1) The document summarizes the student's reflections on her teaching practicum experience in a kindergarten classroom, where she was able to apply what she learned and test new teaching strategies. 2) She realized the importance of classroom management and having backup plans, and identified these as areas for further improvement. 3) The experience influenced her goals positively, as she now considers teaching kindergarten after being initially fearful of it. She was proud of her work and felt a bond with the children.

1. INSTITUTO DE FORMACIÓN DOCENTE CONTINUA LENGUAS VIVAS
BARILOCHE (A-052)
Profesorado de Inglés – Opción pedagógica a distancia
Práctica Docente I
· Tutor: Cecilia Zemborain
· Nombre del alumno: María Silvia Maestromey Baratçabal
Dirección de correo electrónico: msmaestromey@gmail.com

2. Dimensions of Reflective Learning
Thinking back
The original aim of this project was to learn about children’s behaviour, the way in which
they learn and acquire an additional language. I was able to compare and contrast
everything I studied in Didactics with what the children did in the classroom. As I
proceeded with the assistantship lessons, I was able to feel closer to learning process and I
felt more useful and more connected to the children.
Once I started delivering classes I was able to put into practice and test everything I have
learned during this year. I tried and experimented with the activities I designed and the
material I created and was able to see the reactions of the children as they received them. I
could also notice what worked and what was not so motivating or challenging for them and
I made all the necessary adjustments in order to meet their needs and interests.
I believe this experience was significant not only for me, but also for the learners as well,
since they were able to work with a different teacher that uses a different teaching
approach, different materials and presented them in different ways. They also had more
exposure to the English language, since I tried to use the target language most of the time.
At first, they stated that they did not understand a word when I addressed them because I
only spoke English, but at the end of this experience they were more familiar with the
language and they were able to understand and make use of different strategies in order to
comprehend.
Beside the knowledge on children’s characteristics, their behaviour and abilities I also
needed to use different classroom management techniques while paying attention to the

3. children’s needs. For example, if one needed to go to the bathroom, or needed a tissue to
blow their nose, or if someone started a quarrel.
Through this experience I learned that it takes a lot of time and dedication to plan for very
young learners classes. I also learned that it is always necessary to have a back-up plan in
case the children are not interested in the activity or find it too challenging. I also learned
that I need to perfect my classroom management strategies and I need to learn new ones as
well. I think that is my weakest area.
Thinking Forward
After finishing my practicum and receiving the feedback, I can say that I have two weak
areas, at least, that I need improvement in order to work with very young learners. If I were
able to relive this experience I would try to learn and apply different classroom
management strategies. I learned some songs and used them some times but when some
children got overexcited it was very difficult to calm them down and to get them engaged in
the activity. I should learn different techniques to help me cope with that. The other area I
should improve is the transition between activities. The rest of the areas also need some
polishing, but as these two are my weakest ones, I would focus on them.
This project influenced my future goals in a positive way. Before starting my practicum, I
was terrified of teaching very young learners, I thought that I would not be able to engage
them in the activities and that I was not able to teach them properly. But after going through
this experience, I am now interested in teaching children and I think I might be able to do a
good job. So this experience also affected my future pedagogical decisions because now I
consider kindergarten as a possible work field.

4. Thinking Inward
I think this was a very fulfilling experience, even though it was also very stressful at times,
once it finished I felt proud of all my hard work as well as very emotional for the bond I
created with the children. I now see them sometimes, as I work in the school next to the
kinder and there is only a bar fences that separates the two playgrounds, and they get very
happy and excited when they see me.
I am satisfied with the overall experience, even though I would make some adjustments
when I teach in kinder again. I would take into account all the feedback and comments
made by my tutor and make the necessary changes to deliver better classes in the future.
During the practice I felt tired, overwhelmed and even excited at times, and once it finished
I had a great feeling of accomplishment.
Thinking Outward
Analyzing the world around me, I can see that there is still a big gap between education and
new technologies. I have studied plenty on the subject and I realize that there is an intention
to include new technologies in education, but there is still a lot to do regarding its day to
day use.
One alternative view point is to change to way in which we use new technologies and shift
the way in which we apply them. I think this point of view can be very beneficial to
students, although it would imply a lot of hard work from the teachers, as they should learn
different tools and resources and be creative in the ways to use them in the classroom.
This situation has economic and, I might even say, ethical implications. Not everybody is
able to buy the necessary materials to use the new technologies daily, even less if they have
to be used in a one-on-one fashion. The ethical implications are connected to the way in

5. which some teachers, students and students’ families think about the use of new
technologies in the classroom. Some people are against it and they argue, for example, that
by typing and not using handwriting, students might lose some necessary fine motor skills
and they would not be able to apply spelling rules properly.
Conclusion
To conclude my reflection, I will say that it was a very rewarding and fulfilling experience,
and that I learned much more than I expected. Moreover, I now have a deeper respect for
kindergarten teachers and I value them even more than before. I also feel that now I am
closer to being ready to become a very young learners’ teacher.