The trainee observed an English lesson at a primary school to gain experience. The teacher introduced new vocabulary about days, months, dates and weather [1]. Materials like flashcards were used to help students remember [2]. Most students struggled and the teacher had to repeat instructions in Spanish. In her first lesson, the trainee used a storybook and activities to teach vocabulary about family members. Students were engaged throughout and seemed to enjoy the lesson. For future lessons, she will consider allowing more time for student work [3].

1. Trainee’s name: Natalia Rodrigues
Practicum level: Second period
Group: 6° A
Date: Wednesday, 29th
July
Observation number: 1
Today I made my observation in Primary level. I arrived at the school half an hour before the
class, in order to meet the English teacher and see the classroom before the kids started the
lesson.
The teacher went to the kids´ classroom and took them to the English classroom where I was
waiting. Then, she said “Good morning” to the kids and she introduced myself. She told them
that I was going to stay and work with them for some classes. I said “Good morning” to them and
asked them how they were. I could see that the teacher tried to use English during most of the
class, as she had already told. As it was their first English lesson after winter holidays, kids
found it difficult to understand what the teacher said or asked to them. In those cases, the
teacher repeated in Spanish.
First, the teacher asked students what they did during winter holidays and if they had fun. She
asked in English and then repeated in Spanish. Students answered in Spanish.
The lesson was based on revision of topics they had studied before holidays. They revised days
of the week, months on the year and ordinal number in order to talk about certain dates such as
birthdays. The revision was oral and the teacher used different activities to make them
participate and I was also invited to participate so that students could interact with me. I could
see that many students were really shy and it was difficult to hear them when they spoke. I
could realise that the level of the group was very low, and that they couldn´t remember basic
vocabulary, such as numbers or days. The teacher wrote the days and months on the board while
the activity was going on. Then, they revised ordinal numbers and she wrote them on the board
too.
After that, the teacher told them to copy everything in their notebooks and she gave them
some questions to answer: When is your birthday? When do we celebrate Flag Day / Christmas?
When is your teacher birthday? What day is it today? She read the questions aloud and she
reminded them to use the ordinal numbers in order to answer. Students started coping and I
could see that most of them were really slow, and too much time was devoted to that. When
some of the finished copying, some other were just starting. I walked around the classroom to
see how they worked. Later, they started answering the questions, but it was difficult for them.
I walked around and helped them when necessary. Some students were talking instead of
working so the teacher had to call their attention many times. Besides, some students were
eating in the classroom, but the teacher left them do it. She had already told me that most of
Comentario [1]: What teaching
strategies did she apply to help learners
understand?
Comentario [2]: what materials did
she use to help students remember?
Did she use songs and chants, for
instance?
Comentario [3]: Was it more
convenient to give SS the questions on
a worksheet?

2. the students didn´t even have breakfast at home, and as they had the English lesson from 11 am
to 1 pm, they were really hungry. She also told me that she usually gave them 5 minutes in the
middle of the lesson to go outside the classroom and eat something. This lesson she couldn´t
give them that time as they were working too slow.
They checked their work on the board. The teacher asked me to choose a number from 1 to 24
and she called the student with that number in her list to come to the front and answer a
question. They all worked together, and I could see that they had some problems when they had
to give full answers. Once they finished this activity, the teacher delivered a copy in which
students had a list of words and they were asked to classify them into days, months, weather
and seasons. Before working with the copy, the teacher made a revision of the weather and
seasons (a topic they had seen before winter holidays). Students could not remember so many
words.
The lesson was over and before saying goodbye, the teacher asked students to name the topics
they had revised that lesson and to give some examples.
Next week I am going to deliver my first lesson in this classroom. This observation helped me to
understand how students work, their level of English, their interests, strengths and difficulties.
I could interact with them and they had the possibility of talking to me and asking for help when
needed.
Trainee’s name: Natalia Rodrigues
Practicum level: Second period
Group: 6th
A – Primary level
Date: Wednesday, 5th August
Lesson number: 1
1. What pedagogical principles supported the planning and delivery of this lesson?
I used the Communicative Approach, developing activities in meaningful contexts and
encouraging students to participate during the whole class. I can say that both, the planning and
the lesson were based on the Communicative Approach. The organisation of the lesson was based
on the PPP method, as kids were able to activate previous knowledge, identify and use the new
vocabulary and incorporate the new structure. I could introduce the new structure in a
meaningful context and then students were able to practice it and to build their own sentences
at the end of the lesson.
2. What teaching strategies did you use? Which ones were effective? Why / why not?
Comentario [4]: What would you
have done?
Comentario [5]: Why do you think
they didn't?
Comentario [6]: Indeed, try to
consider what thype of work SS have
been doing in class and why is it that
they have difficulties to remember... Is it
their own characteristic? Are they
motivated and engaged?
Have a great start!
Cecilia
Comentario [7]: So what theories of
learning sustained the planning?

3. I applied strategies related to activating students’ previous knowledge on the topic by asking
questions using flashcards before starting; checking for understanding by using questions such
as “What is this? Do you understand? Is it clear?; modeling, showing and pointing while I was
introducing new vocabulary; explaining instructions of the activities; oral drill and practice
through a worksheet. There is something important to highlight here and it´s the kids’ general
inner characteristic. Most of the students in this classroom are shy and introvert and it is too
difficult for them to express their ideas and opinions, and this is something I need to consider
while developing my lessons. The teacher had already told me this and I also noticed it during my
observation. I think that the atmosphere that I could build during this lesson allowed kids to
feel secure and eager to participate. In some cases I had to get close to their desks in order to
listen to what they were trying to say, but at least they made the effort to speak in front of
their partners (something not so common according to the teacher).
I took different learning styles into account when I decided on the appropriate teaching
strategies and the activities to develop for the group, as not all children learn the same way. In
this class I considered visual learning style (when students needed to look at different
flashcards and to the story that I brought) and auditory learning style (as oral interaction
prevailed).
3. How did the students react to your teaching, to the activities and the materials? How
did they react to the lesson?
They reacted really well. I could see how students got involved in every activity. They paid
attention to my instructions during the whole class and they reacted to my questions positively.
They also asked me questions when they could not understand or they needed help. As I said
before, there was a nice atmosphere in the classroom.
4. What aspects of the lesson do you consider successful?
Students could understand my questions, instructions and explanations without major problems,
as I used very simple instructions as well as miming, modelling and visual aids.
My voice was loud and clear, and the intonation that I used was proper for the kids. These
factors helped me a lot in order to attract students´ attention. Besides, the relationship that I
established with the kids was really good, I congratulated them for their job, giving them
encouraging messages. I think that they felt comfortable with my presence in the classroom.
The story that I chose was also successful, they really loved it. As it was a big book, they could
see the pictures clearly.
Comentario [8]: Excellent!
Comentario [9]: =)
Comentario [10]: The right choice,
indeed!

4. 5. What aspects of the lesson require change / improvement?
I believe that this lesson went on as expected. Perhaps, I should think about more motivating or
attractive activities for students, but I felt they really enjoyed the lesson. Fortunately, I
didn´t find any aspect that requires change or improvement.
6. What do you find useful of this lesson that will help you plan the next one?
I think that the seating arrangement (in a semi circle facing the board) was really useful,
especially when I told them the story, as all the students could see the pictures without
problem. Apart from this, this seating arrangement allowed me to establish eye contact and
good interaction with the kids. I think I would consider the same class organisation for the next
lesson.
Giving students enough time when they have to work on their own or in pairs is also an aspect
that I will consider in my next planning. I should be aware of the students´ work rate.
Trainee’s name: Natalia Rodrigues
Practicum level: Second period
Group: 6th
A – Primary level
Date: Wednesday, 12th August
Lesson number: 2
1. What pedagogical principles supported the planning and delivery of this lesson?
I used the Communicative Approach again, developing activities in meaningful contexts and
encouraging students to participate during the whole class. The planning and the lesson were
based on the Communicative Approach. The organisation of the lesson was based on the PPP
method, as kids were able to activate previous knowledge, identify and use the new vocabulary
and incorporate the new structure. I could introduce the new structure in a meaningful context
and then students were able to practice it. Then, my role was of a prompter and facilitator so
that students could interact with each other and the material presented.
2. What teaching strategies did you use? Which ones were effective? Why / why not?
I applied strategies related to activating students’ previous knowledge on the topic by asking
questions using a Power Point presentation with pictures from the story that I had told them
the previous class. I also checked understanding by using questions such as “What is this? Is
Comentario [11]: Such as?
Comentario [12]: Yes!!
Comentario [13]: Congratulations on
your work, Natalia!! Keep it up!
Comentario [14]: =)

5. this…? Do you understand? Is it clear?. Besides, I modeled, showed and pointed while I was
introducing new vocabulary; I explained instructions of the activities; oral drills and practice
through a worksheet, an activity from their book and a video. As I stated in my previous journal,
most of the students in this classroom are shy and introvert and it is too difficult for them to
express their ideas and opinions. Again, during this lesson I could build an atmosphere that
allowed kids to feel secure and eager to participate. They were ready to participate and work
hard.
I took different learning styles into account when I decided on the appropriate teaching
strategies and the activities to develop for the group, as not all children learn the same way. In
this class I considered visual learning style (when students needed to look at different Power
Point Presentations and to the video that I brought), kinaesthetic (when students were assigned
a family member and they went to the front of the class to mime an action of their choice) and
auditory learning style (as oral interaction prevailed).
3. How did the students react to your teaching, to the activities and the materials? How
did they react to the lesson?
They reacted really well, getting involved in every activity. They paid attention to my
instructions during the whole class and they reacted to my questions positively. They also asked
me questions when they could not understand or they needed help. I could see that they really
loved the game in which they had to mime actions! They also liked the video of Mr. Bean that I
showed them, they clapped after watching it! Apart from this, the image projected was so clear
that they could enjoy the Power Point presentations and the video a lot. There was a nice
atmosphere in the classroom.
4. What aspects of the lesson do you consider successful?
Students could understand my questions, instructions and explanations without major problems,
as I used very simple instructions as well as miming, modelling and visual aids.
My voice was loud and clear, and the intonation that I used was proper for the kids. These
factors helped me a lot in order to attract students´ attention. Besides, the relationship that I
established with the kids was really good, I congratulated them for their job, giving them
encouraging messages. I think that they felt comfortable with my presence in the classroom.
As I said before, the video and the game were successful. I could perceive that the use of ICT
in this lesson was totally motivating for them. The seating arrangement that I chose in a semi
circle facing the board as the first lesson was great. They could clearly see the projections that
I showed them during the whole class. Besides, I could clearly see their faces while talking to
them and how they worked in pairs.
Comentario [15]: Excellent
strategies! Varied activities!!
Comentario [16]: This proves how
engaged they get if they are exposed to
a meaningful context and variety of
activities...=)
Comentario [17]: Good!
Comentario [18]: Fantastic!

6. 5. What aspects of the lesson require change / improvement?
I believe that this lesson went on as expected. The activities were more motivating and
attractive for students, such as the game and also the video presented, which was funny for
them. I felt they really enjoyed the lesson.
6. What do you find useful of this lesson that will help you plan the next one?
This was my last lesson in Primary level and I will consider everything that I learnt during this
great experience to work with my own students. Comentario [19]: I am looking
forward to receiving the videos Natalia.
You have done a great job!!!
You may now upload these entries to
the campus.
Way to go!
Cecilia