SELECTION OF 10 MOMENTS

Selection of 10 Moments

1.     Korean Class ( Korean Phrases) 

During this class I remember that Roger taught us 6 Korean phrases . I really liked this class for all the scaffolding it included. Even though  I had no knowledge whatsoever regarding Korean, I was very interested in learning as much as possible from him. What triggered my learning was the amount of classroom activities one can have in 50 minutes. Based on that, I learned how to scaffold all those activities and make the connections I need to do in order to have my students really comprehend the target language and learn to use it.  

2.     Connect before you Direct

This was a very interesting phrase I learned in the workshop. Remember: “Connect before you Direct”, meaning one must get to know their own learners so as an ESL teacher we can understand who they are and how to actually find a connection to convey what is being taught. This phrase reminded me of how important is it to truly know what our students do and why they are studying English. Once we know their background, we can easily find new ways of matching the class with meaningful context for them.

3.     Speaking Awareness (River Talking)

This experience was really cool because of the way it was delivered.  Walking around talking to myself in my target language made me realize what I wanted to do throughout this course. Now the second step was more challenging.  We had to talk to ourselves for 30 seconds but using another language, in this case it was Japanese. I don’t know how to keep a conversation flowing, just a few phrases. I used those phrases and somehow tried to use them to communicate to myself. In the end of this activity, I learned to be much more aware in terms of Speaking and how students might feel.

4.     Tips for Effective Instructions (Keep it simple, Model your instructions, use specific verbs)

When it comes to giving instructions, one must be as simple as possible, but at the same time very effective. I remember this moment in the CCQ workshop we had, in which we had to write instructions and the CCQs we were going to use.  Based on what we taught, I wrote my instructions and CCQs. It really made me realize how important it is to keep simple, focused in terms of instructions by chunking down the words and the fact of making sure students have comprehended what they must do before the assignment. It might look hard but the more you practice it, the better you become in it and it becomes a habit in your everyday teaching. Just remember to model your instructions as well.

5.     Puzzles & Celebrations

I would say this was also a great experience for my career as a teacher. Within 2-5 years, I would like to become a certified Teacher Trainer. I have acknowledged that knowing how to give feedback to my fellow teachers is essential. The use of certain words are substituted here for others, such as: mistakes or errors are changed here for Puzzles and good things that have happened to us during our class are called Celebrations. The prompts I have learnt here will not only be useful for me in my professional life but also in my personal life. Getting my observations across to the other person is not always easy, it requires much practice and one must select wisely the words to use to inform the other person on what has happened in their class.

6.     Use SMARTA 

SMARTA is an acronym I had heard about of many years ago, but did not remember it.  It all refers to creating the most appropriate objective ever for your lessons. This acronym makes me wonder how my students are going to achieve my objective. It is a matter of having a vision on how the class will be performed by my behalf and how my students will react to each activity. Once you do this, you can have a better idea on how to create your objectives and make it possible for students to comprehend it just as long as you follow these steps:

·        Specific

·        Measurable

·        Achievable

·        Relevant

·        Time-bound

·        Adjustable

7.     Using SARS

Many time we get assign special courses or subjects to teach at work, and as it turns out, the book your coordinator/supervisor gives you in outdated or even worse, they are no books to use. Under these circumstances, we must know how to prepare our classes. It does not matter if you only have a page to teach, all we must to do is the following.

First, you must SELECT  the content you will be teaching according to your students. Second of all, ADAPT it so students can make it more meaningful for them. Then, REJECT  part of the content that you consider will not be suitable for your learners. Next, SUPPLEMENT the whole content by adding a special touch from your behalf or just spice things up to make it a lot more meaningful for students. This an important element that for sure will be used by me in my class.

8.     Community Builder (Writing on the back)

This was a great moment for me. Why you ask? Well, it is very important to once in while get a pat in the back for all your hard work inside the classroom. During this community builder, we had to write adjectives to describe our peers based on his personality.  Most of the words that I got written on the paper reflected on how I am and how I teach in my classes. How I use my personality to connect with my students and finally convey the content to be taught.

9.      Time to learn to unlearn to relearn 

Throughout time, as teachers, we learn many things, but eventually, some of us fall into a monotonous routine in which our teaching becomes dull and predictable as well. I have personally seen people complain how they don’t want to go to new workshops or trainings, since they assume they already know all they need to know.  After seeing this, I realized in a workshop with Amanda in week #2 the importance of unlearning what we know, in order to relearn techniques or strategies. This has definitely changed my ways of teaching by being more open-minded to new ideas as well as challenging myself to become a better ESL teacher each day. Overall because since I want to become a Certified Teacher Trainer, I must commit to myself to study harder, focus on being more reflective on what happens how to serve my learners and being compassionate in my class with my students.

10.                        Agents of Change 

This moment was very magical because I was surrounded by all of my peers expressing our feelings and how important this whole experience at the SIT TESOL Certificate Course in Costa Rica was. It was in the activity called “Revisiting our Self-letter”. We shared many opinions and the connection we have gotten among ourselves. Having candles with flowers in a circle made it really unique. We all got very emotional, some of us shed tears. After the ceremony was done and we had already read our own letters from the beginning of the course, we were all talking about the impact we want to give in our own countries. Amanda mentioned something I will never ever forget: “You guys are Agents of Change”.  It made me realize in numerous ways that I can serve my community and students to make a change. Keep in mind that this has been a real blessing, and that every single thing I have learnt I will apply it to my TOEFL Training Course project I had started in El Salvador before I came to Costa Rica. Why you may ask? Well, because I am an AGENT OF CHANGE!!! THANK YOU GUYS!!!!!