Introduction of my class diary of Practical Methodology.

           This portfolio has been created to write about class contents, my progressive learning and to share my opinion about every single class of "Practical Methodology" during this term.

NOTE: The date of the posts were modified to change the order of my class diary.

September 14th, 2015.

              Today we have had the first class, in which our teacher, my classmates and I have introduced ourselves in front of the rest class. Most of the students have been talking about their names, age and the place where they usually live. After that, we have been talking with a partner about the reasons why we want to be teacher. Then, each student have told the answer of his/her classmate to the rest of the class. 

In addition, the first class of "Practical Methodology" has been enjoyable, although I thought it would be a little shorter. Anyway, I hope we can keep the same good atmosphere in future classes.

Finally, I have learned some mistakes, for example: I´ve been TO... Also, I have speak in English in front of many people after some months without doing it.

September 15th, 2015

             First of all, in our first class with Jose Antonio everybody has introduced theirselves to the rest of the class. As in the first class with Maribel, most of the students have been talking about their names, age, hobbies and the place where they usually live. Then, in little groups (between two and three people) we have write in a piece of paper about positive and negative things in our experience in Primary school. At the end, the professor has shown us the main contents we are going to work in the next classes.

Moreover, this class with Jose Antonio has been quite light and amusing. However, I hope the professor can respect the schedule during this quarter, because if the clasess end later I may have some troubles to come back home.             

Regarding what I have learned in this class, I would highlight mistakes like the past of "teach", which is "taught" or the meaning of "spoiled". Also, I have been thinking about the necessity of reading books in English and linking words while I speak in English.

September 16th, 2015

               Today we have had the second class with Maribel. First, our teacher has introduced us the "E Guide", in which she has emphasized we are going to acquire many skills by doing practical activities, and methodology as a part of the "hidden curriculum". In the second part of the class, we have been talking in small groups about "How we felt the first time we experienced something new". Finally, we have used the same methodology to talk about "The first time we felt free!".

In addition, this class have been quite interesting because I have solved some doubts about the assesment of this subject. But, at the same time, I have gone on improving my speaking and expanding my vocabulary.

Summarizing, I have learned new and useful words, for example: long live learning, vocational training, get into, theme park,... Nevertheless, I have acquired some strategies to catch and maintain the children´s attention,for example, raising my right of left hand to be imitated by my students or using the song "Ini mini mani...." to choose a student.

September 17th, 2015

              Firstly, in our second class with Jose Antonio we have learned about two opposite methods used in English classes: the "Old Method" and the "Direct Method". After teaching each method, our professor has asked us to discuss in pairs about positive and negative things of both methods. Then, some students of each group has been sharing what they had found positive and negative in these two methods. Finally, we have watch two videos with real examples of the "Old Method" and the "Direct Method".

Moreover, in this class I´ve gone on improving my oral skills and I have acquired many vocabulary. Although it´s been a theorical class, it´s been quite dynamic and useful. Also, I´m glad I´ve been able to understand the whole class, but at the same time, I have discover new words and concepts.


Finally, I´ve learned new words and concepts.

                          WORDS                                                      CONCEPTS               

             Taylor, mastering, enable,                               Eclectic teacher, study by hearth, 

             wardrobe/cupboard, reflecting,                        target languaje//mother language, 

             boredom, settle.                                               deductive//inductive, approach,

                                                                                      grammar drills, spot correction.

September 21st, 2015

             Today Marybel has taught us how to use the forum and the chat in each unit. Besides, in pairs and small groups of three people, we have been discussing about the question “What do you think about the continuous changes in Spanish Law of Education?” Then, each group has chosen a speaker and most of classmates has talked about the necessity of a permanent law and the economic benefits related to the continuous changes of educational law. Consequently, we have been discussing about the question “Why does the government change the law without considering teacher´s opinion?”, and some students have talked about the equity and quality in our education system. Finally, Maribel has done a review of the “Preamble” in our Educational Law, and she has asked us to do a timeline with the main events that appear in it.

Therefore, the class has been quite dynamic and intense, because we have done different things. It´s been a hard day and I was quite exhausted at the end of the class, that´s why I´d prefer to do the writing part first, and after that, oral activities. Anyway, it´s been an useful class.

Finally, in this class I have learnt some vocabulary and expressions like “slash”, “Baccalaureate” or “It´s a pitty”.

September 22nd, 2015

             First of all, in today´s class our professor has taught us different methods: The Oral Approach and Situational Language Teaching, The Audiolingual Method, The Communicate Language Teaching, The Suggestopedia, The Silent Way, and The Content Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). In addition, we have learnt many examples of drills: repetition, inflection, replacement, restatement, completion, transposition, expansion, contraction, transformation, integration, rejoinder and restoration.

In my opinion, it´s been a complete class in which our professor have introduced us different methods in a clear and quite easy way. Besides, I´m glad we have had the chance to watch cool videos in which some teachers were practising these methods in real classes.

To sum up, it´s been a complete, clear and useful class, in which I have got new concepts and vocabulary:

                                 WORDS                                                     CONCEPTS         

                    Once, speed up, within,                                Drill, elicitation, PPP lesson,
                   straightforward and take out.                      behavioursit, suggestopedia and rod.