Don't stop 'till get enough!!

It’s over, it’s absolutely done…Last day…Ready, Steady, GO!!

Dish of the day: summarizing test + personal opinion ‘bout the “Yes, we can unit” and the nouvelle teacher
Dessert: Fill the blanks and sing the song (Michael Jackson “Black or white”)
Surprise: a fantastic video (you’ve got it down here)
Extra surprise: prize-giving

What a final day!! And finally, I’ve improved my “gestió del temps” better now than never… Everything has been perfect. It’s true!! Or at least this is my feeling. Their eyes looking at everything, their smiles…they were extremely happy!! And I felt better because at this moment I understood they’ve enjoyed my UNIT. I’m sure they’ll miss me and my games. I don’t want to stop it!! It’s wonderful how I’ve realised I love being an English teacher…

Princess Mononoke: war, peace and respect

I’m ending my practicum…and I’m learning a lot…Now I can say I’m delighted with this experience…Today I’ve prepared an audiovisual activity using a piece of Mononoke Princess film and it has been great. First I started with a little explanation ‘bout what we were going to see and a little bit of Japanese culture to understand the allegories. It’s about love, war, peace and respect and I find it’s a good film to make children understand that the real world is not a sweet candy and that it’s important to learn how to coexist with other cultures.

I really recommend you this film but I have to warn you…select the scenes because there is a lot of blood. Well instead of this film you can use another Gibbling Studio’s movie. Here you've got the trailer:

At the end of the activity I was surprised because one of my students told me that he considered the piece I've played wasn't the appropriate to summarize the movie’s message…the fact is that he isn’t a very good student but…wow!! It was great to see how he was trying to argue his opinion.

At the end we’ve played an “I agree, I disagree or neutral” game (guided opinion) to complete the lesson with a communicative activity. They were trying to explain their opinions and why they agreed or not with the affirmations I’ve prepared ‘bout the film.

1st principle....I'm Scarlett O' Hara!!

Ok. Let’s start another day. Last night I read the Scarlett O’hara principle is the first of the “Eleven principles of coping in large multilevel classes” (Natalie Hess “How to teach large multilevel classes”) and it says:

“…It is well to note that our work in large multilevel classes will never be easy. And there will always be days when we feel frustrated. This is par of the course. Nevertheless, there will always be many more good than bad days (…) ‘I will think about it tomorrow’, she said. This philosophy may prove helpful in dealing with the frustrations that accompany teaching large multilevel classes…”

A Victoria’s piece of advice…it really works…yesterday was a bad day but not today because I remembered ‘bout the computer and all the resources we’ve got in the classroom.

I’ve started with funny videos to discuss why it is important to learn English. I’ve used a Pink Panther fragment, what are you “sinking” about? The fish dog and the “I wanna…” you know the song…but they’re so cute because they didn’t know what the meaning was!! Of course I didn’t explain anything and we’ve started a new activity to complete students’ syllabus ‘bout sports and American sportsmen / sportswomen. They love my star questions!! I’m very happy because they’re participating a lot and this is rewarding.

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HORRIBLE DAY!!! AWFUL AND MANY BAD WORDS….Now that I’m writing this I remember the CAP lesson where we’ve practised ‘bout improvisation…I had everything ready: my pen drive, my photocopies ‘bout the activity, beautiful power point presentations…and there was no computer in my classroom!! What a disaster…Do you want to know how I felt? STUPID!! Because I’ve been working in this classroom for 2 months and today I forgot we haven’t got a computer!! Come ooonn!!! Victoria was trying to help me bringing a projector to the room but we were losing a lot of time so I started to correct the workbook and different activities in the student’s to implement a normal lesson…I was very ashamed…(very, very, very, very)

So I’ve decide to post a nice picture and a funny video to have something beautiful today in my blog …

Communication...I've got the power!!

Victoria says that my project is too ambitious with very difficult activities to implement as a nouvelle teacher…she’s right but she told me that she trust me because of my other participations and my productivity….wow!! I’m blushing now that I’m writing this…

Well, let’s explain about my first day as a complete teacher with the whole class and I’m not trembling anymore! I’m proud of what I’m creating…AH!! Yesterday I forgot to explain that I’ve devised a personal assessment card system. One pink card for everyone with their names and with every didactic unit lessons dates. If they participate and behave properly they get stars and stickers. The one with more stars at the end of my unit gets a prize and a certificate. If you want to use this kind of materials look at http://edhelper.com/teachers/rewards.htm it’s a good place to find rewards, certificates…and tips!! Victoria recommended me this site because she uses this diplomas too.

But let’s move back to my first day… definitively I have serious problems to manage the time I’ve got in class but my teacher’s helpers are absolutely fantastic!! It was like a secret mission…I gave them different cards with information to complete my presentation so they explain the rest of the class what we had done the day before. A complete success…but a complete hour too…I’m not really worried about of the time if I reach my objectives. One power point but the whole class was participating to get “stars” and trying to remember state’s information to answer different “star questions”. My first communicative hour!!!

Happy teacher, happy pupils

First of all: Sorry. I haven’t wrote a lot in my blog but it’s very stressful to keep everything in order…CAP, Didactic Unit, Blog, College…I’m combining all this with my last Journalism year….I’M STRESSED!!!!! AND I WANT TO SHOUT!!!! CAN YOU HEAR MEEEEEEEE!!!!

Ok, let’s start again…today I’ve started my didactic unit and finally it’s about respect and other cultures so I’ve used Obama’s YES, WE CAN. I’ve adapted this motto to the English class “Yes, we can do everything we want respecting each other” “Yes, we can learn English and everything we want to approach ourselves to other cultures being respectful. I’ve started with an activity to learn more about USA and Americans using a power point presentation explaining different states features. I’ve started in a B hour but I’m going to use it as a benefit because tomorrow the ones who were with me today are going to be “teacher’s helpers” so nobody is going to miss a class!! But…do you want to know the bad thing?? Okay…I’ve done lots (when I say lots means lots, lots, lots) of materials and activities…I’ve been using “How to teach English” ideas and “How to teach large multilevel classes” and I became with great lessons!! But you know what? I’ve used just my first power point!!! AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! I used to think that an hour is longer than it is!!

Once for all I say that my class is the best one!! Well, the other classes are great too and I have a lot of fun with everyone but mine are special…and so cute!! I know I cannot mention anybody but I want everybody to know that I’m happy with my location and with my situation. At first I was worried because of the displacement and not being in Barcelona but now I realise this is the best choice. Oriol, my CAP teacher, assigned me this school and I felt very unfortunate but it was my fault because I missed the first CAP lesson when he asked the rest for their preferences…the same happened to my CAP partner but this is superb!! I think I’m starting to be fond of my pupils and I know them a little bit more every day.

I’ve learnt that the climate helps a lot I you want a successful lesson. Oriol says that if you get involved students are involved too so I’ve implement this and my enthusiasm was transmitted to my pupils as Oriol said…happy teacher, happy pupils…

The Frequency Adverbs Magic Box

Wow!!! I’m an exultant woman!! I’m very happy because I’m creating lots of materials. I’ve been taking some pictures to show you how I’m learning to work. I’ve invented a very funny game to learn how to use the frequency adverbs: The Frequency Adverbs Magic Box (if you don’t have a magic box don’t worry it works with a magic bag too).

MATERIALS:

1. red cards (SIZE A)


2. blue cards (SIZE B: different from SIZE A)


3. your pupils names written in different cards (you can use the ones you’ve created to know them)


4. a magic box (just a box)

The next step is to write on the red cards different frequency adverbs (one for every card) and to write on the blue ones assorted funny actions like “cry as a baby” or “smell my classmates”. You put everything into the magic box and mix the cards. Now you’re ready to start the game!! You choose one student and make her or him pick 3 different cards (different colours, different sizes) and with this she or he has to construct a complete sentence involving one of her/his companions. Then the rest of the class writes down the diverse funny constructions (Victoria's suggestion).

ENJOY MY GAME AND MY PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!