Coming back

I went to the school a week after we took the exam and showed them to the students. I was pleased with the results, although in some particulars cases I felt disappointed because two good students didn't get a high grade, and I didn't know if this was due to a lack of interest or what, yet in class they participated a lot and seemed to have understood everything!

I told them also they final grade, brought out of a mix of class behavior, participation, homework and the exam. Only 5 students failed my unit, although few others don't have a grade because they go to the 'reforç' group and I don't have enough materials to evaluate them with the specific criteria they might need.

Once I am done with my final exams at the university I will go and see them while having the end of course activities. Since I already promised them to stop by again and say hi!

I am quite pleased having had some time back, overall now that is finals period, but somehow I miss them and how nice were in general. Oh well, I'm sure I'll see them again anytime soon during this two last weeks!

Exam

The 7th hour of my unit consisted in an exam I originally prepared for them, related to what we had done in class.
After they finished the exam they were asked to complete a piece of paper evaluating me as a teacher, answering the following questions:

1) What did you like most of the classes?
2) What you didn't like from them?
3) What will you change?
4) Did you learn anything?

The feedback was really positive, extremely. Although I'm quite aware they don't see me as a real teacher, therefore it's easier for them to grade me positively and since I'm just teaching a limited number of hours it's easier for me to make them interesting and exciting. I already explained that with more detail in my final report.

6th hour as a teacher and last!

On Monday 18th of May was my last class as a teacher, besides of the exam the class would take in a couple of days.
This class was mainly a sinthesy class, because I wanted to a review of the materials before we did the exam. We did a bit of warming up, as usual, a bit of chat about the weekend, about the soccer...Then I implemented an activity from the text book. I found a really interesting text related to computers world and the evolution of the new technologies in there. I used the audiovisual material that comes along with the text book, it was a track, where the students listened to what was said on it and then they told me what they understood from it, they answered also some questions related to it that were on the text book. That was the only time when we got to use the textbook, but I really found the track nice and clear, better than the ones I could have found.

We did another listening and then those exercises related to it. Always letting the students to participate, express their doubts and try to correct among themselves. My tutor always adviced me that is better to use example they give to us, or allow them to correct themselves, because somehow it got more "interiorized".

After that, which served me as a review for vocabulary and grammar structures we played some games. I brought from home several pieces of paper, on one hand one contained sentences such as: a scanner. And on the other hand, the rest contained things such as: is used to scan documents and images.
So they had to match the different pieces. There were three groups, and everytime any of them finished I would go over there and let them speak out the whole sentences. If it was ok, then they have a point. After, we switch pieces of paper with the group next to us. There were three groups, and they were competing quite hard among them. It ws really funny to see how they accused each other to cheat and so on. We ended up even!

Then we did a running dictation -following the same group structure- with a text about the video we just saw. I was moving around the class, in order not to give advantage to any of the teams who were closer to me. They were all sweatie and messy! running and crashing against the desks. I laughed really hard! I wish every class could be like this one.

At the end, one group got more than the first paragraph totally right, the others were a bit mess up, but it was cool. He didn't quite get the thing that need to talk among them, otherwise they are checking the first line all the time!!!

And finally I gave them a photocopy with the lyrics of Johny Cash's song, Hurt. They didn't like the song, they didn't even know who he was! I felt so indignated!! And they dared to tell me off because 'this guy isn't famous'. I just hope that maybe one or two got trapped by Cash music and I was able to open a bit more their minds.

And that was the whole session. I remind them we were having an exam next week.

5th hour as a teacher

On Friday, after I told the class off, things were kind of smooth. I told them to go to the Aula d’Idiomes because we were going to see a video. It was a video I made with my roommie in order to practice grammar: future “going to+ verb inf” vs “will+inf”. It was a five minuts video where my roommate and I were talking about the plans for the next two days and we decide to go to the cinema to see Star Trek. From there, we start to talk about sci-fi films and how they deal with irreal future, situations and places. We started to dream where will we be in 25 years, or what will happen to the mankind in a 100 years. We were superheroes, we became rabbits, we were rockstars, etc. And it’s all in the video. It is us using customes, musics and so on. I thought it was a cool and different way to practice what we learnt in class.

When they first saw the video they started to laugh. Afterwards, in the very first scene where we are wearing costumes they looked at me, trying to figure out what was all about and thinking that her CAP teacher was totally mad! It was so much fun!! Their face while seeing the video were of totally awe, mixed with some kind of embarrassing feeling.

Amyway, what is important is that they understood all what was said in the video, and I think they, more or less, have the difference between both future structures, clear in their minds. Some of them asked me for a copy of the video. And I gave the original to my tutor, who told me she was going to use it for other classes as well as for next years. I was really glad to hear this. It is really good when you feel your effort somehow pays off. If the class understood better the future because of the video, this is enough to compensate the extra hours working on it.

I also gave them a photocopy with 6 exercises related to what was on the video. They did it pretty good and participated the vast majority of the class.
It is funny. One class is never the same as another one. On Thursday I was totally mad at the class because of their lack of effort, next day I am laughing with them and they participate and enjoy the session. This is one of the things I like most about teaching: it is not a repetitive/monotonous work.

I am, somehow, sad because this is coming to an end. But I really need some time to write down the memory of the practicuum, plus to focus on my journalism exams.

4th hour

Last Thursday class was a bit of a mess!
As I think I wrote on the previous post, on Monday we worked with the structure of the emails, plus some tips of how to write them (using pronouns, possessive adjectives, contractions). I gave them a photocopy to have an example of a real one and I asked them to compose a five sentences email as homework to do. They were supposed to send the email to an electronic adress I gave them, before Wednesday 9pm. Well, the thing is that only 2 out of, 20ish students of the class sent me the email.

I was really disappointed. I tried to do my best, elaborating a personalizade email for them, taking their preferences, hobbies and so on. I explained to them, we went over what they were supposed to do and so...Only to realized that two of them had sent it. I felt totally stupid and not being taking seriously. So the following session, this Thursday I had a serious talk with the class.

I told them how I felt they let me down, and that I thought I wasn’t asking too much. Only five sentences, with a list of vocabulary I already gave them, with a copy of one to inspire them...I think it was a pretty easy task to do. Some of them used the excuse that they didn’t have computer or the internet was broken. Which in the vast majority of cases is totally false, because two days ago we were talking about what do they use computers for. And all of them told me about printers, Facebook, MSN, scanners and so on. I discarted the lack of technology at home as a valid excuse.

I tried to show them the effort that I was putting in this unit, using only original content made by me, because I wanted to teach them while having as much fun as we could, trying to avoid the “John and Mary” typical workbook exercises. I also told them that my grades were as valid as my tutor’s one, and that she will take them seriously to elaborate the final grade. I asked them if they don’t see me as a “real teacher” or what was going on. Why they didn’t give out the homework? I chatted a bit about the effort culture and what do they want and expect.

After this ten minuts where I was talking, they didn’t mess around, neither talk. I confessed them that I like to teach and I like them as a class, but they should change their attitude, because I was going to grade them anyway and still ask for homework to do.

After that, we went to the ICT’s room, to do a collaborative writing in a Simpson’s wiki I had created in the Didactica Especifica classes. Since it was late when we started the class at the computers room, I asked them to finish the writing for Monday. Tomorrow we will see how many of them had turned the homework.

As I remember from the CAP classes I told them that they could send it or print it and give it to me, until Friday, but they will get a lower percentage of the grade. However, a lower grade is more desireable than a zero. Only few more students gave me the homework in this second chance. What’s the matter??!

This is pretty much all. Let’s see how the ICT activity turns out and see how this final week of my unit goes on.

3rd hour

Monday was my third hour as a teacher. The class went from 3 to 4 pm. It was hot, the kids were unfocused and it was hard to get their attention. Plus the session wasn't the most entertaining one!
I gave them another photocopy with an email I wrote. It was informal, dealing with what we introduced the session before: possessive adjectives, pronouns and contractions.
They had to read it and then identify those different things. I wrote them down on the blackboard, in three separate columns (my tutor told me that by doing it like this, it would be easier for them to understand and have a clear image).

I think they more or less control the structure and are able to identify these 3 different things. I asked them to write an email using an specific situation that I made based on individual preferences. Some of the students had to go to a party, others were about to travel and some were going to a concert. They have to send an email to a partner and both resend them to me, so I can grade them. I made them to send the emails because I wanted to be the more realistic as possible. Oriol told us that if you are going to do something, like writing an email, why don't you do it "for good/real". So I gave them an email adress where before wednesday 9pm I should have all their emails.

Well, to be honest I have none yet. I hope this afternoon I'll get some of them. Otherwise I'll be really disappointed, plus I said that I was going to use that to grade them. They had more than 2 days to write 5 sentences, I don't know if it's too much, but I don't think so. I thought I was being reasonable asking for this deadline.

During the class, some of them were doing what I asked them for, but some of them were really messing around. It's hard to talk when they constantly interrupt you. We were doing the sentences exercise and this student kept asking word for word to write his sentences. I told him to use vocabulary they already control, but he kept going. I like this kid. He is smart and funny, but doesn't shut up for more than a minute. I had to give him a negative already. If tomorrow he still behaves like this, maybe I should talk directly to him after class. He mocks the rest of the classmates, talks, makes jokes...

It is really curious how by teaching at different hours you can see different behaviours. I have the feeling I'm trying to do my best, preparing original material, rehearsing at home, making suitable exercises for every student, trying to use what I saw during the observation period...but at the end of the class you realized you forgot to say this or that, or that you could have improved this...There are so many things going on at once!!!!

What I see is that I'm running out of time and some of the coolest activities I had prepared I wouldn't be able to do them.

In that class, we also worked some vocabulary and went over the grammar again, writing and reading sentences with the "going to" and "will+inf" structures. I think they more or less understand pretty much the differences between both structures.

I'm supposed to make an exam out of all what I'm teaching. I don't know if I'm not giving them too much, but on the other hand I know I only have 6 hours and I can't do anymore with it.

Now I'm thinking whether to change the computer session that I've designed for tomorrow, so I can do the cool video exercise. The thing is that I promise the kids we were going to the computer class one day, and I wanna stick with what I say!

Maybe I'll have to supress the video thing, and just grade them based in that writing, then the collective writing of the Simpsons wiki, plus the listening and speaking of the video I made and I'm playing on Friday.
Probably on Monday I should do some reviewing and the 7th hour, on Thursday, do the test. I don't know!! I had so many good ideas, but I can't make the practicuum longer, not because my tutor hadn't said so (she already offered me more hours), but because I'm starting to work and have my finals.

We'll see!

2nd day as a teacher

Yesterday was my second hour as a teacher. Some students came to the desk while I was getting ready and asked me if I was going to teach again today, I told them so, and they replied saying "cool!", afterward they also asked if I was going to play music again! Those comments made my day. I know that the class behaves always better with the CAP students, because they see us as "one of them" (that sounds like The Goodfellas!). And I also know that this will be quite different if one day I am teaching on my own. Related to this, my tutor told me I should put more distance between the class and I. The only experience that I had with children consisted in working 3 years in a summer sport campus, with 6 and 7 years old kids. I am used to their hugs, and to establish a quite personal friendly relationship, which is different here in a E.S.O class. So I am taking the advice for whenever I will have my own class.

Anyway, as I was saying, yesterday I had class again. It was the day when we have two hours in a row, with the class split in half, and then the other half. I had prepared a really cool session, but logistic problems forced me to change the session the night before. We did a bit of reviewing of the computers vocabulary and the infitive of purpose, plus the "going to" future structure. Then I gave out a copy of two real emails sent by californian friends and we talked about writing emails. I gave them some tips, such as using pronouns, possessive adjectives and contractions to write a more fluid and less repetitive email. They had to look on the copies for those things and then read it in loud as I was writing them in the blackboard.

Then, we introduced another way to talk about future, "will plus infinitive" to talk about predictions which may or may not happen. I made a mistake while writing the structure down. But I told them and wrote it again. (teacher can make mistakes too, right?!)

Then we tried to think in sentences based on future predictions. Next time, I should make them to write the sentences down, so I can take a break from writing on the blackboard, plus, they have to think more.

And as soon as I realized the hour was gone. So "have a nice weekend to everyone" and that was it!

Now I am redesigning the session for Monday, since I used some of the contents yesterday, and that is what pretty much is going to keep my weekend busy! Making sure I have all the contents and reviewing the materials that I am creating to show them.

Bye!

Unit begins

Yesterday was the day. That terrifying day where you stop doing observation in class and you find yourself speaking to the class from the front of it.

I started my unit yesterday. It has to do with computer's world (since the unit they were to suppose to start in the book deals about it). I played them electronic music while we were doing a bit of chat as an ice-breaker that also helped me to know more or less how much do they know about computers (which is a lot!). I created a Pasapalabra with the vocabulary they are suppose to learn. We also discussed whether the music I played was "human" or was using some kind of electronic and computer mediation in order to sound different. They knew some of the Daft Punk songs I played them, and they asked me to leave the music for the rest of the session.

After finishing the Pasapalabra (which I didn't expect to finish at the very same session) I introduced them the Going to structure to talk about future and fixed plans. I gave them some examples and asked them what did they mean and to think about them. Then, they wrote down some examples. I tried to write the structure on the blackboard. Now I know -my tutor is giving me advices all the way through the unit- that I should be really clear while using the blackboard, to get used to write some kind of things on the same spots (homework, vocabulary) to help them to ordenate the contents of it.

There are so many things to take care at while teaching. It is not enough to have your session well reheased and prepared. Then you have to connect with the class' mood, try to get their attention, make them think and to work (and not to over carry yourself with writing and so on)...

I ended up satisfied with the first session and then I had a talk with the tutor. I am pretty glad of having her, although for me it's hard to accept advices since I am bit a selfish and I am used to do what I do really well. I really appreciate she's been "tutoring" me. And I know how lucky I am, when I listen to other CAP mates who don't even know other teachers, can't have a snack with their tutors, don't know the school's facilities....I happen to know all of this!

So yeah, I might be pretty prideful or whatever, but I like having her to give me advices and things she already knows because she's been there before too.

Good feelings at the end of the first day.

Weekly summary!

Hi everyone!

I am going to do a summary of the last week classes. It's been a while without writing because we were off for the Easter Holidays, plus, instead of writing after each session, I decided to write about the whole week -it was easier for me to catch up!.

These days the students had been finishing Unit 5, about the planet Earth, recycling, etc. They had been reviewing the materials with my tutor; using videos, remembering vocabulary, grammar structures...And yesterday they finally had the exam.

In this unit I took the chance to implement an activity -half from the textbook and partly from my own experience. We used some pictures from the Recycling Art Festival called DrapArt in Barcelona, and we used them to talk about the materials there were made of, the uses of what was seen, etc. Their first reaction was to laugh at the pics (some showed dresses made of newspapers, earring made of cans and so on). They wrote down the info and then explained in loud. That was kinda cool, because it was the first time I could explain them something and see them react to my own activity.

In another session they also took the exam about the reading book "Missing in Sydney", they had to attach also a list with the irregular verbs found in the book. The vast majority of the class didn't give it out. Which brings me to another point I would like to comment. After I had designed my Unit and chatted with my tutor about it, I came to realize that this class has a big handicap, which is the lack of motivation of some students and also the fact that a bunch of them never do the homework.

These are problems I have to keep in mind while implementing my unit, and also I should start thinking about extra activities for those high achivers. The class level isn't bad, the thing is that some students have a really good level and they show interest for the class, while other don't seem to care at all.

I am please with my unit, and with the fact that my tutor likes it (which was a key point to me). Apparently I will have enough material to cover the hours and also the skills demanded. I put a lot of effort in it, trying to design imaginative activities, suiting them to their different levels and interests. For instance, I know that few of them are really into hip-hop and rock, so I adapt some of the activities to fit with their interests, therefore they will be more keen to do the homework, since they know the material and they like it.

I think pretty much that's it! Basically we've been reviewing the unit using different materials (from the Audiolab, to the classic photocopies and blackboard exercises), plus taking some tests, giving out homework and so on.

Ah! The other day we celebrate Saint George at the school. We had class early in the morning, but then we went to the theatre next to the center and there the students saw a play starring their teachers. I wish I could have stayed longer, but my schedule is pretty tight and I had to get back to Bellaterra.

Well, I think I am done now!
I will see you later.

7th sesh

Now we have started with the new schedule, which confused me a bit, and today I totally missed out the session of this morning. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be there on time!
And also I missed out the "reunio avaluacio" because I forgot that I had an appointment with my doctor, but I could go to the next meeting, next week.

We started a new unit about the planet Earth and I wrote down some exercises I would like to do with the kids. We will see tomorrow.

6th sesh Part II

As it concerns to yesterday's class, I learnt a great lesson: Not to panic or break down whenever something doesn't work as you have expected.

Yesterday I was supposed to give the class, but instead of having a whole hour as I thought, I had 15 min or so. I prepared an ICT activity, a treasure hunt that was somehow related to the readings that we had done in that same class about Australia. The ICT was about surfing (that had appeared in the readings) so I thought it was good to link them.

When the kids got to the computer room I already had all the pc's switched on, so I could save some time. When I wrote down the information to sign in the website, some computers were running faster than other (I didn't think about this!) and some students were impatiented to see what was next and others couldn't see the web yet.

Once all of them were there, the link didn't quite work. So I wrote down an alternative path to get to where I wanted. I told them how to create a new post, so I could read their entries, but then we couldn't see the main text and the bell rang.

What a kaos!!! I felt messy and I feared as a consequence that the class wouldn't ever again respect me! Because I had screwed the first exercise with them.
Well, I don't know what to do now. Either explain the exercise again, forget about it or what.
But the most important thing is that I left the school feeling very upset about myself. After a while I understood there will be more chances for me to teach them and it's up to me to gain their respect and my credibility as a teacher.

We will see...

6th sesh

I forgot to write down, after the 5th session, how cool was being in that class. The second hour (because on Tuesdays we have split groups and we hold two English classes in a row trying to do the same) was even cooler.
The second group struggles a bit more, in general, with the class, but once you have them in front of the computers, something changed! Students that normally disrupt or talk a lot or don't want to do the homework where now practising the irregular verbs. And the think is they were concentrated until the end of the hour. In a very bad timing -just before the break-. However, I already wrote about this. But I wanted to write down about how I spent half an hour with one girl that has no interest for the class, at all. I was there with her, playing the interactive games, giving her funny examples to remember the meaning of such verbs and it was really cool. Because I thought she didn't like me, at all. (I'm not saying now she likes me a lot, but at least a bit!).

She really tried to remember them and the stupid examples we used. We wrote them down, we did the exercises again and so on until the session was over. Of course you can't do English class in the computers room every day, but I thought it is really amazing once you find a way to motivate one student. It seems very difficult, tho, to combine exercises, materials and spaces to motive altogether!

5th sesh

Here I am. Writing from the Computers classroom in the school. The class is doing an ICT activity -in concrete a Wikispace- to learn the irregular verbs. It is quite impressive the fact that a week ago I was sort of complaining of how nervous the students were during this class and the little attention they paid to the lesson. However, today at the computers lab they are working for the whole session without complains and, I'd say, enjoying while they do the exercises.

The wiki consists in different kinds of activities that revolve around the same: irregular verbs. You can find the typical fill the gaps, memo games, versus mode and so on. They can use the books and other materials because what is important here is that they are learning. The vast majority of the students learn better by doing visual exercises and having some sort of kinestetic motivation. While this wiki engages all what I've just said.

By doing the same but in different ways they come to internalize the verbs and the "sona bé o no sona bé" thing with them.

Seriously, comparing with last week lesson, you would think you are dealing with a whole different group. My tutor pointed out the importance of combining diverse types of exercises since there are diverse ways of learning: some students may be more visual, others by studing, repetition...And to do things like this Wiki in class (they can also check it at home) you are adressing various skills at once while they are having fun.

I am definetely trying my wiki (collective writing) when I'm implementing my unit. Will see.

I'm stoked of their behaviour and today's class made me really think about motivation and how to engage in activities they will be interested in.

That's it!

4th sesh

Today the class had an exam because we finished the unit and the Avaluacions del trimestre are pretty close.
I am guessing that tomorrow we will start a new unit. I am doing some exercises of the unit 5, Planet Earth, but the one that I am going to implement is the Unit 6. I rather get really familiar with the kids before implement my own unit. And spending that many hours with them, solving doubts, listening to them, seeing their behavior should help me to prepare my future classes.

I offered myself to help my tutor to correct the exams with her, but she was right, she rather corrects them herself, so she can see their progress and has an idea of the overall evolution.

Anyway, at the end of the unit I will have to do an exam on my own, so I'll have time to correct and see how it works.
Today she gave an advice -because I was telling her some exercises that I had come up with for my unit-, she told me not to get disappointed if some exercises don't quite work with the class, they might get bored, or might be too difficult or whatever. So I should expect some sorts of resistance.

I think that's pretty much it for the day.

dancing with the kids!

This was a special cool session with the class! Last Thursday I went to the school, although this isn't in my schedule. My 2nd of ESO class and another class was involved in a school activity where we learnt how to do Scottish dances. Ceyliah, or something like this.

It was a lot of fun seeing the kids in another environment, outside the class and not related to homework or so, but doing actually some kind of English work, since all explanations where in English and the kids had to talk in English to communicate either with the singer/dancer or with us.

While doing the dance, David (the guy that did the performance) realized that was one spot left and they needed someone else, somehow I ended up there. It didn't cost a lot of effort to convince me!

We danced and laughed and almost sweat. To sum up, it was a fun class.

3rd sesh

After how excited I was the day before with the class...today I came to realize that not everyday is going to be like that. We had a two hours in a row English class. First of all with half of the class, and then, with the rest.
My tutor prepared some exercises regarding the theater play the students were supposed to see the next afternoon. She prepared a reading and listening, resolved any vocabulary doubts, made them to reflect about immigration (apparently has to do with the play) and then we listened to one song and filled the gaps in it.

That was alright. I mean, it was a very concise class to prepare a bit what they were going to see in a few hours. The group talked a lot but they also participated in the class discussion a lot, and their comprehension and coherence while talking about controversial issues such an immigration made me feel proud of them. Besides, in a very multicultural class as ours, I think it's really important to be aware of social issues like this one and to allow the kids to express themselves freely -as long as they do it within a respectful context.

The students tho, were sort of anxious or nervious, feeling like the day itself. And they weren't too focus. The second hour, with the rest of the group, which struggles in general a bit more with the English class, was harder. I like to see how even those who hasn't a great level and domain of the language, keep on trying (since this is the only way to improve), on the other hand, there are other students who have a really poor level, plus disrupt the class a lot by talking in loud, talking all the time with their partners, don't bother to follow the lessons or have the materials ready. I found that a lack of respect and a total lack of interest, which is kind of sad!

I tried to help them while doing the exercises to motivate them, but I think I haven't figured the way to motivate them yet. Some of them, only need you to be around to solve some questions and help them to be focused. However, others don't even bother in front of you to dissimulate they don't pay attention or give a damn!

I totally saw that while a girl was holding my look when I asked her if she needed any help with the text.

I am taking some notes regarding them, so when I implement some activities or my own unit, I can more or less know how the class is going to react as a whole and also every one individually. I don't know yet how to increase the interest and the motivation of those I've just mentioned.

I came with some -I think they are cool- activities, to see if I can get a reaction out of them. I thought about doing a Pasapalabra in English, and other stuff. I am starting to plann the unit and also I've been reading the unit we will start next week to see what do I want to do and what I can do.

I think that's it!
Ah! After the classes i went to my first Reunio de Departament. It was more informal than I expected but I like the atmosphere of it. I couldn't really appreciate the general guidelines or policy of the department, since they are about to end the trimestre and they are pretty stressed out. I hope next one it's going to be deeper maybe.

Definetely, that's it!

2n session

Today was my third day at the school. We started really early in the morning (I had almost forgotten the high school schedule!). We had class in 2n Eso and we were doing some workbook exercises. We did a listening regarding Homer's poems about the Iliad and the Odissey. The students liked more the first one. We did some readings and also commented in pairs what the story was about. The teacher wrote down some verbs to help the kids while constructing their own version of the story. We were dealing with past continuos. They did it pretty well!

While I am helping them, I talk in English to them. And some of them don't want to speak in front of me, I guess they don't know me too well yet. Someone confessed me he didn't want to talk because I would hear his accent. I told him I had already heard him and he speaks perfectly well.

I went to a Batxillerat class, and that was a lot of fun because we saw an interview through the internet of Ann Hataway and one of her movies. Then the guys in pairs had to become an interviewer and an actor/tress. Some of them made it really funny and I'm quite impressed by their English pronunciation and level. After the acting out thing, some of them thought it might be a good idea to do a theatre play for Sant Jordi or so. I thought it was a great idea, and although their not my group, I'll be more than glad to help!

And that's it! I'm reading now the next unit, to see if i can come with a good exercise to implement in the classroom.
See you tomorrow!

1rst observation day

As the title stated already, last Wednesday was my very first day as an observer at my practicum school. I haven't been able to write about it before because I've been sick since then! I went early in the morning for the second class of the day with 2n of ESO -the class where I'll be teaching-. My tutor introduced me to the kids and they stared at me for a while with a mixture of curiosity while checking me out. I assume this is due to my appearence, since I look pretty young and my clothing style isn't that far away from theirs!

The seat arrangement is based in couples, two tables are linked and two students sit together. I sat in front of a girl and a guy. The first the teacher did is to check if everyone had done the homework. This is a very interesting routine, because not only allows you to control the effort of the students, but you can also reward them positively or not if they had or hadn't done the hw. Also, if it's the very first hour you can use the check to see if everyone's in class.

While the students were correcting themselves with the photocopy sheet of answers delivered by the teacher, I was staring at the class. I started to see who had made the homework, who couldn't stop talking and so on. I also took the chance to start learning some names, only 4 or 5 at the moment.

One girl didnt' know the meaning of a sentence and she called me, because the tutor was busy. ALthough I'm not supposed to interfer in this very first hours I wasn't going to ignore the student. So I went over there and explained her the meaning. She was suprised because I did it in English. And then the students around her freaked out because i was talking in English!

I told them I'll talk in E as much as I could and they should do the same with me. The vast majority understand what you say -as long as you repeat them some words sometimes and you speak slowly- so I'm pretty glad i already started to settle the things I'm expecting from them in the class.

I really liked the class! I thought the students were good, although a bit lazy, and also liked the variety in the classroom, which is included into the diversity the center has, with Chinese students, Pakistanis, African, South-American...I think my school is an example of integration and variety. Of course this situation demands a higher level of implication and an extra preparation with things such as the Aula d'Acollida, however, I think it's worth.

After that class we went to another of 3rd of Eso where the students with more difficulties in English class from two different classes come together. We were working on superlatives and so. They are a bit of talkers, but also work pretty good among them, helping each other. Although they are really easy to distract!

To sum up, I had a good vibe on my first day and I'm looking forward to see them tomorrow!