My second entry

DESCRIBE
In my second teaching practicum I had to realize many activities where my Ss could practice Wh-questions using the simple present. As a warm up, they played “dominoes” where they had to match sentences instead of numbers. With this warm up I could notice what they remember about the simple present; some of them had troubles, but then, they could complete it. Then I made I grammar review in which I realized that some of them were kind of lost because they had not been in the previous class, so I needed to go deeper in the “review.” I think it is kind of difficult to teach adults because they understand in a slower way than children or teenagers as I mentioned in the previous entry. However it is good that adults are always willing try and ask as many questions as possible until they get what they have to do. Later, I did some practice which were really helpful for them to understand better the topic and since they love to speak I tried to make almost all the activities in a speaking way. At the end, I believe that it was a successful class because I could see their progress at the end of the class.
ANALYZE		PLAN ACTION
INTERPRET	GENERALIZE
Making speaking activities are really helpful for my Ss. That is what they like, so I had to take advantage of it. Moreover, the main objective of this “diplomado” is that they can understand and communicate in a second language. Looking for speaking activities is difficult even more if I am with adults. I cannot make activities where they have to run, sing or play. But I have to know and pay attention to the activities where they respond successfully.	Having them work in pairs or groups made me realize that they work better and faster because they respond their questions among their classmates, so it makes easier the teacher´s work. However, it doesn´t mean that the teacher will not monitor what they are doing. They will always need the help from the teacher. But group work always works because the Ss feel more confidence to make the activities.	For next class, I need to reinforce the simple present with more activities because they have to pass to another topic, so it is necessary to make many activities. Also I plan to make them explain some little concepts to see how well they have understood the simple present tense. Maybe, little presentations about Wh-questions can help to end with this topic.

First entry (second period)

DESCRIBE
In my first teaching practice, I was a little bit nervous because I had to teach to adults; people that are doctors, licenciados etc. So it was kind of weird teaching to this kind of people; however, I felt it was really good to work with adults since discipline is not the main problem into the classroom even though there were two or three persons to whom I always had to get their attention but not at the same way we do with children. You have to pay attention to words you use to do it. It is difficult but it is just a matter of getting accustomed to deal with them. Moreover, thanks God it was an easy topic; I had to teach “simple present”; nonetheless, it was kind of hard to find activities in which you cannot run, compete or do like activities in which they had to do some physical job because they are adults. They are serious and do not want to play in class. So I think that was the hardest work to do.
ANALYZE		PLAN ACTION
INTERPRET	GENERALIZE
In this class, I realized my Ss were willing to work in pairs and speak. They were not afraid of making mistakes when speaking. Even if they did not know the words they invented them. So that was an advantage in some activities. Adults like to work in pairs and compare their answers; they really helped each other. Also my Ss ask a lot of questions, and they want to know the reason for everything so I have to be prepare for any kind of questions they could ask.	Based on this class, I realized that it is necessary to be prepared with many activities since they work quickly, but also it is good to see how to take advantage of the time because you cannot waste time with them. Besides that, I could notice that I cannot give them too much information because they take more time than children to get it. I have to go slow and clear; and something very important is to be patient with them.	For next class, I plan to make activities in which they can work in pairs. Also I plan to find a way to explain grammar in the easiest way as possible in order to give them the information needed to speak. I do not have to overwhelm Ss with too much information and also it is necessary to give examples and how to use every rule or step to use the tense that is been taught.

MY THIRD ENTRY

DESCRIBE
Well in this last practice, I began always with a warm up because I feel that it provides confidence to the students; they relax, and forget about the pressure of a class. This class was about putting into practice the prepositions of time they had studied previously. This class was all about speaking, so I tried to make them participate. One of the activities I developed was “looking for the right preposition.” Each S had one piece of paper with a time word written. Then each S had to look for the correct preposition to write that word in a sentence. I noticed that they liked it because they had to think, share opinions and move around the classroom; moreover, it helped me know how much they managed the topic. So I could see that most of them managed at least the basic information. There were developed more activities in which Ss knew and practice the correct way of the prepositions of time. Although I felt a little disadvantage with this topic since Ss had to use not only the verb to be to form sentences, but also other tenses that they hadn´t studied yet.
ANALYZE		PLAN ACTION
INTERPRET	GENERALIZE
Since Ss had to use not only the verb to be, but also other tenses, it was difficult to find a way in which Ss could make sentences with prepositions of time. So it was really important to provide support and be next to the Ss to help them when necessary. Monitoring is an important aspect because in this way you can see the troubles of your Ss. So besides giving instructions, it is good giving a hand.	Based on this class, I realized that giving an example for what you want them to do is really important because in this way the Ss have a hint or a guide to what they were asked to do. Also it is a model in which they can find support and follow the example in any case they have a doubt. So it is good to try to give an example in each activity.	Next class, I will try to make them work in pairs before speaking in front of a class because I noticed that they feel more comfortable if they discuss their answers before with someone else; it makes them feel more confidence because they can correct mistakes or be sure about their answers. Speaking activities makes them feel afraid; let´s try ways in which you can minimize that fear.

MY SECOND ENTRY

DESCRIBE
In my second teaching experience, I felt more comfortable because I already knew my students and I knew what to expect from them. At the beginning, I did a warm up where they had to put into practice the simple present but since it was a board game it included things that they hadn´t studied yet. Fortunately, they were willing to investigate and ask me the meaning of it. Then it was just about practice. They completed conversations using the simple present and then they past to the front to role play the conversations. After each role play we corrected mistakes in order to remember what they had studied during the last classes. I noticed that all of them were excited to past to the front, which is weird since not all the  persons are wiling to do it, but fortunately no one said :NO and participated in this activity. Then I tried to make them move for them not to be bored and stretch up a little bit. They were laughing and trying to do what was asked. I really feel comfortable when students get involved and respond to my orders.
(ANALYZE)		PLAN ACTION _______________________ Next class, I will try to CCQ my students using yes-no questions. I do not have to expect them to explain each step I´ve said because they are beginners. I must ask simple-short questions, like: Are we going to stand up? So the Ss will answer YES or NO according to the instructions you gave them. This will be helpful for me to know if they got my instructions. Also I plan to talk less and leave them to talk more. I should be just a support when doing speaking activities if that is your main objective for the class, Make them speak.
INTERPRET	GENERALIZE
This day, it was about practice “speaking” what I think is the most difficult step for a teacher because students are afraid of making mistakes. So it is important to look for activities where students feel comfortable with speaking activities. It is a challenge to make them speak. Nevertheless it is good when they rise their hand to participate voluntarily so you as teacher has to observe what activities are more appropriate for them taking into account their level.	Any time when you make an activity, it is important to give clear instructions because if you do not do that it can become a chaos that is why I realized that using three verbs at the time is really useful. Students get confused when you tell them everything they had do, so try to explain each step doing them with actions. I mean do what you expect them to do. In this way they will understand better the instructions. With beginners, you should use easy verbs.

MY FIRST TEACHING PRACTICE

DESCRIBE
In my first teaching experience, I could realize that they were willing to learn English. They were paying attention and participating in class. Even though they felt afraid of making mistakes and they had a new teacher, students worked hard and tried to be involved in every activity. At the beginning, I did a warm up activity in which they had to fish but at the same time they were practicing what they had studied previously with the teacher. I could notice that some of them managed really well the topic, but for some of them, it was hard to answer some questions; so the warm up activity helped to know my students. During the class, I did some activities to help them understand better the topic. The topic was “the simple present”; so I used some flashcards and visual materials to make it easier. Fortunately, the students responded really well to the activities. Fortunately, students were really excited in all the activities that I think it helps when learning something new in your life.
(ANALYZE)		PLAN ACTION Next class, I am trying to give instructions clearly for them to understand and do thing quickly. And also I´ll try to encourage them with more energy. Maybe smiling or a loud voice can help them to get motivated to do something you have asked. Besides that, I am trying to make some activities in which students can help each other because since they are beginners, they need extra help to do something, and also will feel more comfortable to do it. So next time, pair or group work will be one of my tasks.
INTERPRET	GENERALIZE
With beginners, it is kind of hard to teach grammar since the teacher has to know how many words or concepts he is going to teach. I think it is important to measure it because you can´t overwhelm students with too much information. If you do that, they will get lost or confused at some point; so for me, it was a challenge to limit the information and to know when they had gotten it well.	Based on my practice, I know that monitoring is so important because in this way you help to the students. If you leave them alone doing exercises you do not know if they are doing well or if they are even doing the activity. Monitoring not only encourage students to do something but also support them. They feel comfortable because they know you are there to help them all the time. Being a teacher centered is good but only for a few seconds, maybe when explaining a topics or giving specific instructions.