Day 15: Settling in

The first teaching practice two weeks ago didn't go very well. Last week's was much better, and I fooled the tutor into believing I was feeling confident. I got the students on task, made them stay on task, and achieved my teaching aims. Oh, joy!

The cold has gone, my throat feels normal once more (I'm even singing again), and I'm enjoying the afternoon input sessions during which we learn new teaching concepts and methods. My favorite so far is the one that focuses on the learner. Adult learners are unique; they come to the classroom with their experience, backgrounds, ideas about learning, a great desire to learn, and a maturity that, well, comes with age! Our guinea pig students are very sweet and I enjoy meeting them twice a week, even though I'm nervous every Thursday when I have to teach. I like studying them, figuring out ways to help them, understanding how their backgrounds and personalities inform their learning styles, and devising the right kind of tasks to help them learn.

The second assignment (I just handed in my first one today; it was on language analysis) requires me to pick a student, study her, interview her, and basically, have a field day writing a report about my chosen learner. By the end of the first lesson, I already knew which student I wanted. She's the oldest (late 60s to 70) learner in the class, but so very sweet and earnest. H. is from China, but spent some time in the US where she experienced culture shock and determined to learn English, which she taught herself 40 years ago. Just reading that in her short essay made me think, where was I at that point? Part of me was still an egg in my mother! And I think my parents just about met 40 years ago.

I've got about 7 more weeks to go before CELTA ends. It sure is hard work but I'm starting to get into the rhythm of CELTA life, and I like my teaching practice group members. One of them has already nicknamed me - Big V is my latest moniker (I've always enjoyed a spot of irony).

Beautiful Beat, by Nada Surf.

Posted by Monoceros at July 7, 2008 10:44 PM