HOME RUN!!!

Today I learned a very interesting topic. It was about: Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS). With this method the teacher can manage the 4 skills with the Ss, so it is great. As I understood TPRS is a very practical way to teach a class with the target language, and for my Ss to use it as well. However, in the demonstration with French, I could feel the Ss frustration if they doesn’t have previous knowledge of some vocabulary. I got the idea though.

In the afternoon I went to a baseball game. I’ve watched on tv, but never a real one here in the U.S. I had fun watching how U.S. people enjoy this sport, it is not like they are watching the entire game, sometimes they talk or go to get some snacks or even stay at the snack area for a while. However, the spring international group did a great work trying to support the Naturals, which is the local team. We were doing “the wave” and screaming what it was displayed on the big screens, that was funny. At the end the Natural lost the game 2-4 runs, after this the fireworks started. This was a great ending for this experience, I will remember this day for sure.

I NEED TO REST…

I didn’t rest enough last night, so I felt sleepy today. It seemed to me I wasn’t the only one feeling that way though, most of my colleagues looked tired during morning class with M.A. Cindi. Even she looked really tired.

It was an important topic we reviewed this morning: vocabulary construction. This is one of the most difficult topics when learning a foreign language. One thing we have to keep in mind is to guide the student to appropriate a word and not only to learn meanings. Appropriating a word means that a world is part of your language; therefore it will be difficult for one to forget it. Even though Cindi was tired, she gave us a great and interesting class.

In the afternoon, teachers Cindi, Molly and Cindy talked about the presentation issue. At the beginning of the class, M.A. Cindi showed us what not to do, in a very convincing way. I thought it was for real when she started to behave not properly for she looked really tired in the morning. Then Cindy and Molly started to argue with Cindi because of her lack of seriousness. Even when I was so tired I got the message; great example M.A. Cindi.

After classes, the sky broke into a nice windy, noisy and lightning rain. At first, it was kind of scary, but then I remembered that it has been quite long time without raining in Fayetteville. So, it didn’t bother me getting wet under rain at all. Rain is a blessing, isn’t it?

That's the way I dance it!!!

I started this day tired. Yesterday was a stressful day with the microteaching, and getting ready for my performance at Harmonia Concert.

The first class was with Rochelle. I pretended being there but my mind wasn’t there, I was simply too tired, I learnt new things though. One of my main concerns since I started teaching has been to teach the Ss how to learn my subject, but most of the time I don’t find out the way to do it. Rochelle gave me wonderful tools and ideas to accomplish that goal.

The afternoon session was just amazing. It was about my weakness: pronunciation. Michelle is such a wonderful teacher in this topic. She told me not to worry about because I’m not the only one, and encouraged me to improve my skills by practicing them. She gave us some techniques, bibliography and tools to get our students to move on pronunciation. I was just amazed.

Finally, the moment to perform was there. I wore my Mexican custom, warmed up and got ready for the show. I picked El cascabel song from Veracruz, not a well-known, but a really beautiful one to perform. I hear the music and I just gave myself while I was dancing, in my mind, nobody was there but me. At the end, I heard the standing ovation; as we say in Mexico: the clap is the food of the artist. I had a long time without doing it, I felt great and relieved. Now, I feel really happy I gave a good moment to the audience. All the stress has gone away.

I AM SURVIVOR!!

Today has been a revealing day. The microteaching session showed me things about myself. Last night, I practiced my activity several times to fit it into the eight minutes limit. After an hour, finally I could match it.

The first thing I was aware was my pronunciation. I knew there were going to be beginner level students, but they are used to listen native speakers. That has been one of the main reasons I don’t feel comfortable to teach my students in target language. I think that there has to be quality in everything I teach to my students. Pronunciation is my weakness. This is one thing I have to work hard because I know my students need to be in contact with the TL.

There I was waiting for my turn to do my best. During the micro-class I felt well and self-confident. The topic was the helping verb: CAN. So, I planned a warm up I would do to get the students ready for the hard core activities. It was a drill to cover the specific use I am going to focus in, and the three basic grammar structures: affirmative, negative and question.  At the end, I feel I managed well the Ss for my purposes.

After that, I ran to Wal-Mart in order to get a red bandana for I have a dancing performance during Harmonia Concert tomorrow. It has been a stressful day, but I survived.

HOMEWORK and MORE HOMEWORK!!!

I had lots of fun during this week beginning. At M.A. Cindy’s class I had great time learning from my mistakes. I thought that teaching reading had to be taught in the same way I learnt in my mother language. As I understood, what matters when reading is one to understand the general meaning, so, that doesn’t mean the student has to know every single word. I am use to teach reading until 3^rd level students, but now I know that even pretty 1^st level students can read short easy-to-read stories. So, I will encourage my new students to read since the pretty beginning.

At the afternoon, I went to picnic dinner at Wilson Park. I enjoyed the Subway sandwiches. Then, I swam at the pool and had fun with my friends. While I was there I forgot the entire pendant homeward I have to do, I am tired and have to finish at least the blog assignment.  

FAMILY DAY!

This weekend, on Saturday, was the family day. I spent a whole day with an American family. It has been a great experience. I was one the firsts to be waiting at the lobby, suddenly, I heard Rochelle’s voice calling my name, so I knew my host family was already there.

Firstly, we went the Fayetteville street market. That surprised me because I’ve been several times here in the US and I’ve never seen one. In Mexico this kind of markets are very common, and Fayetteville Farmers Market is quite alike the Mexico’s ones. Anyway, there were two things that I found interesting. The most important is that any product that is sold in the market has to be produced by the seller and the other interesting thing was that the alimentary products sold in the market have to be organically produced. This is a good way to improve local economy and productive methods.

After that, we had lunch in a very nice place where they cook BBQ. The owner was a nice guy and told us how he started running his business. He has built the entire place by himself and has a very original decoration. The BBQ was delicious, but the owner didn’t want to share his secret recipe. I had a great time there.

Then we went to Happy Hollow Elementary school. This is a continuous learning system school, which means, that the students has short break periods, so they don’t lose too much contact with their learning process. The disadvantage is that it is difficult for the parents who have more than one kid and they are in different system schools, for the break periods don’t match most of the time. Besides, there are only two schools in Fayetteville that work with continuous system. Another interesting thing is that school building was made in a friendly environmental way and energy efficient. I think that this type of constructions is going to become more popular.

Finally, we had dinner in the host family’s house. We spoke about several subjects. The one that I found most interesting is that they told me their life plan in ten years. They said they are going to sell their house and go to old people complex, kind of condominiums; there they will have access to nursing services and other cares for old persons. When they get weaker because of the age, they will be sent to a nursing home. It is not very common in Mexico this kind of situation, I don’t mean there are no nursing homes there, but much fewer than here in the US. The reason is that most of the time family takes care of the old members. Like my grandmother, she takes care of my great-grandmother.

At the end I had a very good day and a great experience I will never forget. Thanks for opening me your doors.

CONAN THE GRAMMARIAN!

Today has been a painful one. Since Monday I have been exercising. The first two days, only spinning and jogging, but since Wednesday I started to lift a little weight. Then, I felt this sensation after finishing that session. After 24 hours on Thursday night, the pain began to go over my body: chest, shoulders, back and legs. Today in the morning I barely had strength to jump out my bed, and the pain was worse.

In those conditions I attended to Mrs. Rochelle class, which was about teaching grammar. That relief my ego, many things she recommended fits in what I actually do in Mexico. I always start the class with a real life example, according to my student’s context. Also, before certain grammar issue, I ask them to research about some concepts as homework. Then, I show them the grammar pattern and how does that fit with the specific grammar structure. There are few things I have to change, those are big deal, and have tried to apply them so far: teach grammar issues in the target language and not to plan a specific day for the grammar talking. Anyway, Rochell’s class gave a few ideas, and I’m going to read Brown’s book also.

In the afternoon I went to MA Cindi class where we finished the posters we had not finished. Those were about teaching foreign language methods. I have always been aware that my teaching fits in the “grammar translation method”, not consciously though. That is because my course is focused on reading and writing, and that is why one of my main goals in this course is to learn speaking/listening techniques as well the communicative approach. Everything has been new for me in this course, therefore, very interesting. And the pain all over my body kept increasing.

At the end of the day I went back to gym for yesterday I wasn’t able since I went bowling. So, I did 30 minutes jogging.. It is normal to feel a little pain after several months without athletic training. I'm planning to keep my training till the end of the course.  I am tired, I feel ok though.

See you tomorrow everybody.

Bowling, bowling, bowling!!!!

I got some much fun today. Firstly, in the morning, I visited Ramay Junior High School with Mrs. Gayón. She teaches Spanish language there. She showed us some rooms in the building like the library and her classroom. Once in the classroom, she explained us some of the language techniques she uses for her teen students. The one caught my attention the most was the way the Spanish culture is an important part of the course, and the students have to learn about Spanish countries in order to understand the language. This was very interesting.

In the afternoon, I attended to one of Dr. Lanier, she talked to us about cross-cultural issues. So this conference was much related with my morning experience. Then I started to think that I have a lack of this issue with my students in Mexico. I have tried but they don’t pay too much attention and I don’t know how to get them interested. Anyway, if I take into account what Dr. Lanier said, I will success in my duty.

At the evening we were going to bowl a little bit. I was excited because I have only played one in my life, and it was so long ago. My highest score was 97, so it was no so bad. When will be the next time? I don’t know, but I hope not another 10 years later.

I’ve been doing exercise the since Sunday, so I feel really tired right now, and some of my muscles have started to hurt. I need to sleep well tonight.  

Artistic experience!!!!!

This has been such an interesting day for me. Firstly, I didn’t eat as much as I am use to during breakfast for as I said yesterday I’m getting weigh. Then, during MA Cindy’s class we carried on a speaking dynamic in which we were supposed to answer the question “how are you?” since I felt that if answered in a positive way I just would say the same thing, I decided to answered on the opposite way: I feel frustrate, and I started to say things I am not feeling, my colleague Carlos started to comfort me. Since that was a dynamic, the main goal was to communicate and speak, so I simply did that. At the end I learnt a lot. Speaking is one the things lacking in my class right there in Mexico, so, this class is one of the most important to me since I want to introduce this skill into my regular teaching process. I had lots of fun.

In the afternoon, I went to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. It exceeded my expectations, I thought it was going to be a little museum, but it was just the opposite way. It is a huge museum. I love art museums, but they have to be well varied in the art they have to catch my attention. Crystal Bridges did it just well; it has many paintings and sculptures about many themes and styles. Art always makes me feel good.

Finally, we went shopping. During, the last 4 years of life I have lost interest in this activity. Since then my clothing has remained almost the same, so I shopping was one of plans in this trip in order not to become a living photo. I got some shirts a one cargo pant, all of them at good price. At the end, even shopping was an interesting experience since I have long time without doing it. So, that’s all I have to say for today.

Ars longa, vita brevis.

AMAZING!!!!

I started the day with the right foot. Ms. Cindy’s class was awesome. She taught us about teaching punctuation, which is one of the hardest subjects for foreign language teacher as well as for students. She just simplified everything; some of my colleagues say they didn’t get the whole picture though.

After that, I went to my observation assignment of a listening class. The teacher’s name was Erik and he is amazing. I am new in class’s observation activity, so I got to have my Brown’s book with me to see the main points I had to observe. Suddenly, Mr. Erik came into the classroom greeting and asking to the Ss to get ready for the debate assignment they had been working so far. He caught me (as well to the students) since the pretty begging. A debate about politics is always a difficult thing to carry on, sometimes is difficult to get every S into its role. However, everyone was playing their role. I am wondering why Mr. Erik is not involved in our course, it had been interesting.

At the end of the day I went to the gym to do some cardio exercise for I have gotten 3 extra weight kilos so far. Definitively, I have to go down on carbs. While I was running, I was thinking that the English Teacher Course is overlapping my expectations.

Well, this simply has been another day in my life; if a day in life can be called simple.

Tough beginning week

Today, I learnt new and interesting new things to improve my teaching skills. Firstly, teacher Rochell talked about the 12 teaching principles, which are really helpful and easy to keep in mind in our teaching activities. All of them seems to me very important.

In the afternoon session with Dr. Dennis Beck, I learnt how to use an internet tool: Mendeley, which is an organizational tool for researchers. Since I work in a technical college, this might be a useful tool for my advanced students since they are close to their final research paper work of their career.

Finally, MA Cindy gave us a practical example of one of the teachings methods described in TBP book, which I read last night and fell asleep really late, but it was worth, since by profession I am not an English teacher, all those concepts are interesting and helpful for me.

After all that tough academic activity I had to get some relax, so I went to the swimming pool and swim for about 40 minutes; I had a little of stress running back to dinner room, though.


So that was simply another day in my life; if a day in life can be called simple.

DIZZY TRIP TO LITTLE ROCK

Little rock trip has been one of the most exiting experiences in my life. Firstly, on Friday morning, I awoke late because a night before I hung out with my friends at Dixon street bars, I was embarrassed when I got to the van, I looked terrible; the worst thing was that I forgot my graduated glasses, so my eyesight was not good. I slept all the way till we stop at “market” and I ate a thai style soup with mushrooms and shrimps, that relieved me. This was just the beginning of the adventure.

After that we went to Central High school, where we were told the story of the nine African American teen students. It was at 1957 when there was a lot of segregation in the state, but the federal government applied a new law that said everyone had the same right to study at any school, this means, it had to be integration. I became sad when I started to heard about those events, the Little Rock Nine didn’t give away and they could stand all meaningful reactions from the white people though. Then we went to the Capitol, I felt terrible at that moment, so I didn’t pay enough attention, just wanted to take a nap. Finally, we got at the hotel and I fell asleep.

On Saturday I felt much better. After lunch we visited Clinton museum, it was a nice place, but in my opinion the Old State House museum is more interesting. Finally we went to Heifer organization; they help poor people around the world by applying community development and sustainable development strategies. At the end, I got so much fun even though the beginning was a kind of dizzy one.  

Mole's revolution!!!!

Today we went to the community college in Bentonville. There, we played some “games” in order to learn how work in team groups, and how can we get our students to do it as well. It is important to notice that at the beginning the students have to get in contact gradually, so they can be more comfortable with each other. The “gotcha finger” game can be a good start, then the “fox and the squirrel” game is also nice for the students to have some information about each other. 

I had fun, especially when we saw something moving under the ground and the teacher told us that it was a mole, then, when some friends were digging the little rat appears and I caught it. The animal really loved its freedom, it was fighting really hard while I was grabbing it; eventually a got two little bites. I thought moles were peaceful and tame animals, something like a rabbit, but now I know they are just the opposite when it is about freedom. I would the same actually. 

During the afternoon, Rochelle told us a little about Arkansas to be ready when we go to Little Rock on Friday (I think so). After that attended to Cindy’s session, which was about reflexive teaching. She showed us how we can observe a class and organize all what we observe. It is important to notice that observing is not judging the others work, but being objective about the facts that we are observing and not the things we think about those. I would like to learn more about it.

So that was simply another day in my life; if a day in life can be called simple.