ESL Blogs

Recalling memories brings lots of happiness accompanied by smiles that may be invaded by some of giggling. That's me when I recall my practicum in a public school. =))

As I was a student of education faculty, I was imposed to teach for 3 weeks in the last year of studying. My bad luck, as I thought, was to teach in a remote city where I had for about 90 students in a class. Yes, 90 Ss in a one small class. You could imagine how difficult is to master such a huge numbers of Ss and how to teach them as well.

I was so nervous and afraid. My 1st real teaching would be in a very difficult situation. I wasn't only worried about how to master them, but I should even speak in English while majority of the students knew nothing about the language other than numbers and Abcs.

There was the challenge! I should do it. Let me confess that I was really in a bad mood those days. I even couldn't wear my smile while I was at home.. Yes, I cried a little when I thought I would fail. =)

First meeting was enthusiastic. I pushed the students up by narrating a real story about myself. The story was about how I learnt English language! =)

I made an agreement with them to work hard and be attention with me so that I would reward them. I could say all students responded to me except  little. Not all of them were excellent but at least they were responding and doing what I asked them to do.

Those students had desire, but such a bad atmosphere kept them down. I believed that students needed to feel that their teacher thought of them and payed an effort for them. I used to color my activities that I brought to them. ( it was so difficult to print colorful papers for such a huge number, so I divided an A4 paper into 2 parts. Also, I applied pair and group work). Coloring the papers attracted them. Once I wanted to delay the quiz, but they didn't agreed. Their love to the papers kicked quizzes' fear out.

I involved them to work together in designing the class, focused on the point of being it neat and clean is the most important thing. ( It wasn't that good design, but at least it brought a pretty happiness to my ss' hearts)

After a week, as I remembered, I made a little quiz which most of the students faild in. I felt so sad.   All my efforts didn't work well. I should do something!! I thought of rewarding those who worked hard and got good marks. Such thing might motivate others to work hard too.

The second day, I started the class with a strict lecture about my disappointments. Then, I made a poster which name of good students were hold on it. Also, I posted attractive stickers on their papers . Such things worked well in pushing my students up. After that, They asked me to repeat the quiz and I would find the change. They worked hard and I could say I saw a difference..

Time has gone so quickly, saying goodbye was needed. My students loved me as I did. They asked me not to leave. I tried to behave wisely to let my students keep going on without me. I worked on building a good relationship with them and their own teacher. I would not stay for them, but their teacher would do. They should love her and feel with the efforts that she paid too. I suggested to them to make a party for their teacher saying THANKS to her. Students loved the idea. (Students love parties and like doing any thing new and active)

We did a party for the teacher. I was surprised when my students made another party for me in my last day. I was about to cry. Not because of the party and the touched words they said, but because they wrote simple English sentences in the cards they had given to me. I was so proud of them   and I could say to myself, " YAY! I did it" =)

Thanks for taking time for reading such a detailed blog.. =))

P.S. the name which has written on the board is the name of their own teacher. =))