ASSIGNMENT 4: LESSONS FROM THE CLASSROOM
LESSONS FROM THE CLASSROOM
There is no need to write more than 1 sentence introduction.
Part A
STRENGTH #1 (paragraph 1)
1. Identify the strength.
2. Give a specific example (one or more) of a time when you used this, in the light of
feedback from learners, groupmates and trainers, and say how it benefited the
lesson.
STRENGTH #2 (paragraph 2)
Repeat the same as in Strength #1
Part B
AREA TO WORK ON #1 (paragraph 3)
1. Identify the area to work on
2. Give a specific example (one or more) of a time when you had this difficulty, in the
light of feedback from learners, groupmates and trainers, and say how it hindered the
lesson.
3. Give a specific example of a time when you saw a teacher (colleague, experienced
teacher, tutor, video observation) do it well.
4. Say what you will do to improve this in the future. Mention specific actions (not just
“investing more thought”): e.g. observing other teachers with the obs. task focusing
on your weak point, asking other teachers to observe you, getting feedback from the
learners, scripting CCQs/instructions/whatever in your procedure, recording yourself,
reading a specific chapter of a specific book on the topic, signing up for a specific
course, etc.
AREA TO WORK ON #2 (paragraph 4)
Repeat the same as in Area to work on #1
Part C
IDEA FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT #1 (paragraph 5)
1. Select and describe area of interest for you, something that you are curious about:
grammar, phonology, teaching YLs, etc.
2. Explain how you are going to get better at this this selected area. Include
professional development opportunities (subscribing to a journal (specify which one),
completing an online course (specify), attending a conference (mention which one)).
3. Specify how it will enable you to develop into a better teacher.
IDEA FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT #2 (paragraph 6)
Repeat the same as in Idea for future development #1
IDEA FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT #3 (paragraph 7)
Repeat the same as in Idea for future development #1
CCQ: How many paragraphs are you supposed to have in this assignment?
State word count at the end of the assignment.
, 750 - 1000 words (maximum)
LESSONS FROM THE CLASSROOM
“Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value.
Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures,
and enable mankind to benefit there from.”
Baha'u'llah
i.e., the teacher helps students to get their talents from inside out. The bright
example is that our tutors didn’t give us advice on a plate, they were mostly student
centred. During this thoroughly considered course, even though I have had plenty of
teaching practice, I found myself a student rather than a teacher. As another proverb
says, ‘When the student is ready, the teacher appears, the teacher, who is focused
on the learner, constantly assessing when the learner is ready, either lighting or
easing the way, but the learner has to walk the path. That reflects my life during the
course.
After three weeks I have become much more valuable teacher comparing
with what I used to be. I can find my own progress & progress of other trainees,
which came here with different backgrounds and everyone benefited from the course.
Every teaching practice increased our knowledge of our strengths and areas to work
on.
Among my strengths my tutors and trainees mentioned very nice manner of
working with students and good rapport. I used that before, during and after the
lesson, talking about neutral topic and joking with them. It really has helped me,
especially when I was not aware of some item during the lesson, I used our common
jokes (what made all laugh) and it helped to cover my gap.
Yet another essential strength is to identify appropriate aims, which were
always achieved. That strength truly helped me to plan my lessons and see what
stages might be deviated if I have a lack of time.
There are also areas I must work on. Firstly, anticipating potential problems
with language, materials & learners. The main reason why this area has not been
achievable yet is a lack of experience. Learners were asking me some simple
questions that I wasn’t ready to answer. Other well-experienced peers coped well
with that during my observation and I’ve learned something from them as well as
from our tutors. To overcome this weakness, I need to:
Take notes of all possible anticipated problems during teaching
practices (my & my groupmates);
read Chapter 3 “Classroom management” from ‘Learning teaching” by
Jim Scrivener and Chapter 3 “Managing the classroom” from “How to
teach English” by Jeremy Harmer
observe experienced teachers and analyse how they face with some
unexpected problems
LESSONS FROM THE CLASSROOM
There is no need to write more than 1 sentence introduction.
Part A
STRENGTH #1 (paragraph 1)
1. Identify the strength.
2. Give a specific example (one or more) of a time when you used this, in the light of
feedback from learners, groupmates and trainers, and say how it benefited the
lesson.
STRENGTH #2 (paragraph 2)
Repeat the same as in Strength #1
Part B
AREA TO WORK ON #1 (paragraph 3)
1. Identify the area to work on
2. Give a specific example (one or more) of a time when you had this difficulty, in the
light of feedback from learners, groupmates and trainers, and say how it hindered the
lesson.
3. Give a specific example of a time when you saw a teacher (colleague, experienced
teacher, tutor, video observation) do it well.
4. Say what you will do to improve this in the future. Mention specific actions (not just
“investing more thought”): e.g. observing other teachers with the obs. task focusing
on your weak point, asking other teachers to observe you, getting feedback from the
learners, scripting CCQs/instructions/whatever in your procedure, recording yourself,
reading a specific chapter of a specific book on the topic, signing up for a specific
course, etc.
AREA TO WORK ON #2 (paragraph 4)
Repeat the same as in Area to work on #1
Part C
IDEA FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT #1 (paragraph 5)
1. Select and describe area of interest for you, something that you are curious about:
grammar, phonology, teaching YLs, etc.
2. Explain how you are going to get better at this this selected area. Include
professional development opportunities (subscribing to a journal (specify which one),
completing an online course (specify), attending a conference (mention which one)).
3. Specify how it will enable you to develop into a better teacher.
IDEA FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT #2 (paragraph 6)
Repeat the same as in Idea for future development #1
IDEA FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT #3 (paragraph 7)
Repeat the same as in Idea for future development #1
CCQ: How many paragraphs are you supposed to have in this assignment?
State word count at the end of the assignment.
, 750 - 1000 words (maximum)
LESSONS FROM THE CLASSROOM
“Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value.
Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures,
and enable mankind to benefit there from.”
Baha'u'llah
i.e., the teacher helps students to get their talents from inside out. The bright
example is that our tutors didn’t give us advice on a plate, they were mostly student
centred. During this thoroughly considered course, even though I have had plenty of
teaching practice, I found myself a student rather than a teacher. As another proverb
says, ‘When the student is ready, the teacher appears, the teacher, who is focused
on the learner, constantly assessing when the learner is ready, either lighting or
easing the way, but the learner has to walk the path. That reflects my life during the
course.
After three weeks I have become much more valuable teacher comparing
with what I used to be. I can find my own progress & progress of other trainees,
which came here with different backgrounds and everyone benefited from the course.
Every teaching practice increased our knowledge of our strengths and areas to work
on.
Among my strengths my tutors and trainees mentioned very nice manner of
working with students and good rapport. I used that before, during and after the
lesson, talking about neutral topic and joking with them. It really has helped me,
especially when I was not aware of some item during the lesson, I used our common
jokes (what made all laugh) and it helped to cover my gap.
Yet another essential strength is to identify appropriate aims, which were
always achieved. That strength truly helped me to plan my lessons and see what
stages might be deviated if I have a lack of time.
There are also areas I must work on. Firstly, anticipating potential problems
with language, materials & learners. The main reason why this area has not been
achievable yet is a lack of experience. Learners were asking me some simple
questions that I wasn’t ready to answer. Other well-experienced peers coped well
with that during my observation and I’ve learned something from them as well as
from our tutors. To overcome this weakness, I need to:
Take notes of all possible anticipated problems during teaching
practices (my & my groupmates);
read Chapter 3 “Classroom management” from ‘Learning teaching” by
Jim Scrivener and Chapter 3 “Managing the classroom” from “How to
teach English” by Jeremy Harmer
observe experienced teachers and analyse how they face with some
unexpected problems
