Midterm
For a teacher, creating a lesson plan, including designing objectives, detailing the steps of a lesson, analyzing the TL, is a fundamental framework of the lesson. A well-designed lesson plan can improve the quality of teaching, and show objectives of the lesson effectively. When I write lesson plans, I have always tried to design student-centered lessons. In the process of creating a lesson plan, teachers can analyze the text further, and as a result, they can reconfirm the framework of which they are going to teach in their lessons. Lesson plans are not only created by a teacher's existing knowledge but also help teachers to deepen their knowledge and interpretation for teaching materials.
During the former period of this course, I have learned the importance of setting objectives. In order to move toward objectives, interacting with students is one of the essential keys to meet SWBAT. By interacting with students, a teacher has to check their understanding and give them clear instructions. Student-centered activities will help students to remember TL; therefore, through the Use activity, students will be able to use TL fluently.
To focus on reflection, a teacher has to identify challenges and issues in the lessons. It is also important for a teacher to predict students' potential inaccuracies and challenges. Knowing those elements, a teacher will be able to find a way to deal with those issues in advance. Working in the community is also an important key for reflection. Observing other participants' teaching, I can reflect myself at a deeper level, and will be able to improve my lesson.
Knowing students' interests and needs are very important. Because the lesson plan which worked well in some class is not always effective for other class. In order to know students' interests and needs, our group let students' to write down their interest, motivation, and needs in the GTKY lesson. Students' purposes of learning were varied; some lean English to make international friends, some other study English to enjoy watching a movie, listening to music, and others study English to enter college.
Final Term
Knowing and analyzing TL are essential elements to prepare for lessons. Throughout the experiences of practice of teaching in this course, I have been observing each student very well through monitoring and interacting. Because some students talk a lot, but some don't, I tried to elicit a response from students who didn't talk much. As another solution, I switched pairs in order not to make a pair of a talkative student with an uncommunicative student.
Learning through the reflective cycle based on DIGPA is very helpful. It was really effective for the process of my reflection. It was actually helpful to improve my lesson and to create a critical reflection on my teaching. Sharing this idea in feedback activities was really effective to reflect on my own teaching. Observing my peers' teaching, I was able to reflect on my own teaching and learned the key elements to improve my teaching.
During the entire course, I found that having a back pocket and contingency plan is very important. Especially the latter period of this course, we had different students every day; sometimes, there are 2 students, 1 student, and 12 students. So I really couldn't predict what will happen to my next lesson. I found that flexibility and improvising skills are required for teachers. From this experience, I learned that a teacher has to be well prepared the lesson plan which is applicable to an unexpected situation.
Teaching and Learning are a never-ending process. I learn every day. So I will try to maintain continuous efforts and perpetual drive for consolidating my essential skills.
Throughout the course, I learned that a positive attitude is very important for teaching and learning. I actually tried to maintain a positive attitude all the time. The unexpected incident might happen in actual lessons and in real life. So, if unexpected things happen, I will take it a positive way because it is the best opportunity to practice how to deal with those situations.
