Natalie Giulianelli » 2007 » November

Firstly let me apologise for my last entry…for some reason the whole lesson plan didnt attach to the blog?!?!?!  Not sure why?? 

 Anyway….last week i had my second teaching practice….i was teaching the meaning of ‘might’ and ‘will’.  I had planned my lesson and was confident with what iw as teaching but i was not prepared for the blank faces staring back at me when i introducted the above modal verbs!!!!! Disaster…. i felt completely lost, i had to keep looking at my lesson plan for inspiration as the students just didnt understand what i was trying to teach!!!  I felt completely exhausted but at least i managed to complete the lesson!!!!  I haven’t had my evaluation for this lesson yet so i will let you know if i passed or not?!?!?!  Good news though…..i passed my unknown language journal!!!! hurraaaahhhh!!!

Well thats all the news….i don’t teach agin until January so thats great!  Please subscribe to this blog if you like it and leave me any comments you wish!!

Sorry i haven’t written for a while but i have been extremely busy with all the paperwork for the course!!

The first teaching practice on ‘appearances’ went really well!! I really enjoyed myself and i certainly felt in control of the lesson and the class.  The students participated willingly and were great!!  Not as scary as i thought it was going to be.  I tried to use some visual aids that would en

courage conversation.  My timings of the lesson were pretty accurate and the tutor was pleased with this.  Overall i felt i had taught the lesson objectives and that the students were able to use this learning in the future.  I have attached my lesson plan for you to look at so you have an idea of what i was teaching.

y feedback from my tutor was “Excellent lesson plan with accurate timings.  Well-prepared resources - good adaptations of standard material.  Good facial expressions and voice projection.  Students received positive reinforcement throughout and clearly felt relaxed and keen to participate.  Consider contingency and differentiated tasks.  Check size of materials/volume controls to ensure all students can see/hear.”

 I was extremely pleased with this feedback.

Next week the topic is ‘Learning For The Future’.  I might attempt to teach some grammar?!?!?  I will let you know.�

I have left this post a bit late as i have been so busy.  Last Monday was the final lesson of Mandarin, we had a little test at the beginning and i was quite surprised that i got 8/12!!! Not bad!!!

 We spent the second half of the lesson looking at phonology, we are continuing with this tonight.

 Last week was my first time teaching!!! I had to do a mini teaching task which was about ’special occasions’  I felt comfortable and i quite enjoyed the lesson but on reflection i can see that i didn’t explain clearly enough 1 of the tasks…never mind….at least i am aware of my faults!! 

Tonight we have to hand in our journal on Mandarin….i had written many of the notes in rough so it took me all day to type them up and complete the 500 word conclusion!!! I should have been more prepared and completed each section as i went along.

Tonight i will meet with my tutor to discuss my 1 hour teaching activity this week.  This time the module is ‘Appearances’  i am going to try and make some visual aids and some games to go with the task as i fid it a bit boring just reading from handouts and writing on the whiteboard……1 hour seems such a long time but i am sure it will fly by.

 Anyway i had better go as i need so type up some information before tonights input lesson……i must be better prepared and organise my time more effectively.

I will let you know if and when i pass my Unknown Language Journal and how the teaching goes!!  Wish me luck!

So today was the 3rd Mandarin lesson and we ‘learnt’ alot more.  We returned to the fruit and vegetables and used these words in full sentences…..very difficult.  Whilst taking part in the lesson and trying to pick up the new words i had to think about what was being taught as the homeowrk for this lesson is to write the lesson plan!!!! i managed to write lots of notes but i have not written up the lesson plan yet!!

After the Mandarin lesson we didn’t even manage to have a 2 minute break and we went straight into a lesson on ESOL literature and the core curriculum and teaching materials.

 Next week i start my teaching practice with a 10 minute exercise!!!! very nervous about this. I will find out on Monday what i will be teaching and then i will have until Wednesday afternoon to think of something!  I will let you know how i get on next week.

 Any comments or questions please feel free to make them.

Zaijian