Final assessment

1. Beramendi, Cintia
Final Assessment
Kindergarten
Introduction
A few months ago, after visiting many schools in order to find one that would let me do my
practicum periods, and with any successful result I contacted my tutor and asked her for
some advice. Fortunately, she told me that “Lenguas Vivas” has made a “convenio” with
“Escuelas de la UNS”, thus I approached the “Escuela de Educación Inicial y Primaria”
where I talked with the headmistress and the English teacher, and my journey began.
We agreed on a schedule so I could start my kindergarten practicum period in 1st
grade, as
students in that school do not have English until that grade.
In order to start, I observed two lessons so as to become familiar with the group of
students, the teacher, as well as the teaching methods used by her, activities and
strategies.
After those observations I started developing my own lesson plans, which demanded from
me more time than I’ve expected, and I taught 7 lessons because I had to teach 150
minutes and lessons only lasted between 20 and 25 minutes.
I have to say that it hasn’t been an easy work, mostly because I’ve been extremely
nervous but it hasn’t been impossible. I’ve learnt many things involved in the teaching
process and I’m sure they’ll be of great help in the future.
Development
To begin with, the original aim of this experience was to apply the knowledge we’ve
acquired during the four years of the “profesorado”, namely strategies, methods,
psychological theories, among others. However, I have to say that it isn’t as easy as it
sounds, since in my experience, and in order to design and develop a lesson plan I had to
do a careful and deep work that lasted between three or four days. As regards the
objectives, activities and use of resources I tried to work with material and activities that
were the most authentic, meaningful and purposeful as possible, and the same with the
objectives I tried to fulfill during my lessons. In every lesson, I tried to design activities
according to “Bloom’s taxonomy” and presented students with receptive activities so as
that then, they could use the language actively. I designed all my lessons based on the
communicative approach since the idea was that students, although they are too young
yet, could understand and communicate in the target language.
Besides, I think that it was significant for students because during the lessons students
understood what I was saying told or asking asked them, and despite I had to resort to
some teaching strategies such as miming, exemplifying, among others, sometimes they
were able to “catch” my suggestions immediately. So, the activities and materials used
were significant as we could communicate in the language most of the time.

2. To continue with, many aspects namely, skills and knowledge were necessary to develop
this teaching experience.
First of all, I had to know my students’ needs as well as learning preferences and styles.
For instance, they really enjoyed TPR activities and songs. Second, I had to apply my
knowledge from different subjects in order to design the lessons according to the specific
context in which I developed them. Furthermore, I had to negotiate among the activities I
had planned since for instance in the first lesson I took a puppet to it and students didn’t
seem too much interested in it. The same happened in other lessons when I had to finish
an activity and change it in order to maintain students’ motivation.
So, I have to say that it has been a really rewarded experience from which I learnt a lot.
Now, I know that despite young children are “young” they are able to understand and
communicate in the foreign language; something I believed it was more difficult to achieve.
Besides, I learnt that not everything happens as we may plan it and we need to be able to
change different aspects during our lessons as well as to negotiate with our students, their
interests and needs.
As regards the aspects to take into account in the future, this experience has made me
confirm that I really like working with children as they make you forget about everything
and truly enjoy every lesson. However, if I had the chance to develop this practice again I
would make many changes and take a more holistic view within the aspects to take into
account at the moment of thinking about each lesson. What I’m trying to say is that some
aspects such as children misbehavior, need to be really thought beforehand in order to
know how to settle them down as well as what type of optional activities could be given to
them in order to continue working without too much distraction.
But all in all I really enjoyed this experience and it has influenced my future goals since, as
I said before, I really confirm I want to work with little children.
To continue with, and thinking inwardly I can say that I’m extremely happy because I’m a
very shy person, and with only thinking about my practicum periods was enough to make
me feel sick. I couldn’t imagine the fact of being too much exposed in front of a teacher
and then having to record my lessons and so on. However, and to my surprise it wasn’t as
bad as I thought; I could do it, at least the first period. Besides, and most important,
despite I entered the school really nervous, as I entered the classroom my nerves
disappeared, so I can say that I’m satisfied with the way I developed them.
Finally, and thinking outwardly, I may say that I consider others’ viewpoints of great
importance since I’m learning so I need to take into account others’ opinions. However,
during my teaching lessons, the teacher who observed me always had to rush since she is
in charge of all the primary courses at the school so a few comments were given to me.
Some of them were really helpful to improve timing for instance, since I had problems in
considering the appropriate amount of time for each activity, but then I could manage to
improve in this aspect. Besides, the comments of my tutors were also of paramount
importance since they gave me courage, and helped me to recognize what aspects were
ok and which ones needed improvement. I think that we need others’ viewpoints during
our entire career since they help us solve problems, improve our lessons, and help
students, as well as teachers.
Conclusion
To conclude, I have to say that although I haven’t finished my course of studies yet, and
I’m still learning, I’m really satisfied with my own teaching process during this short period
and with my own progress too. Watching me through the recorded videos were was a
Comentario [eic1]: I´m so glad to
hear that!

3. helpful tool pedagogical resources to identify better my mistakes, strengths and
weaknesses. Besides, I know that a long way waits to me since learning is part of our
entire career, but I’m willing to take advantage of every challenge, experience and
situation that are to come. I’m satisfied because I could overcome my fears, at least in this
period, and that gave me courage to continue in this long way.
Dear Cintia,
I am quite satisfied that you are able to describe , discuss and reflect upon your kindergarten
practicum experiences. Definitely, this first encounter with the teaching practice helped
both the development of your teaching skills and techniques framed by methods and your
commitment towards this responsible profession. Well done ! Big hug . Eugenia