types of students according to the distinct academic and behavioral environments, so when you begin a level is a good strategy put the rules from the start, and a diagnostic test to measure What is the students' level they got in the last one. I had the opportunity facing a group with similar features but the peer coaching strategy worked for me, strategy where they learned to be leaders, to gain trust.
ReplyDeleteThis is my support
Thanks Nancy for your advice about using "the peer coaching strategy" but I would like to know what peer coaching consist of?
DeleteWell I am going to try to answer
ReplyDeleteWhat sparks their interest in learning?
I consider English teacher has to focus on something that young learners are interested, for example, I remember some children in the class always were speaking about cartoons, for instance, one of him said did you watch batman, or superman. They were interested in superheroes. Why not use those interested, and show them vocabulary, and some adjectives. For example, Batman wears black boots, he is tall etc. So, the educator will catch their attention.
Thanks Byron
DeleteI appreciate your comment and point of view. So I will consider them as soon as I have the opportunity to work with young learners.
Hi Wilson,
ReplyDeleteYou pose some very good questions to the class about things teachers need to consider when teaching young learners. Byron has a good answer for you, and I would simply reiterate what we discussed in class about getting to know your students better. This is why I am trying to start each class with getting us to think about the "trends" happening at certain life stages of these different age groups. If you are going to teach young learners, it is absolutely necessary for you, the teacher, to do your research and pay attention to what students are interested in - not just in class but outside of class. I still believe this is important at all age groups and levels, but with teens and adults, in the ultimate case, they have more communicative abilities and can "teach" the teacher what's important if needed (although the teacher still has to "pay attention" and ask questions about topics that come up in and out of class).
Doing this really makes a HUGE impact on your class - students are more motivated, more interested, excited to be in your class (and that excitement in my experience usually transfers to using English more and better), and more enthusiastic about learning in general (this can transfer over to other subjects as well).