- What have you learned about lesson planning and micro-teaching?
- What have been some memorable moments about micro-teaching for you?
- What are you most proud of? How was your overall feeling?
- What experiences will you take back to Korea?
Post your thoughts here.
23 comments:
[Miseon Lee]
While making Lesson Plan, I felt like the first day of the teaching. After 20 years, actually I didn't concern about the format of teaching plan. I just think the practical lesson to my students. I really concern our students' level and understanding. Even though I make formal lesson plan, while teaching, it could be changed at times. So usually I didn't make full lesson plan like this. But, while I was making lesson plan here, I felt I really need to think about plan which is very important to convey our ideas to others effectively. For micro-teaching, I practiced lesson many times to deliver my lesson effectively and easily. That reminded me of my first day of teaching my students. While micro-teaching, I was so nervous in front of others and I worried about whether I could covey my grammar lesson effectively without mistakes or not. After finishing teaching, I felt so proud of me and I could have strong confidence to teach grammar in English. Before I came here, I started to teach my students in English. That was challenges to me. So I was so interested in teaching experiences through micro-teaching. While making lesson plans, practicing teaching, and conveying lesson, I learned about how to cooperate with my partner, considered many teaching methods and proper English to use effectively. Especially I tried to think about teaching methods in my students’ points of view.
Even though we had lots of teaching experiences, I think we have to learn efficient teaching ways all times. There is no time limitation to learn new things. In this respect, it was great time for me to have time to make the lesson plan, practice lesson, and teach lesson.
Everything seems almost finished whether I've been doing good or not and I have mixed feelings now. Most of all, I’m so grateful that I had such a wonderful opportunity to work with other Korean teachers and learn a number of things from teaching some lessons as well as from classes, other native teachers and students I’ve met here.
Five moths ago, I came here to improve our language skills and learn different cultures to some extent, then came to broaden our viewpoint in teaching and learning, and realize that I am still an English teacher who has responsibility for teaching students in Korea and try to do better in the field after all.
As for what I’ve learned here at Humber, first of all, learning how to make a lesson plan like this was new and interesting overall. Of course, we would write a lesson plan in English when we open our class to others, but that was a bit different from the one I’ve studied here. At the beginning, it seemed too much and I didn’t know how to start; however, as time went on and I did more, I could feel that I became more comfortable with doing this. Also, learning how to approach when I teach different skills (e.g: grammar, reading & vocab, listening and integrated skills) and to implement what I have in mind to teaching contexts was beneficial and precious. With the observation of EAP and SLP, I could see how the native teachers cover their classes. Moreover, through the micro-teaching, I couldn’t help but look up to our Korean teachers more about their passion, creativity and professionalism. As a person who is not creative at all, sharing ideas with other teachers was an awesome and I totally realize two or three heads are much better than me alone. On top of this, teaching in real classes like EAP as a practicum was the time that I could have reflected on my teaching style and a big challenge throughout the period. Yet, thanks to the encouragements from each teacher and a good participation of students in class, I could complete all the practicum.
Every time I feel exhausted from teaching students after going back, I would like to remember the time I have spent hours and hours preparing for the lessons and keep challenging myself. In addition, I’d like to share what I’ve learned so far with other teachers in school. This way, we can improve ourselves and learn more. I really would like to congratulate all of us on our efforts and works.
Over the past 10 years of my teaching career, hardly have I had any opportunities to take such an intensive teacher training course when it comes to making lesson plans and micro-teaching. Transferring from one school to another almost every other year, I gave a class demonstration only one time, several years ago, without resort to state-of-the-art technology. Even the thought of the fact that at least two periods of class demonstrations are expected (or required) by our school principal after I get back to school had been suffocating enough to gave me a headache before we moved to Humber.
However, it is a totally different story now; I no longer dread being a presenter of my own lessons. What I have learned from other competent teachers in micro-teaching sessions for the past weeks has gone well beyond what I have for a decade spent at school, which surpasses expectations. I admire their passion and all the efforts put into their outstanding presentations. They deserve my standing ovation. Their creativity captured my attention and their expertise in clever use of technology sparked my curiosity of how to do all the magics. ^^
I am now a serious student of some useful softwares including audio editing tools since I am myself an audio-oriented, sound-sensitive learner. Hopefully, my students in 10th and 11th grade will welcome that I did a 180; I used to be the one far from techno-savvy. I would rather call it an "improvement" in the way I bring technology into my classroom. Audiovisual materials, if carefully prepared and skillfully employed, is sure to engage them in class, thus increasing their retention rates. That is exactly what happened to me during the presentations by other teachers.
Their modelling instructions and constructive feedbacks do credit to Irene and Lara. You two enabled me to brace myself for whatever is in store for us in ever-changing English classrooms in Korea.
Last but not least, there is one thing that is left still unsolved with me - stage fright. How can I get rid of all the "butterflies" in my stomach I get whenever I do public self-presentations? :)
I am sending a long round of applause for all of you from Room 430A! Do you hear it? ^^
It’s almost finished my long(?) journey here in Canada. Contrary to the first few weeks, time flies very fast during the last few weeks. I think I learned many things about English and teaching English, but the most important thing is that I got more confidence when I say in English and teaching in English. Of course, I make lots of mistakes while saying and teaching English. That’s my homework to do in Korea.
Especially, while doing micro-teaching, I learned many useful teaching ideas from other teachers. Some teachers were the experts using state-of-the-art software to make their classes more efficient. Some had impressive teaching materials and made classes touching and exciting. I am surprised at Korean teachers’ creativity. They were all hard workers and full of new ideas. If we share our ideas with colleagues, I’m sure we can make our English classes more fun and effective. Even though I spent stressful weeks preparing my lesson plans, I enjoyed my micro-teaching and I liked pretending a student while observing.
The methodologies I learned during the program were new and useful to me. Especially, I like pre-activity or contextualization part. It will make students motivate what to learn and give some information about the class of the day. When I organized my lesson plans, I had to spent lots of time to think of exciting activities for contextualization. Semantic mapping was a good method for that, too. Most instructors used semantic mapping as a pre-activity. I’ll surely apply it for my classes in Korea, too.
But I think Korean EFL classes are quite different from ESL classes or EAP classes here in Canada. As you know Koreans are very poor at speaking and writing. We study English just four or five classes a week. Even if we teach English in English, students can’t hear English outside the English classes. They hardly have chance to talk in English in every day life. So teaching English is a big challenge in Korea. Nevertheless we Korean English teachers have a big obligation to make students speak English. So I’ll try to apply many methods learned here to open my students’ mouths and motivate them the purpose of studying English. As a Korean English teacher, I should try my best to teach English in English when I go back to my class. That’s what the government wants to me. I deeply appreciate Irene and Lara’s kind teaching and comment to my lesson plans. I also appreciate all Korean teachers’ sharing. Let’s pat ourselves on the back.
I have experienced countless things since I came to Canada. I have also learned a lot from ESL classes, observations, and TESOL course. I think all I have learned is integrated into my lesson plans and micro-teaching. Thanks to micro-teaching, I applied what I have been taught in a direct or indirect way to my teaching. In addition, I still kept learning more while micro-teaching.
First of all, I learned basics of how to make a lesson plan. There are many ways to plan lessons, but all the lesson plans taught in Humber are quite clear and simple. They are unfamiliar to me, though. They made me focused on my lesson, organize the lesson well, and get rid of my fear about making too “fancy” plans. As long as I followed the rules, my lessons could be rather easily ready. Based on the frames of the lesson plans, I could be as creative as I wanted. I though of many ideas, chose the best ones, and put them in class. I felt like I were an artist to create a beautiful work. In a way, lesson planning and micro-teaching are a wonderful work of a teacher, I believe.
Secondly, I learned a lot from observing and performing teaching. I was amazed by how creative and original our colleagues are. They stuck to the lesson plan’s rules, but poured all their brilliant ideas into their lessons. I’m planning to make the best use of them in my class. To be honest, I really wanted to give a big hand to all the hard-working teachers. I also overcame my fear of standing in front of others. I came to know how to give instructions effectively. I leaned how to put technology together with my class. I learned what “teacher talk” really means.
Lastly, I learned I can change my previous old-fashioned teaching styles into better one. I was convinced that I can be a language teacher as well as a teacher who prepare students for exams. I am full of hope. Even though I can express how to apply what I have learned to my class in detail on the blog, I have them in my notes, and my heart. The last task left to me is just “go and do it.”
I’d like to say “thank you” to Irene, Lara, and all the guest speakers. Their endless efforts and interest in us have made us improved and developed. I really appreciate all the things I have been given. I will never forget this chance of micro-teaching. I am sure it will change my class drastically.
Write about your practicum experience at Humber
by Jody
To be a good English teacher is not easy. I meant that a teacher looks like an encyclopedia which knows not only the knowledge of language but also knowledge of everything for example culture, law, politics, and social problem in the world. However, during the course, I realized that I have to focus on small thing each time in class.
When I was making a lesson plan, I learned about teacher talk that I haven't used before taking this course. But it is very useful. It always makes me on the right track. It helps me not to forget what I should teach and do.
I have seen many classes as an observer. But I haven't felt any big difference. And I thought that it was special. Because it had lots of different circumstances that it might be prepared for a long time, students showed different attitude in class because there were many observers, there are new equipments to help class. However I saw differences here. The other teachers who are taking this course with me did their own way and they were great.
I felt be proud of them
When I get back Korean, I will make new lesson plan which will have teacher talks. I will just focus on small things.
Thank you very much, Irene.
I have been in Humber College for seven weeks since I came here to learn
TESOL courses. During that time, I have learned many things, teaching
methodology, making lesson plans, vocabulary and pronunciation, etc.
In particular, a micro teaching and a practicum were my new experiences
after I had been an English teacher for 28 years in secondary school. Also,
making lesson plans; grammar, reading and integrated lesson plan changed
my fixed idea for a lesson plan because it was so different from the form of a
lesson plan in Korea. And I think this lesson plan is more reasonable than
the one in Korea because the teaching from this lesson plan is much more
excellent teaching method for students.
Now if I go back to Korea, I will teach the students English through this
teaching method which I have learned in Humber College, and I’ll prepare
for my teaching materials all the time like our teachers in TESOL courses.
[ki-ae]
Definitely Tesol in Humber was beneficial to me. Lesson Plan and micro-teaching are centered among all the details. To me Lesson plan and micro-teaching can't be separated. So I'll develop my opinion as a whole.
To begin with, it help me to build up a skeleton of my class. By repeating the structure of Pre-activity, skill presentation, and post activity, now I can make up a new lesson plan easily. In a word, it'll make my class structural.
Secondly, it gave me more confidence as a teacher. Small tips ranging from making lesson plan to the way to group students will assure me. I might handle situations in English.
Thirdly, I've learned from other korean teachers. No doubt their English is fluent. Most of all the techniques are absolutely outstanding. For sure they are experts at dealing with Powerpoints. I need to schedule for learning it.
Fourthly, integrating skills are fascinating. To see that listening was incorporated into reading is amazing. I love it.
Lastly, I figured it out to think from students' perspectives. even when I prepared teacher talk, I should consider the level of the students. You know what? Verification turn out to be the strongest weapon to get them involved.
I have only one week to go. I've already obtained treasures. But I expect the remaining part of treasures.
I can remember vividly the first time I had to prepare for the micro-teaching. At that time, I had a lot of burden and stress from it and I spent lots of time and efforts to come up with a good idea and practicing demonstration. But after first micro-teaching, things got much easier and I felt more comfortable about 2nd and 3rd micro-teaching. And through these experiences I got to learn so many things.
First of all, I got the sense of how to organize my lesson effectively. In university l already learned large amounts of teaching principles. But I barely tried to apply those principles to my teaching because I thought the principles are just theoretical and far away from practical and interesting class. But when I organized my lesson plan according to the given format and basic rules, I found out that it could be the most interesting and effective class for students. I looked back to my class in Korea and realized how much I ignored the importance of contextualization, verification, inductive learning, etc.
In addition, I could learn many things from other Korean teachers. All of them had numerous brilliant ideas and created very useful materials. And they were willing to share their ideas and good sources for teaching materials.
If we combine what we learned from each other, we will definitely make our classes more exciting and helpful for students in Korea. I am so proud of other Korean teachers and I'm deeply grateful for their efforts and passion.
After I finished the first microteaching as the mandatory course, I didn’t want to do the optional microteaching. Because to prepare it, I spent a lot of effort and time preparing it and furthermore, I got stressful when I was thinking I had to stand in front of English Korean teachers. I know about myself especially about the fact that my face easily gets brushed and I feel nervous when I speak in front of many people. However, I changed my mind for the reason I’m too young to give up and I have to learn other more experienced teachers’ teaching styles and methods. After finishing the optional microteaching, I never regret my choice and indeed I’m pleased with that I completed the big assignment and I’ve learned many useful and helpful things for my career and life.
First of all, it was so impressive that many teachers are very passionate for teaching. They’ve prepared a variety of materials and creative activities that I haven’t imagined. I could notice how much they’ve considered for making a lesson plan. While observing their microteaching, I was ashamed of that I’ve stuck on the content of the textbook and not much expanded the way I’ve used from the beginning.
Secondly, I’ve realized that teaching grammar is not boring anymore and also it can be used for a communicative activity. Especially, the thing I like most is the part of contextualization. Until now, grammar lesson is not the pleasant time for my students and even me because when I’ve taught grammar parts, the whole class time has been consisted of the explanation and verification. It’s not easy to explain grammar well just by analyzing sentences and explaining usages. Using a video, picture, music, or story, I can make students build the concept about the grammar they’re supposed to learn.
Lastly, I’ve felt that the English proficiency don’t exactly correspond to the teaching proficiency. If during a class we speak very fluently but we don’t consider students’ levels and needs, we can’t tell the class is successful and helpful for the students. However, it doesn’t mean that the speaking proficiency is not important. To perform the lesson plan prepared for a class, it might be the good tool. I mean it is needed to understand students’ needs and reflect that consideration on the class.
Now, I hope that after going back to school, I don’t forget the feeling and thought I’ve felt during the microteaching. It was a good impulse for me to experience how other teachers deal with their class. I’m sure that this precious experience at Humber will be a fertilizer for my career.
Before I came here, I thought that to be a good English teacher, we should be armed with “perfect” English. Therefore, I always used to be nervous and not have enough confidence for speaking in English, especially teaching in English. That’s why when I finished the previous part of this course, I mean the language course in B,J Fleming Center, I thought that I was not ready to yet take this course. However, after completing three lesson plans and micro-teachings, I learned a lot and came to have much more confidence as an English teacher.
First of all, I learned how to make an effective lesson plan. Actually we have lesson plan, too. However, it is quite different from what I learned here. It has a fixed form and contains unnecessary information such as students’ talk, so whenever I used that form, I felt it was very unreasonable and difficult to use. But the lesson plan form which I learned here is very practical and reasonable. It has information just for teachers such as teacher talk, teaching material, etc., so it looks like a kind of “script” for teachers. To be honest, I opened my class just once and at that time, I didn’t know exactly how to make a lesson plan, so I made lots of mistakes during the class. But with preparing these lesson plans with teacher talk, now I learned how to prepare and organize my English class.
Secondly, after making three different kinds of lesson plan, I can have some idea about teaching in various styles. Especially in teaching grammar, I couldn’t imagine how to combine the grammatical point and the communicative activities. I had thought that grammar class is always boring and full of lectures. But using the format with contextualization, isolation, verification and activities, I can have insight about more interesting and exciting grammar class.
Lastly, when I observed other teachers’ teaching, I was so impressed. They were so passionate and creative and they showed us various kinds of teaching styles and activities which I couldn’t imagine at all. Besides, not only observing other teachers’ teaching, but also doing micro-teaching in front of colleagues and getting constructive feedback will be very helpful and useful for changing my old- fashioned teaching style.
I have precious experience at Humber. It gave me a chance to look back myself as an English teacher. Now the thing left to me is just applying what I learned to real teaching atmosphere. Of course, there will be difficulties to apply it, but I will not hesitate to it but just do it. And I hope not to lose this passion after going back to Korea.
Finally, I’d like to say “Thank you” to Irene, Lara and other guest speakers. Thanks to you, I could have a chance to experience “new world”.
I remember the day I made my first lesson plan. Actually my major was not English education, so I was not good at making lesson plans. I was not sure I was doing well. I made new lesson plans before I entered my every English class. However time went by, I could get lots of lesson plans and teaching materials in the Internet just by one click.
I have been teaching English for 10years.When I was a new teacher, I was clumsy but passionate. Now I look like a professional in the classroom but I lost my passion as a teacher somewhere in my past. That's why I am here in Canada. I became a teacher since I wanted to be a teacher who persevered in one's efforts every single day. I have to restart before it is too late.
Frankly speaking, I wanted to speak English more instead learning methodologies. But now I am satisfied with what I studied here, therefore; I can get my passion as a teacher again. While I was making the micro-teaching lesson plans, I felt tension and fulfillment on my first day as a teacher. I was nervous during my presentation; however it was cool to feel something I had forgotten long time ago. I was pondering to make ‘teacher talks’ which I didn’t like much. Through the time I was worrying the words I chose, I could make better lesson plans. I am so proud of my co-teachers, too. I could learn more from my colleagues and because of that I have lots of ideas which I can use in my English class. I realized that we, especially teachers, should learn new knowledge constantly. That’s the key to be a real teacher I wanted to be. I appreciate the people not only who gave me this chance but also who are around me.
Who said life is like a journey? It’s so true! When people make a plan for it, they are usually full of expectation and willingness. They are ready to welcome unexpected challenges and quite sure they could handle them. Somehow they are fearful and anxious, though. In the middle of their journey they doubt why and after, and get depressed even though it was their own choice and pretty enjoyable. They doubt where they are going and why they are here instead of their home. However, at the end of the long journey, they finally realized they did it whether it is successful or not. Just one fact that they did it makes the whole world around them change and they find out they are ready for another journey.
Struggling with a lesson plan and micro-teaching I have experienced the same universal thing here at Humber. When I worked on my grammar lesson plan at the very beginning, I was well aware of my goal which was also the reason why I came here. I wanted to be a competent teacher in term of both English and teaching skills. At the same time I knew I had a long way to go and I thought I was ready to face the challenges willingly. However, somehow I felt extremely nervous and dread regardless of my ten-year- teaching career. My first destination was to teach grammar in English. Even though I used to teach English through English, it was speaking or listening part. I have never imagined I could teach grammar part in one hundred percent English. Also, I’ve never thought grammar lesson could be interesting. When I got the grammar lesson plan template, I was definitely shocked. To be honest with you, it was absolutely new to me: contextualization, isolation, verification, and practice phase. Wow! I realized that grammar couldn’t be separated from speaking and from that perspective, students should know functions as well as form. In addition, I found out the power of contextualization. To make students involved and motivated, it was a must -have part throughout the lesson. I couldn’t forget the day I did first micro teaching. I was the very first, so I was already exhausted because of stress, tension, and nervousness. Nevertheless, I taught one grammar point in English and I made a best use of my new information of lesson plan. Another wow! I did it! ^^
That day was one of my most memorable days in my teaching career. I was not perfect but I found the strong possibility I could teach English through English. All I need to do is to plan well and practice hard. After finishing another two micro teachings including lesson plans, I got a more clear idea of what the GOOD lesson is, and TEACHER TALK became real teacher talk. It was quite long and stressful journey to me though, I was proud of the fact I did it. I was proud of my wonderful colleagues. They did it. We did it!!
A turning point…. Throughout my stay here in Canada, I kept thinking that word. Fortunately, I had a wonderful opportunity to reflect myself as a Korean English teacher. I’d like to make best use of my experience here. By contextualization and pre-activity, I’d like to make my lesson effective, involving, and interesting. By isolation and skill presentation, I want to give them clear explanation what they achieve through the lesson. By activity and feedback, I will give my students a chance to USE English. I found out the content of my textbook is not that bad. Based on the content, I’d like to reorganize it by adding some new ideas which I have learned here to make my lesson more effective and interesting. After the turning point which is a week away, I am going to make another journey. I believe the beautiful things that I’ve got throughout this journey will contribute to my success of the next journey. Thanks a lot, Lara and Irene. Thank all the faculty of Humber College. Thank you, all my wonderful group members. Thanks……
Now this program has almost finished. After three months’ training course in Mississauga, we began a new, a little different training program here in Humber College.
I’d like to tell some valuable things that interested me during this program.
First, doing micro-teaching and writing lesson plan was helpful for me.
Even though it was a short time teaching, I taught English in English in front of English teachers according to the lesson plan. Although writing lesson plans and preparing teaching and giving a lesson were stressful for me, but through the hours of suffering, in other words, this experience, I had to think about what learning is and what teaching is, why these things are important, and how I will spend the rest of my school life with my students. While I watched other teachers’ teaching, I was so impressed because of their excellent lessons. I also had a good time to share ideas and techniques with them. I want to keep in touch with them and get help from them to improve my English skills and do my job well as an English teacher.
Second, class observation was also meaningful for me.
Through observation, I could get some information : how and where and what materials teachers use, how teachers manage the class and motivate students to involve in the class. Though the situation in Korea is quite different from here, but I will be able to introduce some ideas and techniques that I got here, to my class in Korea in some degree.
Third, guest speakers’ lectures gave me a good lesson.
Every speaker had a great experience and knowledge and techniques about teaching English. Especially Brett’s lecture was reasonable and useful for me. While listening to his lecture, I felt I need to establish the guideline of learning and teaching English. Without such understanding of language, we may not teach English effectively. For example, if I don’t have any knowledge of word frequency and teach English vocabulary at random, it might give big burden to learners. So as an English teacher, having the basic knowledge of language and understanding a good way to learning and teaching English is very important.
Lastly, a student residence life also gave me good memorable things.
I have never lived in a student residence before. During staying here, I have had great opportunities to meet colleague teachers and have conversations with them and visit some places together. We also talked about English, Korea and Canada, and culture, education, school life, and personal life, etc. On the basis of these things, I want to keep on sharing ideas and information even in Korea.
In conclusion, during this program in Humber college, I have experienced new and helpful things. Through micro-teaching and writing lesson plans, I thought about how I taught until now and how I will teach from now on. While I was given guest speakers’ lectures and I observed the classes, I had to think about how I would apply these ideas and techniques to my class in Korea. I had a happy life in a student residence with my colleague teachers by sharing some activities. Someday surely I will miss these wonderful days in Canada.
In the whole of this 5 month program, the part I was most afraid of was the practicum, which forced me to “perform” in English. And, the fear became maximized when we just finished the language course in Mississauga, because I thought that I was not ready to use English in teaching.
However, a couple of model classes demonstrated by several instructors and all their detailed instructions helped me to prepare my micro teaching well. In addition, the fact that we were allowed to demonstrate only within us-- Korean teachers-- rather relieved me. Actually, when we did our micro teaching in class, the atmosphere was just encouraging and supporting. We also discussed actively and exchanged lots of good information. Through the three times of micro-teaching, I gained great confidence, which was one of my biggest goals here.
Especially, it’s amazing what I felt after the first one, the grammar teaching. People usually think that grammar is difficult even when it is taught in their mother tongue. Then, how in English? But, actually I did it. Even though the grammar part I was assigned to teach was quite easy—the comparative, the fact that I made it means that I CAN teach even grammar in English. It feels like I conquered a big mountain. I believe this experience will help me to overcome other big challenges I’ll encounter later.
Then, how can I apply what I’ve learned here to my real class? I realized that what is as important as using English is the use of good materials and activities that are effective and interesting. Those two factors would make teaching in English more efficient and well organized.
However, there are still lots of obstacles facing us. What if students don’t pay attention to their teacher? In these big classes, teaching in English has more probability to make student distracted. Besides, students’ overall lexical knowledge is always insufficient, compared to the range of vocabulary that is suggested in the curriculum. Accordingly, teachers spend lots of time and energy to push students to memorize words. When the speaking ability is more emphasized, therefore, teachers would have to rearrange the weight of each language skill in their teaching.
In high school education, the main focus is still on preparing for the Korean SAT exam. So, I’m thinking that I will use the English discretionary classes to apply what I have learned here. I have no specific plan yet. But, roughly speaking, I’ll try to use English in class as much as possible and also use various activities that are not available in regular classes because of the lack of time. Finalizing this essay, I just hope it will be the good start for my future classes.
People often feel fulfilling happiness when they perform the best in their profession. My profession is teaching English. When I was first hired as a full-time English teacher, I had the enthusiasm to explore different methods in my lesson to find the best one. However, as time goes by, I find myself making each lesson as a fixed routine and applying it to all classes. I think this is because I don't know how to apply the knowledge I have about teaching methods into practice. The three microteachings were might be the morst stressful and even painful experience when I prepared, but after finishing them, I could feel such great accomplishment.
Firstly, the microteaching made me think a lot about what I was doing. The ‘why’ was even more important than the ‘how'. Whenever I prepared lesson plans for the microteaching, I had to think very carefully about the rationale behind what I was doing. I realized that when I teach, I should think carefully about why I should use an activity and how it fits into my lesson. It is a very important habit to attain and it has made me realize that a lesson is full of learning opportunities if it is well-planned.
Secondly, there was time to discuss the lessons with teachers. The constructive feedbacks from the teachers were extremely valuable parts and enabled me to see both the good things about my teaching as well as the things I need to improrve. I was happy to see the teachers enjoy my computer work. However, there's a downside; students may complain being bored in front of a screen. I need to incorporate computers effectively into my teaching.
Thirdly, the most inspiring thing for me was the changes from negative things to positive and potential things I saw in myself. Before this course, I didn’t have any ideas about lesson plans, the importance of contextualization and the vital roles of giving instructions. It proved that microteaching was not just a show but a genuine lesson for my professional development and also for my students in Korea. I’m looking forward to seeing my students really enjoy my teachings and they will surely remember more about my new lessons than the old lessons that I taught before. I realized that this is what I should be aiming for; careful preparation and caring for students’ needs.
Through this course, I learned how to apply method and principles into practice in real English lessons. Moreover, it provided me with an opportunity to freshen my enthusiasm as an English teacher. I definitely believe that this course was really helpful and in a way “revolutionary” in my life. I am particularly proud of myself for accomplishing micro-teachings and learning so much in the process. I want to express my gratitude to my instructors and teachers for giving me great encouragement. I hope this is just the start and that all my hard work will bear fruit throughout my teaching career.
At first, it was a big burden for me to do micro-teaching. (Of course, it was also hard for me to make lesson plan though.) Because I did just once to do open class. Moreover, I’ve thought it was too hard for me to teach grammar in English. But as I was preparing for the lesson planning and micro-teaching, I felt self-confident little by little. Besides I was so impressive when I watched other teachers’ micro-teaching. They were so energetic and enthusiastic to teach. I could learn much more through it than I thought.
In fact, I thought that teaching English 100% was impossible just because of the students. They might not understand when I taught in English. This thought made my teaching justify. However, I’ve changed since I learned at Humber College. I might not teach 100% in English. Because there must be the students who totally can’t understand English. But if I use interesting activities what I learned from the teachers, it might be very helpful even for the low level students to understand in English.
I can not be like a native but I can teach English with confidence because I’ve learned good skills from other teachers and I will study myself more and more to teach English effectively. Even though my English skill improves not much than before, I’ve got a courage to study myself more and got a confidence I can do it. Also, I’ve got GOOD colleagues. We can share the good information for teaching and help each other after going back to Korea. It must be quite reassuring me when I teach. Thank you all of you!
I can’t forget the period I’ve spent in Canada.
Ann said.......
Time flied like an arrow. Still, I can't believe I just have one week to go. For 7weeks I learned many things here in humber college. Especially, Making lesson plan was so helpful and meaningful to me more than anything else even though it was sometimes a big burden to me. It was challenging but enjoyable enough. No pain, no gain! It was literally true. while making my lesson plan, I learned many valuable things about the teaching.
First, I found that the contextualization was very essential part to make students motivate to study. In korea, I used to overlook the point too easily. Sometimes, it might take some time and energy to make ideas for contextualization, I will put it into practice in the classroom.
Secondly, I learned how to use multimedia software such as Y-tube, audio-clip effectively in the lesson. It was so impressive to see my colleague’s micro teaching using various visual aids. It was exciting enough to attract students’ attention to the class.
Lastly, I learned how to feel comfortable in public when I showed some presentation in public. I think practice makes perfect. Before doing Micro-teaching, I felt very nervous but during the Micro-teaching, I didn’t feel it. Micro-teaching helped me to overcome the anxiety and nervousness.
Above all, I learned the most valuable things from my colleagues. It was their passions and endeavors to learn English and develop their teaching skills continuously. I think
teacher who keeps learning stays young whether at twenty or eighty. Even though I go back to korea, I want to be a teacher who never stop learning.
What I learned about lesson planning and microteaching
1. What have you learned about lesson planning and micro-teaching?
What I learned about lesson planning personally is that to know how to teach English in English is the quintessential skill. Crucially, English teachers in Korea are being pushed to be fluent English speaker by the students, their parents and most of all, by the government. However, while planning my lesson, writing the teacher talks and using them in a real class, I realized that the native-like fluency doesn’t necessary any more when the teacher knows how to activate students’ schemata, how to modify and use the teaching material, how to make input comprehensible, how to make them produce and recycle the language.
When it comes to the observations of other teachers’ micro-teaching, I definitely can say that I have seen their innumerable creative ideas to capture students’ attentions, their preeminent delivering skills and their amazing tremendous effort to prepare their lessons. Irene and Lara are the best instructors who enabled me to build up and sharpen the quintessential knowledge and skills for TEE but, the co-teachers led me to have wonderful models who I want to be and feel stimulated a lot.
2. What have been some memorable moments about micro-teaching for you?
Through three times of microteaching and practice teaching, the last practice teaching class is absolutely unforgettable and remarkable for me. It was listening and speaking class for EAP level 3 and I thought I’m enough prepared to teach them because I had taken much time in preparing the lesson and my micro-teaching had gone smoothly. However, it turned out that I didn’t take into consideration the fact that the students’ proficiency level might be higher or lower than I expected. At the first listening, there was almost no the students’ reaction but, I didn’t reflect their reaction on my lesson, supposed they might be just shy and moved on. When I was doing the second listening in the classroom, I was able to realize that the students were having hard time in comprehending what they listened.
At that very moment, I was in a panic because the lesson didn’t go well as what I had expected. I had no idea what to do because that was the only lesson I had prepared. What I have done to help their understanding was that I drew their attention to the instructions, highlighted the target vocabulary and led them to do the second listening once more. After that crisis, students seemed much more comfortable as time went by; they gradually spoke up while doing the vocabulary review activity, they amazingly enjoyed talking through two different speaking activities. I even had to make them calm down later on for the group presentation believe it or not.
I would like to begin by saying that to be a good English teacher is hard but a valuable. As everybody think, to study English is not easy. However, all of us chose English not other language and we became an English teacher. Like you, I could learn many things for my English improvement and also for my career as an English teacher here in Canada. Now, among many things, I’d like to say about my reflection in Humber especially for 3 times lesson plans and micro-teaching.
First, I was shocked there is a wonderful way to teach “Grammar” after observing my instructor Lara’s model class. To be honest, I‘ve never thought that grammar class can be interesting and not boring. I felt I also can teach grammar in more funny way not only in ‘GTM’. The words ‘contextualization and verification’ hit me what I should apply to my grammar class. I looked back on my classes that I had last for six years in Korea. I used to say “I’m not an idea bank, I’m not a creative person”. I just like to follow the way that I did before. I’ve never tried to change my old teaching style. All of sudden, I realized I have a responsibility as a teacher to give a good and well organized class to my students and I have to do it. I was ashamed and so sorry for my students in the past.
Secondly, as I followed the template that Irene and Lara gave us, I thought I can do it if I try and don’t make excuse any more. While I prepared the lesson plans, I became a person who thinks over and over and makes something in a new way. It was a kind of self-examination how much and how well I can design my class. I got more confidence by planning my lessons. For example, when I brainstormed about my last lesson plan, I needed to record three man’s voice. What did I do? I just went down to the gym and asked a guy to help me. He made me feel free to ask with his humor and was willing to help me. Thanks to him and his friends, I could do my project. It was the first time for me to work with foreigners, so I really enjoyed and felt a sense of achievement even though it wasn’t a masterpiece for others. It must be a good chance for me to develop myself. There’s no doubt!
However, lastly, I recognized the more important thing was that I had to practice to do well. To make a good lesson plan was not enough. I gave up practicing easily and thought too positively like this : I finished my lesson plan, so it would be okay to do as I made. But in a real class, I often forgot what I designed, what the order is and what should I ask. That means I can’t control my class as I planned. For me, the most necessary thing is practicing to teach English in English. I should improve my English proficiency enough to teach English in English in any condition. I am regretting that I haven’t studied English after becoming a teacher. What I need is to study English consistently. It is the biggest challenge that I feel after micro-teaching. Nevertheless, lesson planning and micro-teaching will be unforgettable memory to me when I go back Korea.
In conclusion, even though there are some difficulties and challenges I might face to be a good English teacher, I’ll prepare for my future doing my best in every moment base on the experience in Humber TSOL course. Thank you Lara & Irene for giving me a good model and I'd like to say thank you to all of our members for encouraging each other and showing your passion for teaching English.
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