Bryan Abos-Padilla
My e-portfolio
Methodology
The aim of this course is to introduce the future teachers to different methodologies, approaches and ways to improve the English language teaching as a second language.
This is a very important subject in our professional development because it analyzes methodologies to teach both the productive and the receptive skills of the language by visiting a variety of authors and theories in order to explain the necessary approaches we have to know to perform properly in the classroom.
Unit 1: "Role of L1 in the English classroom"
This assignment consisted in to prepare a prezi presentation based on the reading "7 Popular ideas about language learning revisited" by Lightbown & Spada (2010). The main topic of the reading has to do with the use of the mother tongue in the classroom to improve the second language that is being learned.
Popular ideas about Language Learning
ENGLISH METHODOLOGY I
This is a reaction paper based on two books: "The Relationship Between First and Second Language Learning Revisited" by Vivian Cook, and "L1 and L2 use in the classroom: A systematic Approach." by Paul Nation.
Reaction paper
Final reflection of the unit
Every asignment and piece of reading during this unit reflected the necessity of future teachers to collect information on the use of the own language of the learner as a tool for teaching the second language.
The authors visited where mostly Cook, Nation, Lightbown & Spada. They had all different visions of the use of L1 in the classroom and how it affects L2.
Nation, on the other hand, encourage teachers to reduce the learner's fear of failure so they can feel free to practice, which is the only way to improve in the language.
Unit 2: "Approaches + techniques for SLA"
This link is to download an Excel document that contains information which sumarizes the presentations exposed by my classmates. This presentations had to do with different methods or approaches stated by many authors.
Final reflection of the unit
Personally, I would not feel comfortable using all the approaches and methods mentioned, but it is a fairly normal reaction to them having in mind how distant where among one another. Regardless of that, it is important to know about all of them, because even though my gut feeling is to prefer some of them over the others, as a future teacher I must have in mind the fact that every student is different and for this reason I have to dominate all of the approaches to find those who accommodate to the learner’s needs.
Unit 3: "Skills/ Abilities of the language"
This concept map is a sumary of the first chapter of the book "Learning How works" called "How does students' prior knowledge Affect Their learning".
Final reflection of the unit
This unit was the most meaningful to me. It made me realized that the teaching of an ability is supported by a system of the language and the other way around. So, in order to teach them, we have to be extremely conscious of what the experts think about the topic. For this unit I had to exposed about the speaking ability, so it gave me the opportunity of internalize how important is this skill for students to improve the other abilities and how it gets benefits from them at the same time.
ENGLISH METHODOLOGY II
Student Interview
Teacher's Interview
This course was very helpful in my development as a researcher, teacher and professional in general.
Firstly as a researcher, since it involved a lot of investigation, which enhance exploratory, redaction and writing skills.
Secondly as a teacher, since the methodologies learned will help me when I take them into practice. I will know what approach to use with different types of students, so I can enhance their language skills, to evaluate the sort of material I will be using for planning my lessons, and to plan a lesson for a particular kind of student.
Reflection of the course.
And finally as a professional itself, since now I know that getting my teacher’s degree is not the end of the path if I want to be a good teacher. Good professionals keep on learning and refining their methods and skills and take any opportunity to learn something new or to perfect what they already know.
For all of those reasons, I believe that the course has helped me to be better in various aspects and that for sure it will use what I learnt this semester in my future career.