MY EXPERIENCE TEACHING ENGLISH TO TEENAGERS.

Teaching Practicum with teenagers

MODULE 7

Teaching with teens was a wonderful experience that I will never forget. Now, that I achieved one of the hardest courses of my career, I can say that I was not easy but I did it. Working with adolescences was a new experience to me, although I already taught with some teenagers in my social hours, this experience was complete different because the teens in the Saturday programs are in the ages between 13 to 17, instead of my social hours where I just have 4 students in the ages from 11 to 13 and that is the reason why working with teens was different.

At the beginning of the course, we were taught different ways about teen’s behavior; how they react to others, the way how they create a relation with their classmates and students since, we know that this stage is difficult for them, but this theory needs to be put into practice and to realize how teenagers are in their environment, is necessary to go and get experience with them.

To be honest, the first Saturday was terrible for me, I was so nervous because I had never taught English to real teenagers. The first day, I could realize that module 7 was a wonderful group, they were 20 students and each of them was special for me, they were funny and obedient at the same time. I thought that the first impression that they showed me, was the way how they fit with me. During the 5 Saturdays with module 7, I felt appreciated by them; they always treated me with respect and love and I shared the same to them. However, the behavior that these students showed me, was completely different with the other group. After 5 weeks working with module 7, my tutor Luis Amaya and I, were changed to module 11. This group was integrated by 12 students, to be more specific 4 girls and 8 boys between the ages from 14 to 17, as you can see they were in advance level.

At the beginning I was worried and nervous because I thought that they were going to be serious or shy but they were so special, I really do not know if it was because most of the students were boys or because they were older than the other group, but they always created a big smile in my face because they always had something that made me smile, I think that with both groups I passed the best time. I can say that every student has a piece of my heart because I really appreciate them.

I think that the characteristics that I studied before to start the practicum with teens were similars, but I believe that teens show you the behavior that you share with them; I mean, if you show them that you do not care them, they will reflect the same to you. For that reason, it is necessary to be kind and respectful with them, because in this stage, adolescences need too much respect and love, they need to know that someone cares them and teachers need to share these feelings to them, that is why I feel so happy to spend these wonderful Saturdays with my students and I am really sure that I will miss them a lot.

MODULE 11

Moreover, in each class teacher Luis gave me different participations with the class, some Saturdays I taught two or three stages of the planning and some other Saturdays I taught one hour of the whole class. The first Saturday I was in charged to play two games with students, these activities permitted me to break the ice with them. Then, the second Saturday teacher Luis asked me if I could develop an hour class, I was so excited and worried at the same time because it was going to be the first time that I was going to be evaluated by my mentor and students. At the end of the class, teacher Luis told me that it was a good class but it was necessary to improve some things. The third Saturday, I presented another one hour class. This time, it was necessary to teach some grammar to the students. Honestly, I was nervous because the topic was a little difficult to me but I could achieve it and teacher Luis gave me a better score. Besides, the fourth class, I was in charged to develop a warm-up, an encounter and a clarify stage. This Saturday I felt more confident at the moment to teach because I knew so well the activities that I had to develop. I finished the stages and at the end of the class, teacher Luis told me that he was proud of me because I had developed the activities very well. The last Saturday with module 7 I was asked to develop an hour class, this time I put all my effort to make the class interesting, I taught each activity and at the end of the class, I could see my result; the student’s behavior was very nice and I could realize that they put into practice what they had learnt. When the class finished, teacher Luis congratulated me because of the effort and the result that I had. The following Saturday we did not have classes because it was a change in the modules, so the October 15^th, teacher Luis and I started with the new module; module 11 was complete different to the other because this level is develop by the listening skill. So, that Saturday I was just in charged to develop with the new students two wrap-ups; to be honest I was so worried because I did not know if the students would like to participate, but at the moment to play the games I was surprised because students enjoyed to play and have some competences among them. So at the end of the class, teacher Luis told me that was impressed because of the games that I had developed. In October 22^nd, I developed my first listening class, I was a little bit insure because I did not know if I would be able to develop the whole class in one hour. When I finished, I felt proud of myself because I could teach without any inconvenient. The Saturday 29^th was my last day to teach, for that reason, I put all my effort and I presented an hour class, I developed different activities where all students could participate and enjoy the class. This class was developed in the last hour of the classs and I felt happy because I could manage the time, and I developed each stage without any problem. At the end, teacher Luis gave me the feedback and he congratulated me because I had achieved all that I had proposed.

At the end of this practicum, I can say that I learned too much from my students and especially with my tutor, he always was helping me out to improve in each class, he supported me to build a better teacher, giving me his knowledge and help. I can honestly say that Teacher Luis is a role model; he always was patient with me and all his words will help me to be a better teacher. I am sure that this experience will be a huge help in my future.

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE ASPECT ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCES

POSITIVE	NEGATIVE
- I learned how treat teenagers.	-It was a short experiences with teens
- I created a huge connection with each student.	-It was a little bit difficult to teach in the afternoon because of the weather.
- I learned too much from my tutor.	- I did not like that the students used their cellphones in the class.
-The environment in each group was nice.	-I spent little time with the second group.
- I felt comfortable with both groups.	-It was dangerous to go out of the university at 5:40 pm

CLASS OBSERVATION N°8

CLASS OBSERVATIONN°8

Saturday, October 29^th 2016
This saturday was the last day giving classes, so I put all my effort in order to make the activities very well.

Activity 1: Warm-up

After my participation, T continued with the same unit in the second part. T asked Ss to stand up and T played the game “Soccer with hands”. Ss had to open their legs and go down in order to hit a ball only with their hands. If a person lost the ball, they had to answer a question.

( Students were very exiting with this activity, they scream a lot and they really enjoyed the game).

Activity 2: Listening Part I

Besides, T started the class. T began with unit two, second part. Students had to work in the first part. Then, T asked Ssto answer the questions and share with the whole class.

(Students were relax and they helped T, sharing their answers).

Activity 3: Listening Part II

Besides, T asked Ss to choose two hours and talk with a partner the question “What did they yesterday in that time”?. Then, T played an audio in order to check the answers.

( Students were interested talking about the previous question. Moreover, at the end of the activity some Ss were asked to share their answers).

Activity 4: Listening Part III

Then, T asked Ss to stand up and play a new game. Ss had to say some telephone numbers and if they got a X they had to say something, but if they got a O they had to say a telephone number. Besides, T asked students to sit down and listen to the last audio. At the end, Ss were asked to share their answer with a partner and then with the whole class. (First, Ss were kind of confused because they did not know how the game was, but then, all Ss participated in the activity).

Activity 5: Speaking

At the end of the class, Ss were asked to stand and get in groups of 6. Ss had to disscuss in their groups a topic about computers in the schools, in order to create a debate. T gave them 5 minutes to share their ideas and discuss the topic. At the end, T asked Ss to create the debate. The Girl’s group was in favor of computers in the schools, and the boy’s group was the opposite. (I really like this activity, Ss were very excited giving their opinions about the topic, at the end they enjoyed it).