Practicum period III - Journaling by Daniela Struzzi

Practicum period III - Journaling by Daniela Struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r en-us 2021-11-22 13:19:24 UTC 2025-12-03 04:46:02 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f4bb.png dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906296172 2021-11-22 14:53:26 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906296172 First encounter: May 20, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906298352 Today I met the group. It is integrated by 16 students who are 14 years old.
At this time, they are having virtual lessons and their attendance to class is reduced.
In general, the learners' attitude towards the subject is positive and they are interested in learning new things. However, I noticed some studentes participate more than others.
On Thursdays, English class is the last one the pupils have that day. Therefore, it is necessary to catch their attention to get them focused on the tasks, since they might be tired.
The unit the students are currently working with is about 'Sports and free time activities''. Today they did a short reading, classified activities using the correct verb (go/do/play) and solved some tasks from the booklet through a powerpoint presentation.]]> 2021-11-22 14:54:20 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906298352 Second encounter: May 28, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906298895 The students continue working with the 'Sports' unit. Since the Observation and Assistantship periods are together, my job is based mostly on presenting the main topic and guide the pupils during the activities. Furthermore, I have the possibility to monitor them while they are working.

What aspects of the lesson do you consider successful?

An activity I found interesting was a Kahoot the students played at the end of the class. I could see that games make them feel engaged and motivated. As I see, the learners like to compete between them in an easy way.
Related to this item, it is possible to notice a sort of friendship and companionship among the students. As a result, the classroom environment is friendly and harmonious.

]]> 2021-11-22 14:54:32 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906298895 Third encounter: June 3, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906300882 During today's class the students did an assigment that they have to hand it in next week. By following the teacher directives, we read the whole document with the students so as to clarify their doubts. Then, we did a discussion and the reading part only, in order to leave some tasks for them to solve alone.

What aspects of the lesson require change / improvement?

Nowadays, students receive online classes and their attendance is limited. As a result, only half of the students were able to listen to the teachers' guide. That is, those who were absent, must solve the work on their own and they may not understand the exercises correctly.
In my view, if teachers prepare mandatory assignments, they should look for another way to present it. Maybe, they could upload to the virtual campus a short video explaining the assignment step by step and share it with the entire class.]]> 2021-11-22 14:55:21 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906300882 Forth encounter: June 11, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906301168 This lesson was based on listening mostly. The students listened to a conversation between friends speaking about their favourite sports. Then, the group solve some filling the gaps activites and, after that, they discussed orally about their own likes and dislikes towards sports.

Choose a moment that was important for the students during the lesson. Describe it and say why it was important.

At the beginning of the class, the learners showed tiredness about the current study methodology.
After finishing the exercises chosen by the teacher, I proposed to play a game.
As I see, it was a special moment as the students felt rewarded for their work during the class and participated enthusiastically. Additionally, it was a spontaneous task, which did not require much preparation, and allowed them to review general vocabulary of the language.
It is an online activity called 'Semantris', which I previously knew. TBefore playing, I briefly explained how it worked and in a few games, the pupils managed to overcome their previous score.
I think they enjoyed the task and I could even notice, that some students who didn’t participate in the class, did participate in the game. I conclude then, that dynamic activities stimulate the group more than a printed copy.

]]> 2021-11-22 14:55:28 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906301168 Lesson 1: June 17, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906303483 The main aim of the class was to revise grammar structures. The students did some activites from their booklet and also, we watched a video.
Finally, I showed them some images related to the main topic of the class and they started a short debate. This activity was the most interesting for them, since they could express their opinions freely. Furthermore, the students discovered their classmates' interest and could make comments about it.]]> 2021-11-22 14:56:25 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906303483 Lesson 2: June 18, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906303779 This class was based on a set of activities for the students to hand in. This worksheet was directly related to the previous lesson, so the students were able to solve it without difficulty. During the next week I received several emails with the homework completed.

How did the students react to your teaching, to the activities and the materials? How did they react to the lesson?

I think their reaction was mainly positive. One of the exercises was about analyzing a text about 'Los Murciélagos', a national football team for blind people.
In the following class, I heard many comments about how interesting the reading had been for them. A few students did not know this team existed and they found fascinating that those men played without seeing.

]]> 2021-11-22 14:56:33 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906303779 Lesson 3: June 24, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906304117 Today the students start a new topic about books and book genres. By means of a set of activities, they developed their writing and reading skills and, in addition, they aquired new vocabulary.
Personally, I was happy about starting a new topic. In my view, the group has already spent a few weeks reviewing sports and I noticed that the students did not show the same enthusiasm as at the beginning. In other words, they found the exercises similar or repetitive.]]> 2021-11-22 14:56:42 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906304117 Lesson 4: June 25, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906304454 The school started with regular classes again. Relating to the teacher directives, the students have to do a mandatory assignment at the end of the unit.

What teaching strategies did you use? Which ones were effective? Why / why not?

Starting with the ineffective techniques, I did not think it was adequate to start the face-to-face lessons with a mandatory assignment. Due to the absence of half of the course during the online classes, there were several students that found themselves a bit lost.
Therefore, we did a short introductory talk about the main topic. Simultaneously, I found useful to read aloud each part of the assignment and provide examples, so as to guide them as much as possible.
At the same time, I designed some activities with images, in order to make the task didactic.
Anyway, it was necessary that I go with each student who has specific doubts.
Finally, I let the 'fast finishers' help their classmates and be my assistants.

Choose an audio / video segment from the lesson, and reflect on what is viewed or heard.

At the end of the class, when everyone had finished, we played a game called 'Taboo'. In here, a student should come to the front of the class and try to guess a word written in the board using the clues from their partners.
In the video we could see a learner trying to guess the word 'chess'. It is possible to see that the rest of the class was able to describe it using their own words. Nevertheless, it was sometimes necessary to repeat their definitions so as to clarify any doubt they might have.
In addition, after a student win, I could do some follow up questions to make them express their likes and dislikes toward the sport chosen.
As I see, despite some of them were volunteers, a good way to make everybody participate in the activity is by picking them randomly using a list. Finally, all the class took part in the task actively. ]]> 2021-11-22 14:56:49 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906304454 Lesson 5: July 1, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906304930 Today we had a different class. Since it was the previous week before winter holidays, the school decided to offer the students some workshops as a surprise. During my class, the students took part in a drawing course guided by the art teacher. I was allowed to collaborate with her, monitor the groups and share creative ideas with them. The learners worked together with the B group and had a lot of fun.
Finally, when we went back to the classroom, each of my students showed me their artistic work.

Choose a quotation that represents an event, knowledge, insight in this lesson.

'The object of art is not to reproduce reality, but to create a reality of the same intensity'
Alberto Giacometti

I chose this quote since the students created their own art pieces freely. That is, there was not a specic guideline or instruction to follow. The idea was that learners represent something relatable to them. Consequently, their works vary but every picture shows something special about each pupil's reality.

]]> 2021-11-22 14:57:01 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906304930 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906305333 2021-11-22 14:57:10 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906305333 Lesson 6: July 2, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906311252 The class still working with hobbies. For today, I prepared a worksheet based on an artist named Henry Smiles (as Harry Styles).
I thought that, by using a popular singer for teenagers, the activity would be more entertaining and the learners could develop it without too much difficulty.
Once I received the homework to correct, I was surprised at the variety of artist that the students chose to interview in the last exercise.
In addition, the students searched the singer's personal information and biography in order to prepare a detailed interview.
In general, they made satisfactory final productions.]]> 2021-11-22 14:59:31 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906311252 Lesson 7: July 29, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906312210 Today' class was the first one after winter break. Therefore, the activities were based on winter activities. The pupils aquired vocabulary relared to the topic and did a reading task. Finally, at the production stage, they wrote about their own experience towards winter.
It was remarkable that, this year, we did not have a snowy season. As a result, most of the homework described activities at home instead of going to ski.]]> 2021-11-22 14:59:53 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906312210 Lesson 8: July 30, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906312512 This class was based on checking adverbs of frequency. The group was isolated for sanitary reasons. Consequently, I had to adapt my regular lesson to a virtual one.

Describe this lesson in terms of a metaphor.

Teaching is like a rollercoaster. It's full of highs and lows.

I think this quote represents teaching the best. In this case, I had planned a class with interactive activities and peer work. However, the school told the teachers to not come to work before the class starts.
As a result, I had to modify the lesson very quickly. There were many absetns and the students were sad for being home again. Therefore, I did online games and short debates with them so as to make them feel comfortable and, at the same time, review the class topic. ]]> 2021-11-22 15:00:00 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906312512 Lesson 9: August 5, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906313038 The pupils returned to school. It was necesary to make a quick revision of the main topic before starting with the lesson. Today we not only revised adverbs of frquency, but also expressions of frequency. The learners realized they already knew many of them and used them on their daily speech.
The activity they enjoyed the most was 'Find someone who', in which they must walk around the class and interact with their partners. They used English much more this time.]]> 2021-11-22 15:00:11 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906313038 Lesson 10: August 6, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906313497 Today's lesson was based on a set of activities to hand in related to the use of the expressions we checked last class.
By correcting their homework, I noticed the students could do most of the task very well. However, at the writing stage, it was noticeable the level of English each learner posses.
That is, due to the class is no more divided according to levels, I could notice clearly who had trouble at solving the task. Because of that, I started to provide some model or phrases to guide them through their writing better. ]]> 2021-11-22 15:00:22 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906313497 Lesson 11: August 12, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906316383 Today's class was about music and music genres. I personally find this topic very appealing and I think it lets students discuss and express their ideas a lot.
In addition, I like to include activities related to our own culture. In this case, I asked the pupils to write about a popular festival in Argentina, the 'Cosquin Rock', with some information I previously provided.]]> 2021-11-22 15:01:22 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906316383 Lesson 12: August 13, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906316752 Today we read a short story called ‘Mystery train’, which takes place in an amusement park during the ghost train ride. The students found the topic interesting. According to their responses, all of them were at least once in an amusement park. At the same time, they could share orally their own experiences in the ghost train.

Choose a moment that was important for you during the lesson. Describe it and say why it was important.

Nowadays, most teenagers do not like to read and this group is not an exception. When I said that will read a short story, many learners were annoyed. However, at the end of the tale, they told me that the story was captivating and they enjoyed it. Even some of them developed interesting new endings.
For this reason, I suggested reading a new short story. We would take a some minutes each class to read a few chapters. They all agreed on reading a detective story.

This moment was important for me, because I felt able to connect the students' interest with the topic directly. Even though many of them did not want to read at the beggining, then they found out that not all books are boring. There may be catchy stories.
At the same time, I think I could use their renewed interest in stories to bring a new activity that may be meaningfull and compelling.]]> 2021-11-22 15:01:30 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906316752 Lesson 13: August 19, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906317202 Today's lesson was focused most on grammar by checking conjunction uses. At the beginning it was a complicated topic, but then the pupils were familiar with the words.
An activity they enjoyed was using a big dice I brought so as to make correct sentences using conjunctions. They liked the idea of getting up and playing, by means of broking the regular class structure]]> 2021-11-22 15:01:39 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906317202 Lesson 14: August 20, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906317495 This class was based on a set of activities to hand in. It was about a young writer' s life. Since it was an assignment to hand in, I have to adapt some tasks from the book to make them more appealing.]]> 2021-11-22 15:01:47 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906317495 Lesson 15: August 26, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906317782 Today the pupils worked with book reviews. I prepared an activity about a popular story.: 'Life of Pi'.
The class had different activities, such as a video to develop their listening skills, a text to foster their reading skills and finally, a writting task.]]> 2021-11-22 15:01:54 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906317782 Lesson 16: August 27, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906320024 Today we started a new unit called 'Body and mind'. This lesson was based on learning about body parts. We revised vocabulary using the booklet and some images.
The activity the pupils enjoyed the most was about public announcements promoting a product. Here, they had to mention me which body part is used in each advert.]]> 2021-11-22 15:02:46 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906320024 Lesson 17: September 2, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906320282 We still learning about body parts.
An activity the students enjoyed was about guessing wich body part I was showing, by means of zoomed in pictures.
Since the main aim today was practising some speaking, at the end of the class, I organized the group in pairs so as to build short conversations between doctor and patient.
It was interesting to see that, at the beggining of the conversation task, the pupils used the phrases I previously provided to guide them. Then, however, they started to imprivise and create their own original dialogues.]]> 2021-11-22 15:02:52 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906320282 Lesson 18: September 3, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906320572 Today's lesson was based on a set of activities to hand in about going to the doctor. The pupils aquired vocabulary related to the topic, such as medicine, earache, hurt and tablet. To do that, they worked with a video and a reading. Finally, they have to sumarize the text they have previoulsy read.

]]> 2021-11-22 15:03:00 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906320572 Lesson 19: September 9, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906320859 This lesson is based on a set of activities to hand in about being ill. They revised vocabulary related to the topic, did a reading and reading comprehension exercises and wrote an email to a friend who is sick.

]]> 2021-11-22 15:03:06 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906320859 Lesson 20: September 10, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906321137 Today we revised the use of can for permission. We worked with the booklet and photos I brough to the class.
Additionally, the learners worked cooperatively by giving and refusing permission to as many partners as possible, using cards with different situations.
As I could notice, the students enjoyed moving around the classroom and working with new didactic material.]]> 2021-11-22 15:03:13 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906321137 Lesson 21: September 16, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906323662 Today's class was about using must and mustn’t. It was pretty interactive, due to we worked with a Power Point presentation, a video about a popular movie and finallyy, they played kahoot in teams. ]]> 2021-11-22 15:04:15 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906323662 Lesson 22: September 17, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906323974 Today the pupils worked with body image by reading a magazine problem page. After that, they wrote in a short paragraph, a piece of advice for a friend.
By reading their contributions, it was gripping to see what they think about this controversial topic. Most of them wrote that there are no perfect bodies. Even some of them, expressed how social media affects our body image and that it is important to love ourselves. Additionally, many students added how celebrities dress and the impact their image had on the regular audience.

What do you find useful of this lesson that will help you plan the next one?

Since their productions were well developed, I will keep working with style and how people dress. I believe that the students will find this topic interesting and, at the same time, they will be able to discuss about clothes and how they represents us. ]]> 2021-11-22 15:04:23 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906323974 Lesson 23: September 23, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906324252 I decided to start a new unit called 'Looking good!' about clothing and how students could describe their own style.
By means of different pictures, the group learned new vocabulary and phrases related to the main topic.
At the end of the lesson, the learners did a writing expressing their opinion about the effect clothes have on us. ]]> 2021-11-22 15:04:30 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906324252 Lesson 24: September 24, 2021 dani_struzzi https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906324670 The students kept working with clothing vocabulary. In my view, the pupils like this topic. During the lesson, they were eager to mention what they like wearing and the style they have.
In addition, different topics to discuss about came out. One of them was 'social tribes' and how their members look. Here, the students debate about the image those tribes have and the message they represent through clothing.]]> 2021-11-22 15:04:40 UTC https://padlet.com/dani_struzzi/u5eahwj5qgjw740r/wish/1906324670