TEFL Randolph New Mexico

I especially enjoyed the part of the methods and techniques that can be applied when teaching english. The ESA is a good method, since it motivates the students, exposes them to the language and gives them the opportunity to use the language. The ESA method gives the teacher a great deal of flexibility in the classroom, especially for new teachers like me. I also enjoyed the ideas that were given for the different phases (engage, study and activate) as well as the part on correcting. What should the teacher correct? It is really true that it is difficult for teachers to know exactly what type of mistakes to correct. Therefore, the three occasions mentioned in unit 3 on “when it is relevant to correct” is what I will use in the future. The lesson plan is also a good guidance for a new teacher, and it was good that many lesson plans had to be developed during the course. I have to say that in the beginning I did not like them at all, but the more I had to use them, the more I was able to see the importance of having a lesson plan before you start your class, and I can now say that I enjoyed doing them. I will apply the basic principles of lesson planning, i.e .to keep it simple, not to script the lesson, to structure it and maintain the same structure, to write the anticipated time for each activity in the margin. I want to check for balance of skills, to make sure that the activities fit together to give the lesson a smooth flow. Keep it flexible and open to adaption. The course has helped me to see how important it is to understand the needs of the students and how important it is to be prepared and organized in order to be a good teacher, one that makes the learning of a language an enjoyable occasion. The DVD brought home the difference between a good teacher and a teacher without motivation, organization, preparation, and with no relationship with his students. I definitely don´t want to be like the teacher on the DVD (the first part). It is also important to know how to explain the language. The study phase can be challenging if we are not prepared. However, the many ideas and examples given for the study phase have taught me how to make the study phase as understandable as possible. When it comes to reading, listening, speaking and writing, it was good to be reminded that when two or more people are communicating with each other, we can be sure that they are doing it for one the following reasons: They have some communicative purpose, they want to say something, they want to listen to something and they are interested in what is being said. Therefore, if I want to introduce a communicative activity to the students, I have to create the need and desire in the students to communicate. I will apply the techniques mentioned in the unit. The unit about classroom management was also very important to me. Our body language conveys lots of information about ourselves and it is therefore important to know how to use gestures, the right tone of voice, proper eye contact, etc. The teacher´s position is something which students are often sensitive to since this can tell them: what kind of activity it is, what the teacher´s role will be and what the students are expected to do. I feel that all the units have played an important role in this course and you could not single out just one. I will apply the ESA approach in all my classes. I will also apply all the good suggestions regarding classroom arrangement, how to give individual attention, how to be balanced when it comes to talking time. There must be a balance between TTT and STT. How to give effective instructions, like using simple language, being consistent, using visual clues, checking the instructions, establishing rapport, maintaining discipline ,etc. When it comes to vocabulary the course has helped me to see that it is important to be selective when it comes to the words to teach. Therefore I will apply the suggested criteria: Is it appropriate to the needs of the students, is it appropriate to the task, how often are the students likely to use or come across the language and can it be applied to different situations, etc. A teacher has to evaluate students and I will follow the 3 ways of doing it: Tutorial, evaluation by the students and tests. Unit 19 was for me one of the highlights because it introduced me to the teaching part that I want to specialize on, business english/ ESP. It has given me very good ideas especially the “Needs Analysis” that I will start to apply right away with respect to one future student. The planning program is also a very important part of this lesson. I like that part where it says that “you are not an expert in the client´s field of activity or business, but that you are an expert in the english language, and the teaching of it (regardless of any personal doubt you may have!). Be prepared to use your “ignorance” to advantage by getting the learners to rectify that by explaining their work, etc. in english for your edification. This is real communication”. ´ I`ll copy these words on my computer and will display them every time I will prepare a lesson. I`m looking forward to start the next course: business english.