This document summarizes the student's experience completing their teaching practicum with a class of 34 primary school students in Argentina. Some of the key challenges included motivating unengaged students, dealing with personal issues and school closures, and having lesson plans reviewed by two teachers. The student worked to make lessons engaging by including games and speaking English. Over time, student participation improved. The experience helped the student develop strategies for motivating reluctant language learners and improved their confidence in managing a large class.

1. INSTITUTO DE FORMACIÓN DOCENTE CONTINUA
LENGUAS VIVAS BARILOCHE (A-052)
Profesorado de Inglés- opción pedagógica a distancia
Subject:TallerdePrácticadocente
Student:MuñozNatalia
Tutor:AureliaVelazquez
Dimensionsof reflective learning
“Reflecting backon my primary level experience
Thinking back
To begin, I have to say that this was one the most enriching experiences I have had during
my practicum period. The class was composed by 34 students who were in first year of the
secondary school. Most of the kids were not motivated and engaged to learn English since
they felt nervous while I was doing my observation period so I knew that my biggest challenge
was to motivate them and to create a relaxing atmosphere where they could learn English.
I think that this part of my practicum period was extremely stressful since I had many personal
issues and at the same time the school was closed since it had a problem with the heating
system so I had to wait almost 2 months to start with this part of my practicum.
As soon as I started, the teacher who was also in charge of the English department at school
told me that I had to send him every single lesson plan and he was going to check and send
me his feedback so I had two teachers checking my lesson plan. At the beginning, it was
annoying but then I understood that it was his class and he wanted the best for them and me
too.
Planning every lesson was time consuming and tiring since I had to think who to motivate all
my students and at the same teach them the new topics. Their course book was grammar

2. based so it lack of vocabulary, reading and engaging activities so most of the lesson plan had
to be planned with my activities. I tried to include as much games as I could to practice the
new vocabulary so students would motivate. Another point that I noticed during my
observation period was that the teacher did not speak in English to them so I thought that the
best was going to be start speaking in English to them and at the same time help me with
gestures and body movements to be understood. At first, the students were a little bit lost but
after 15 minutes, I had 34 students who understood English and were motivated with the
activities.
My first class was the one that set the path for this enriching and enjoyable experience in the
primary level since I felt secure with the activities and all my students participated during the
class. At the end of the class, they asked me if I was going to return the following class and
even my observer said that the class was a success.
The second class was different since not all them wanted to participate in the class and there
was a little group of five who finished all the activities earlier so this was a problem as they got
bored and started to complain. At this time, I realized that I had to make the groups and not
allowing them to gather as they wanted if not I would have the same problem the following
classes.
In my last class, I prepared two games so students could have fun and revise the vocabulary
and I gave to each of them a simple souvenir as a prize when they finished the last game. I
was applauded by the whole class and they asked if I could stay with them for the rest of the
year. I have to confess that I felt proud of my work and that I did my best with them.
Thinking forward
I believe that this experience helps me to develop different strategies to motivate learners
who are reluctant to learn a second language. It was a big challenge to deal with 34 students
who had never had contact with English so every lesson had to be planned carefully so they
could understand and at the same time be motivated to carry out the activities.
As I´m writing this paper I realized that it is the first time that I have taught to such a large
class but I believe that I could have done it better in some moments of my classes, however
the mistakes I made helped me to improve and to try to do my best in each class. It was really
hard to plan each class as I worked in three different places so most of my lesson plans were
submitted late so I know that is something I should try to change. In every lesson, I tried to
make as much photocopies as I could so learners did not spend time copying from the board.
Due to this, I spent a lot of money from my pocket, as learners did not have the money to buy
their own material.
This experience taught me the process of learning can be stressful so it depends on the
teacher and the activities that are designed how the kids will feel. At the end of this period, I
feel more confident with my performance since I learnt a lot from my observer and my tutor
who were always giving me their feedback and different point of view.

3. Thinking outward
I think that learners are sometimes underestimated so the teachers do not speak to them in
English during the class. I believe that in order to learn a second language you need to listen,
understand and get used to this new language. A relaxed atmosphere is also need to learn a
different language since learners might feel nervous while learning. The group responded well
when I spoke most of the class in English since I was a kind of clown in front of them as I
helped myself with gestures and body movements to be understood.
The social and economic situation makes them not to be motivated to learn English since they
think that is not worthy and they will never use it so it was a great challenge to change their
perspective about learning a second language and engage them in the classes.
Conclusion
I think that after finishing this period I felt more relaxed since I knew I had to deal with a large
class and I did not know if I was able to do it. I had to plan carefully each class and every
game so they could be motivated but at the same time be quiet enough to pay attention and
carry out their activities properly. It was a time consuming period and stressful at the same
time but at the end I can conclude that the teacher is the one who is in charge of making a
difference with their students.