TEFL Journal of Morphosyntax UNA Nicoya.pptx

English as a Foreign Language Teaching Major
Fourth Year Cohort
May, June, July 2022 issue
Dr. Gilberto Hernández Quirós
UNA Nicoya TEFL Academic Professor
TEFL Journal of Morphosyntax
A student-generated journal of morphosyntax in TEFL
UNA Nicoya Chorotega Regional Campus

TEFL Journal of
Morphosyntax
TEFL Journal of Morphosyntax is an
academic, student-generated monthly
journal of written expression at the
National University of Costa Rica, Nicoya
Campus as part of the Morphology and
Syntax in English as a Foreign
Language. It is intended to provide
students with opportunities to publish
their learning experiences, do research
and share emerging meaningful,
innovative teaching approaches and
dynamics with the UNA community.
TEFL Journal of Didactics : a student-generated journal of written expression.
UNA Nicoya 2021 2

Our Team
Contributors: English as a Foreign Language Teaching Major Fourth Year Cohort
Editor in Chief: Prof. Dr. Gilberto Hernández Quirós
Course: Morphology and Syntax in Teaching English as a Foreign Language
Themes: morphology, syntax, morphemes, inflectional morpheme, derivational
morphemes,methodology, pedagogy, didactics, innovative teaching approaches,
remote presence learning and teaching
Disclaimer:
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various student authors in
this journal do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the
whole UNA community at all its different campuses. This journal is rather a
project for non-native speakers of English in the course of Morphology and
Syntax in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Its goal is to empower
students to project and strengthen their writing skills as accurately and
professionally as possible. There may be linguistic inaccuracies which will serve
to embark on a continuous improvement process.
TEFL Journal of Didactics: a student-generated journal of didactics. UNA Nicoya 2021 3
Drone photo of San Blas Colonial Church, square and Central Park of Nicoya.

/ˌmɔr foʊˈsɪn tæks /
Morphology /mɔːrˈfɑː.lə.dʒi/ is the branch of linguistics (and one of the
major components of grammar) that studies word structures, especially
regarding morphemes, which are the smallest units of language. They can be
base words or components that form words, such as affixes.
Syntax /ˈsɪn.tæks/ refers to the arrangement of words and phrases to create
to create well-formed sentences in a language.

OUR TEAM
/niˈɑː.lə.dʒɪ.zəm/

OUR TEAM
/ɪnˌtɝː.prəˈteɪ.ʃən/

Inside this issue
(pages 13 to 28)
PAGE
• People’s Mental Health after the First Years of the COVID-19 Pandemic 13
By Julissa Bermúdez Campos
• Costa Rica: Opening the Way to a Cleaner Planet 16
By Carolina Gómez Herrera
• Racial Injustice 20
By Estefanía Gómez Alfaro
• Integrating Gamification in the Classroom 23
By Óscar Moraga Quesada
• Costa Rica’s Education System 26
By Gloriana Melissa Venegas Ramírez

Inside this issue
(pages 29 to 44)
PAGE
• A for Effort 29
By Katherine Castro Arias
• Education is Affected by the Use of Sanitary Masks 34
By Michelle Serrano Jaen
• Xenophobia in the Switzerland of Central America 36
• By David Montiel
• Teaching in Costa Rica: The Role of ICTs 41
By Lauren Miranda Aguirre

Inside this issue
(pages 45 to 61)
PAGE
• Tourism and the Pandemic 45
By Benier Vargas Pérez
• The Teacher’s Role and its Impact on Students 48
By Pilar Sofía Martínez Matarrita
• Tourism in Coastal Areas 51
By Manuel Hernán Jiménez Casanova
• The Impact of Technology During the Pandemic 55
By Sheyla Michelle Gutiérrez Méndez
• Education During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic 59
By Geisel Villagra Pérez

Inside this issue
(pages 62 to 75)
PAGE
• The Importance of Face-to-Face Education 62
By María Paula Vindas Gómez
• The Process of Education from the Eyes of a Future Educator 64
By Alicia Alejandra Campos Coca
• Mindfulness and Meditation: Implementing a Transformative Pedagogy in the Classroom 67
By Eimy Fabiola Espinoza Obando
• Learning English with Digital Platforms in Times of COVID-19 70
By Hilary Ruiz Solera
• Morphosyntax: The Backbone of the Language 73
Gilberto Hernández Quirós

People’s Mental Health after the first Years of the
COVID-19 Pandemic
Key words: COVID-19, pandemic, mental health, diseases, disorder
“If people gave the same importance to
physical health as to mental health, I'm
sure everything would be different. Let's
be more empathetic and optimistic.”

People’s Mental
Health after the
First Year of the
Covid –19 Pandemic
14
The COVID-19 pandemic was an event that completely changed
people's lives since they were not only physically affected by the
disease, but also mentally. When it comes to the fact that the
pandemic affected the mental health of many people, it refers to real
data that indicates how many people began to have anxiety disorders,
depression, stress, among other feelings that anyone can experience.
There is a lot of data that indicates that in the first years of the
pandemic, many people panicked and began to behave differently. For
example, after the declaration of quarantine worldwide, everyone
began to compulsively shop for groceries and the fear was getting
worse every day. Therefore, it is believed that this was one of the many
reasons that began to affect people's mental health.
On the other hand, it is believed that many of the first COVID-19
patients who died, were due to respiratory arrest, heart attack, among
other cardiovascular diseases that can be seriously affected by
psychotic disorders such as anxiety, stress and depression.

Let’s analyze this
data 1 3
Almost 3 years have passed since
the COVID-19 pandemic began to
spread throughout the world. Many
people will never be the same since
they lost family, friends, their jobs,
among other things of great
sentimental value. However, every
day we are closer to leading a
normal life, free of stress and giving
the priority that both the physical
and mental health of a person
deserves.
15

Costa Rica: Opening the
Way to a Cleaner Planet
Gómez, C. (2022). Costa Rica: Opening the Way to a Cleaner
Planet. TEFL Journal of Morphology and Syntax. National
University of Costa Rica, Nicoya Campus.
Key words: world, countries, economy, emissions, environment
.
“Costa Rica is positioned as a world leader by
search to create a cleaner planet.”

Costa Rica has surprised the world by positioning itself as a global
environmental leader. Now the Central American nation is embracing the
ultimate ecological challenge with a detailed plan to decarbonize its economy.
Many countries have promised to do the same - reducing emissions is a key
commitment of the signatories. Nevertheless, Costa Rica is one of the first to
turn the promises into a solid plan and make sense of them in economic and
social terms. In recognition of its historic commitment to ambitious policies to
protect the planet's natural resources and fight climate change, Costa Rica
received the Champions of the Earth award from the United Nations
Environment Program.
Costa Rica: Opening theWay to a
Cleaner Planet

On the other hand, Costa Rica's National Decarbonization Plan includes medium-
and long-term goals to reform transportation, energy, waste management, and land
use. The goal is to achieve net zero emissions, which means that the country will not
produce more emissions than it can offset, through actions such as maintaining and
expanding its forests. In addition, the plan will help the country meet its
commitments sustainable development.
Costa Rica: Opening theWay to a
Cleaner Planet

Racial
Injustice
Gómez, E. (2022). Racial Injustice. TEFL Journal of
Morphology and Syntax. National University of Costa Rica,
Nicoya Campus.
“Racial injustice must be eliminated on our
system. Inequality should no place in our
society.”
Key words: issues, racism, society, injustice, discrimination

Racial Injustice
Racial injustice is a very controversial issue in some countries of the world since it transcends our skin
color or because of different ideologies. Racism is an unquestionable prejudice that is often linked to
a development model that proposes inequality and rejection of citizenship. However, as humanity
has developed, fewer situations have been seen where racial injustice is reflected, but this does not
mean that injustice has been eliminated.
In recent years, there have been situations that have caused unleashing and anger on the part of
people of color who reside in the United States and other parts of the world, a clear example of this
type of situation is the death of the African American George Floyd, who died during an arrest after a
Minneapolis police officer put his knees on his neck for nearly eight minutes while three other police
officers just watched the situation and prevented others from preventing what was happening. And
this is where we ask ourselves, will it be possible to put an end to racism and racial and social
injustice that exists in our society? I believe that racial discrimination and social injustice have no
place in our society, but to end racism we must work together to have more just, democratic, and
egalitarian societies.

Integrating
Gamification in the
classroom
“Interaction is an important factor in the classroom
because it involves students and their context. When
there is not interaction, there is not a students-centered
class.”
Key words: gaming, educator, engagement, interaction,
classroom

Integrating gamification in the classroom
Gamification is easy to define; it is when you add a game like elements in task that we normally do to
encourage participation (Merriam Webster, 2022). These elements can be digital. The COVID 19 pandemic
has unveiled the weaknesses of our educational system. It is impossible to deny that the pandemic has
been harmful to our society in many ways, but at the same time it has pushed us to show the best version
of us. Going back to the gamification, it is not a new term, but the increasingly adaptation of the curricula to
virtual environments, has brought it to light. When we talk about gamification, immediately we relate it to
interaction and engagement. How do we make the learning process meaningful for students? Of course, we
need to observe our class necessities. The problem with today’s students is that they do not feel any
connection with the subject of study. Teachers must go beyond the classic methodologies that are boring to
students, that is why the disengagement is very common; thus, they are not interested in learning.
Interaction is an important factor in the classroom because it involves students and their context. When
there is not interaction, there is not a students-centered class.

2 by Óscar Moraga Quesada
From my little experience, when a teacher is worried about interaction, the class automatically
becomes meaningful to students, and after making classes meaningful, engagement comes. I have
a tutorship, and as tutor I get evaluated from students. Most of the students highlighted something
important; the tutor makes the tutorship interactive and fun. It is not only about gaming, but also
about applying the information they get to real-life situations. Naturally, I always use gamification
within the class so they can practice, review and learn new topics while they play. Students happen
to be very competitive. I always start the class playing with them with different online tools such as
Mentimeter, Genially, Kahoot, Blooket, among others. These apps have free versions that allow you
to construct interactive material and gamification. In conclusion, as educators, we need to be
aware that students’ attitudes towards learning are linked the way we teach. The old worksheets,
fill in blank practices, and boring matching assessments are old fashioned and do not teach; they
aim disengagement.

Costa Rica’s Education System
Long, A., (2015)
By Gloriana Venegas Ramírez
Key words: education, knowledge, government, institution,
country
“The world will not change for us; we
have to be ready for it and everything
it brings.”

Costa Rica is one of the countries in which education is completely free and compulsory for all its
citizens. There are more than four thousand schools in the country and in each Costa Rican town
there is a school and/or a college where many students attend.
Part of the educational system of Costa Rica has public and private schools, colleges and universities.
The Costa Rican government invests a monthly percentage of its national budget for improvements
or other needs of primary and secondary schools to guarantee a quality education, whether on
infrastructure or personnel. That is the reason why today there are better institutions and more
teachers than police officers.
On the other hand, most of the time the public area from which many students benefit in different
ways, include food, photocopies, scholarships, and of course, the knowledge and learning of
different subjects.
Costa Rica’s Educational System
By Gloriana Venegas Ramírez

However, we cannot say that everyone has the same way of thinking. In conclusion,
education in Costa Rica is one of the most important things in the country, since the
government and the rest of society is looking for improvement and a professional and
quality education for Costa Ricans and thus be able to get ahead as a country.
Long, A. (2015, June 24). Costa Rica’s Education System. Costa Rica.
https://www.costarica.com/relocation/costa-ricas-education-system

A for Effort School
“Education is the passport to the
future, for tomorrow belongs to those
who prepare for it today.”
– Malcolm X.
Key words: education, English, teaching, learning, individuality

A for Effort
Education is the key to have a better future. Sometimes
the education we get from the institutions in which we
study is not enough especially if we are learning a second
language. For this reason, an English teaching project was
born in Nicoya, Guanacaste.
Valentina Méndez Berríos is 23 years old and is the
founder of this private and individual project called “A for
Effort School.” The founder states the following:

In 2016, when I started my English Bachelor’s degree with emphasis in translation at the University of Costa Rica,
I met many children from my community that needed my help with their English assignments. For this reason, I
decided to help them being paid with 1500 colones. However, in 2017 I went to the Rodrigo Facio Central
Campus and until 2020 started again the project because I came back to Nicoya. I have worked with many
populations at “A for Effort School.” Commonly, I work with primary school kids, but I also teach teenagers and
adults. In 2021, I decided to formalize the project by choosing the name “A for Effort”, which is an English
expression known in Spanish as “un 10 o un 100 por el esfuerzo.”

My teaching philosophy always has adapted to the idea that students are much more
than a grade; to the contrary, there are people full of skills and effort for learning a
second language. Recently the school keeps 24 pupils who are assisted individually and
personalized once a week. In class time, the students learn vocabulary through visual
help and phonetic transcription, grammar, pronunciation and listening by digital
exercises. Moreover, we do verification vocabulary tests at the end of each unit to be
sure if the learners have comprehended the topics.
My academic background consists of an English Bachelor’s degree with emphasis in
translation from UCR and licentiate degree in Education Science with emphasis in
teaching from Universidad de San José. Regarding the bachelor's degree, I was the only
student from that major with the best grade in the graduation ceremony, I had a reward
with the best grades from the whole graduation.

In relation to my labor experience, I have worked as a teacher for Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano,
the Ministry of Public Education of Costa Rica, and currently I work as a professor at UCR. I have worked with all
populations, from kids until elderly people and the most important learning from that experience is that all
students learn in different ways. Likewise, my teaching philosophy is based on empathy and respect for the
individual perspective of each student. Teaching for me is not a job, it is a privilege that allows me to motivate
pupils to become the best version of themselves and to believe in their abilities. Thank you for the opportunity of
publishing this dear project which means a lot to me.
-Licda. Valentina Méndez Berríos

Education is affected by the use of
sanitary masks
Serrano, M. (2022). Education is affected by the use of sanitary
masks. TEFL journal of Morphosyntax. National University of Costa
Rica, Campus Nicoya.
Key words: pandemic, education, problems, communication,
children
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
Nelson Mandela

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it many changes, which have affected the different
educational systems; one of these is the use of sanitary masks. Recently, I discovered that the use
of these affects the learning and teaching processes, mainly the children and the teachers who
teach them. Many parents have mentioned that their children have difficulty interacting with
communication problems or physical recognition of the people around them. On the other hand,
teachers have problems showing certain expressions, or in the case of English teachers, they
have difficulties for children to observe the gestures of words and even the use of the mask
interferes with the pronunciation of words or phrases. That is, the students do not listen well
what their teacher is trying to say, interrupting their learning process. This problem does not only
develop in schools and with children as young students and teachers in high schools and
universities have these same problems. Unfortunately, a viable solution to this problem cannot
be presented due to the health regulations against COVID-19, which are used to prevent its
spread. For this reason, the only thing that teachers and students can do is hold out until the
situation is resolved or conditions change.
Education is Affected by the Use of Sanitary Masks

Xenophobia in the
Switzerland of
Central America
By David Montiel
Montiel, D. (2022). Xenophobia In The Switzerland of Central
America. TEFL Journal of Morphology and Syntax. National
Key words: xenophobia, poor, education, immigrants,
community
“Education is a door for growth and understanding,
embracing our differences for a better community, while
growing together as a society.”

Xenophobia In The Switzerland of Central America
We can see Costa Rica as a bridge between the Americas, and as a result there are
many immigrants, both from countries with conflicts like Nicaragua, El Salvador,
and Colombia, and countries that have a high standards of living like the United
States, Canada, and Uruguay. Generally speaking, we see our country as the
country of Pura Vida, and as a country that does not spend time in hateful
movements, but if we pay careful attention, we can see that that is not the case.
We can see cases of xenophobia, racism, and homophobia. In this, we will focus
on xenophobia.

We have a neighboring country that, since I have conscience, it has
been in both political and economical trouble and uproar; that country
happens to be Nicaragua. Because we live in a country of higher
standard of living, we see them as a burden in our society, that they do
not deserve to live in our country for a better future. Our country
believes that they are taking our jobs, when in reality they are working
on jobs that Costa Ricans do not want to do such as agriculture,
construction, and house cleaning.

The thing with xenophobia is that we do not have any problems if the people that come in are white,
and those coming from Europe or from the United States and Canada. Society regards them as
superior, or that just by staying here is going to make the country better, even when they do not come
here to work, just using the country as a vacation spot. If we teach our younger generations that every
immigrant that comes has a role in making our country stronger in the economic sense, we will have
less crimes of hate against immigrants. There are cases that kids from other countries suffer bullying
just because they have an accent that is not Costa Rican. This could create a sense of trying to lose
their identities because they will try to fit in with the local culture.

In conclusion, as a country we need to educate both young and old citizens to accept and include
immigrants in both our economy and society. Through the process, we could be a better country with
less hate to share.

Teaching in Costa Rica:
The Role of ICTs
Miranda, L. (2022). Teaching English in Costa Rica: The role of
ICTs. TEFL Journal of Morphology and Syntax. National
Key words: education, gap, technology, teaching, information
“Are Costa Rican teachers properly prepared to use
Information Communication Technology Services in the
classrooms? A question that puts at stake the evolution of the
quality of the Costa Rican public educational system, where
we are currently facing a harsh reality.”

The role of ICTs
Technology, a tool that over the years has become an indispensable part of human life. Through
technology, we express ourselves, learn, communicate, and even evolve our way of thinking. We
know that we are in a totally electronic present and for this reason, we are aware that technology
has a complicated side, where we can find dangerous information, be psychologically damaged
and even suffer from scam. However, it is currently established among us, and it will never leave.
For this reason, we must learn to live with it and properly include it in aspects of our lives such as
education. Current education is based on the use of different technological tools to educate our
children and young people through the network, as well as promoting different teaching-learning
modalities in our educational systems. Although there are infinite ways to use technology to bring
knowledge to our students in the classroom, if the teacher is not able to use this correctly, the
student will not be able to receive the information correctly either.

Subsequently, in the Costa Rican education system many questions are generated such as: Are Costa
Rican teachers trained in the use of Instruments of Information and Communication Technology (ICTs)?
Do they have the appropriate access to technological tools? These questions do not currently have a
concrete answer and unfortunately, despite the efforts of MEP to guarantee a technologically
appropriate education, we continue to see a gap in Costa Rican education, where teachers do not
have the ability to use technological tools and lack access to it, especially in rural educational centers
where utilizing ICTs in Costa Rican education still a very distant reality.
The role of ICTs

Tourism and the
Pandemic
By Benier Vargas Pérez
Key words: restaurants, training, tourism, free time, restrictions

Tourism and the Pandemic
by Benier Vargas Pérez
One of the main sectors that was negatively impacted and affected by
COVID-19 was the tourism industry, which covers different areas such as
hotels, restaurants, national parks or private events. Many of these areas are
still expecting an active return of tourism from other countries. However,
due to the large number of restrictions that had to be implemented due to
spread of the virus, these tourists could not visit our country.
Different strategies were carried out so that each of the affected places
could stay afloat in the face of this crisis in 2021. On the other hand, they
were waiting for new restrictions that would allow at least a small amount of
tourist access.

2 by Benier Vargas Pérez
“Personally, I was affected by the
COVID-19 pandemic since I depend
on the tourist area to be able to
have a job because my position is
inside a restaurant. On the other
hand, I was able to take advantage
of 100% of my time and dedicated
myself to strengthen my skills and
thus be able to return to my work
more professionally developed and
in the best way possible.”

The Teacher’s Role and its Impact on
Students
Martínez, P. (2022). The Teacher’s Role and its Impact on
Students. TEFL Journal of Morphology and Syntax. National
University of Costa Rica, Chorotega Regional Nicoya
Campus.
“Being a teacher is more than being at the front of the
class and dictating and teaching concepts; being a teacher
is being a model, inspiration and a guide for students.”
Key words: teachers, learning, meaningfulness, students, life

The Teacher’s Role and its Impact on Students
In many cases students search for help and support in their school environments as well as in their
classmates, their friends and in teachers too, but not all teachers have patience and vocation to listen to
their students beyond the class. There are students that really need to hear a word that encourages them,
motivates them, and instead they just continue to be criticized or ignored. It is important to go further and
get closer to students and learn a little more and better about their realities. We all fight different battles;
both internal and external, and we should not have to feel alone.
A teacher’s personality, way of teaching and treating students, leaves a mark on each of them.
Meaningful learning is important, but so is caring for students. A student will not only remember what s/he
learned, but also the treatment s/he received, and it is something they appreciate although they do not
express it with words.

The teacher’s role and its impact on students
Although it is true that covering the contents is important, it is also necessary to take some time and talk with students,
ask them how they are and what they have done plus allowing them to speak and sharing part of their daily lives and
really listening to them. Those little gestures that teachers do or do not do, they notice. There are young people who face
difficult situations and teacher’s attitude towards this can really make a difference in students’ lives.
I can expose this topic from my experience as a student, because doubtless, I have come cross teachers who have
generated a positive impact on me and others who; on the contrary; I most definitely do not want to be like them. And,
from my experience as student-teacher, I have been able to experience the reactions of students as they are treated and
how they act and develop in the class according to the teacher in charge. It is also gratifying to know that there are people
who trust us and who seek our help and company to improve themselves.
The point is being a teacher is more than teaching concepts and theories. Being a teacher is being a guide, model,
example, and inspiration for others.
2

Tourism in
coastal
areas
by: Manuel Jiménez Casanova
Jiménez, M. (2022). Tourism in Coastal Areas. TEFL Journal
of Morphology and Syntax. National University of Costa
Rica, Nicoya Campus.
“We have sold our attractive places to those who
are only interested in money.”
Key words: tourism, money, history, beaches,
traditions

Tourism in Coastal Areas
Costa Rica is a country known for having many beautiful
places like forests, beaches, and others; however, it has
become a country which has lost much of its history just to
attract tourists. For example, Guanacaste and Limón are
provinces with many natural beauties and many attractions
for tourists but unfortunately, they have become highly
commercial places, and that is not bad, the problem is that a
lot of history has been lost from both places just to attract
tourists.

Tourism in Coastal Areas
If we visit Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo, we will see many restaurants
and hotels, but do we know something about the history of those
places? Most likely not, and Costa Rica is shown to the rest of the
world as a place with beautiful beaches and immense forests, but
it does not show the small towns or the other activities that are in
these places.
It is important to mention that it is sad to see how people who live
in places with high tourism rates have had to adapt to survive
because tourists are not interested in knowing the history or
traditions of these people.
In conclusion, Costa Rica has become a place which has sacrificed
a lot of history and has become a place where money is more
important than showing the reality of its places and people.

The IMPACT of Technology During
the Pandemic
"Technology is a useful servant,
but a dangerous boss."
-Christian Lous Lange.
By Sheyla Gutiérrez Méndez
Gutiérrez, S. (2022). The Impact of Technology During the Pandemic.
TEFL Journal of Morphology and Syntax. National University of Costa
Rica, Campus Nicoya.
Keywords: pandemic, technology, education, impact, interaction.

With the arrival of the pandemic, our lives changed completely; it forced us to
change routines, patterns, and customs and to include new routines in our
lives. People changed their personal and work interactions, mostly virtual
interactions since to avoid contagions, we were forced to be more
technological. In the work environment, people found it necessary to adapt
these technological tools to what is now called the "home office". In the
educational environment, the pandemic forced teachers to opt for online
education, applying new learning strategies and continuing the development
of learning. One of the most used tools during the pandemic was
videoconferencing, on platforms such as Zoom, Teams, Meet, and WhatsApp
video calls; among other platforms. In work environments, companies have
needed to train their employees to help them adapt to new roles. In the same
way, technology has also had a great impact on the health area, since many of
its functions have been introduced to a digitalization process that seeks to
improve the quality of medical care and treatment.
The Impact of
technology during
the pandemic
By Sheyla Gutiérrez Méndez

Today there is a very well known and widely used platform called "EDUS", where you can find thousands of
functions that previously required to do those procedures in person, but now they can be done by phone. In
the same way, it happened with the stores, since they had little capacity in their stores. They virtually
changed their sales through social networks. Couriers likewise benefitted, since it is even more work for
them because of the number of virtual sales that have been made. The impact of technology during the
pandemic had great potential in health, telecommuting, education, commerce, and many other areas. It is
no secret that technology is here to stay, and the pandemic helped it to expand and improve the quality of
its services and innovation.

Do you think the advent of technology was a
positive or negative thing for our lives?
The pandemic came a couple of years ago. Technology
played a very important role in our lives during this
time, and it still does.
But do you think it has been a positive or a negative
thing? The implementation of technology has given us
so many positive things but also many negative things.

Education During and After
the COVID-19 Pandemic
“COVID-19 transformed the rhythm of traditional
education to a much more dynamic one, the
technological and emotional changes were evident
but necessary. Change is a necessary method of
moving forward.”
Villagra, G. (2022). Education during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
TEFL Journal of Morphology and Syntax. National University of Costa
Key words: COVID-19, education, inequality, process, health

Education During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic is undoubtedly the disease that has caused an unprecedented crisis worldwide in all areas of our lives. In
the area of education, since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been massive closures of educational centers in all face-to-
face activities of public and private educational institutions in order to prevent the spread of the virus.
During the beginning of the pandemic, many educational institutions made it obligatory to completely close face-to-face classes
and seek the alternative of giving remote or virtual classes. Education tried to maintain the continuity of the learning process, but
during this change there was a significant inequality gap where many students were forced to abandon their studies due to the
difficulty of receiving classes and not having the necessary resources such as an internet connection or digital devices like tablets,
computers and cell phones.
Clearly, education went through a critical moment where it was about looking for new alternatives for learning, but over time new
problems arose regarding the mental health of students where there was an increase in diseases such as depression, anxiety,
stress, among others.
Evidently, the return to face-to-face classes was one of the best alternatives since face-to-face education is more perceptible, In
addition, education needs a significant recovery in the rates of the learning process of many students and close the gaps of
inequality.

Let’s analyze this data
Alarming data is clearly shown on the
increase in irregularities and
inequalities both in problems related
to mental health and in the internet
access gap linked to COVID-19 during
the years of the pandemic.

The Importance of
Face-to-Face Education
Vindas. M. (2022). The Importance of Face-to-Face Education. TEFL
Journal of Morphology and Syntax. National University of Costa
Key words: education, benefits, communication, technology,
interaction
“No matter how much we advance in technology,
the human being by nature is social, loves to feel
and share ideas, loves to live the moment in
firsthand and no technological means will change
that feeling.”

The Importance of Face-to-Face Education
As a result of the pandemic, both teachers and students had to adapt to distance education and change their style of teaching and
learning. This change has brought benefits; however, it is important to highlight the importance of face-to-face education because now
that we have returned to normality, we must recover the spaces and activities that were so good for both teachers and students
socioemotionally. Face-to-face education allows a greater understanding of the topics explained in class since they can access stories
and real-world examples of teachers and students and perceive the body language of people which makes communication flow
naturally. The latter improves trust and cooperation, and it also allows students to develop the need to speak publicly before others to
ask a question or clarify a point of view or solve a particular problem. This is important because during virtual classes students did not
participate and were afraid or lazy to comment or ask questions during class. The face-to-face environment motivates students unlike in
virtual classes, where procrastination and laziness can become a common attitude. Face-to-face education allows the student to
concentrate more on learning because there are fewer distractions than at home.

The Process of Education
from the Eyes of a Future
Educator
By Alicia Campos Coca
“Educating must be with love or
dedication; otherwise, it will never be
educating because without passion it
cannot be.”
Key words: learning, education, school, teacher, love

The Process of Education from the Eyes of a Future Educator
by Alicia Campos Coca
Education is one of the most valuable tools we have at our reach. Education can often
be complicated, exhausting and even expensive. However, with dedication it is possible
to study what we want and become a professional. As a future teacher, I believe that
teaching should be something that we are passionate about because as teachers we
will be the ones that who can make a difference among students and ensure they
remain in the educational system with great conviction that it will lead them toward
continuous improvement.

The Process of Education from the Eyes of a Future Educator
by Alicia Campos Coca
Furthermore, students often see us as friends or a person they can trust, so why
let them down? From my point of view, many teachers affect the performance of
students by the way that they express themselves or speak to each student. For
this reason, I believe that teachers and professors should be more supportive,
attentive and respectful with their students and create a safe environment in the
classroom. This could make a big difference in the classroom and the
development of students both academically and professionally.

Mindfulness and Mediation:
Implementing a transformative
Pedagogy in the Classroom
By Eimy Espinoza Obando
Key words: education, knowledge, government, institution, country
“Going back to school during the COVID-19 is
not easy for many kids and adolescents who
have been bombarded with warnings. As a
future English teacher, I would be interested
to find out how to incorporate learning
techniques to reduce high levels of stress and
anxiety in students.”

Mindfulness and Mediation: Implementing a transformative
pedagogy in the Classroom
These days, keeping motivated students to return to classes may be
mentally challenging and exhausting not only for parents and
students but also for educators. Going back to school during the
COVID-19 is not easy for many kids and adolescents who have been
bombarded with warnings. As a future English teacher, I would be
interested to find out how to incorporate learning techniques to
reduce high levels of stress and anxiety in students.
Over the years, researchers together with academics, psychologists,
and neurologists have demonstrated mindfulness mediation in the
classroom as an alternative to reduce stress and anxiety in students.
In the study of the effect of a mindfulness training program on the
Impulsivity and aggression levels of adolescents with behavioral
problems in the classroom the authors found that the levels of
impulsivity and aggressiveness decreased, and it contributed
positively to the level of academic engagement; therefore, to
students success and self-efficacy during the classroom.

Mindfulness and Mediation: Implementing a Transformative
Pedagogy in the Classroom
As Franco et al 2016 cited “The practice of mindfulness can help
students focus on the present, thus, reducing obsessive ruminations and
enhancing the experience of positive emotions, as well as diminishing
the probability of involvement in impulsive behaviors” (Fix and Fix,
2013; as cited in Amutio et al, p. 6).
With this in mind, there is evidence that the practice of mindfulness
has a potential impact on students with impulsive behavior; thereby,
this practice's stimulation helps interpret and choose how students feel
and react.
Through mindfulness meditation, mentors can guide students on the
path of exploring their emotions. Recognizing emotions does matter
and has a great impact on the process of learning. Only this way, we as
professors can contribute to the practice of a transformative pedagogy.
Franco, C., Amutio, A., López, L., Oriol, X., aboada, C. (2016). Effect of a Mindfulness Training
Program on the Impulsivity and Aggression Levels of Adolescents with Behavioral Problems in
the Classroom. 7 ( p.1385-1385). Frontiers in Psychology. 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01385

Learning English with Digital Platforms in Times of
COVID-19
By Hilary Ruiz Solera
“Technology is a necessary change to
enhance people’s knowledge.”
Key words: education, digital platforms, pandemic, learning, knowledge

Since the pandemic began, it all has been a new challenge in the educational system. I
would like to mention some important aspects that I have noticed during my learning
process. dDexway Communication (n.d) says “In recent years, there has been plenty of
discussion surrounding digital learning platforms and their benefits. Do they make it
easier for students? In our opinion, yes, without a doubt and currently it is a sound
investment” (para.2). As a pedagogical resource teachers and students discover
deeply the world of digital platforms, so to be honest, this creation is an important
process in the development of the teaching and learning tools, as it allows students to
acquire knowledge quickly and widely. In the same words, are ICTs significantly
transforming education to know how to learn?

The questions is how to teach with digital platforms. Of course, both teachers and
students must be dutifully trained on how to teach learning with digital platforms.
Implementations and innovation will most likely be easier and more appealing to
students since they belong to a generation that has grown amid technological gadgets
without overgeneralizing. However, I believe that it is necessary to keep a balance
between technology and teaching because we can lose vital interaction as it occurs in
face-to-face learning with a completely different, memorable and meaningful
environment. As a conclusion, we need to be careful when we use digital platforms or
resources to teach and avoid mechanical and even robotic interactions. Digital
platforms should serve to help however not be the main focus of the learning process.
Reference:
Dexway Communication (n.d.) Why Teachers Love Digital Learning Platforms. Retrieved
from https://www.dexway.com/why-teachers-love-digital-learning-platforms/

Morphosyntax: The
Backbone of the Language
By Dr. Gilberto Hernández Quirós
Hernández, G. (2022). Morphosyntax: The Backbone of
the Language. TEFL Journal of Morphology and Syntax.
National University of Costa Rica, Nicoya Campus.
“Linguistic typology includes the study of the diversity
of languages across the world, language universals,
crosslinguistic influence, form and function, and even
linguistic borrowings.”
Key words: morphology, syntax, backbone, linguistic
borrowings, construction

Morphosyntax: the Backbone of the Language
When we talk about morphology and syntax, we refer to the analysis of word
structures, including their form and function, in all languages and the rules
involved in word formation and interpretation. Likewise, we are referring to the
arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed or grammatically
correct sentences in a language.
All speakers of world languages employ words on a daily basis, and these words
are enriched by free and bound morphemes, allomorphs and all its variants.
The richness of morphology similarly takes us to the identification and thorough
understanding of roots, affixes, base forms and tree structures as part of the
morphological phenomena, including prefixes, suffixes, infixes, inflections,
derivations, compounding, stress patterns, backformation and a wide array of
more linguistic features of the scientific approach of language learning. By large
and far, syntax is the backbone of the language as it helps us organize the
building blocks of language hierarchically, from morphemes to phrases and
sentences that communicate meaning.

Morphosyntax: the Backbone of the Language
Linguistic typology includes the study of the diversity of languages across the world, language
universals, diverse structures and even linguistic borrowings, which undoubtedly complement and spice
up other languages. Crosslinguistic variation and universals of grammatical structure may help
language learners and teachers better understand the different ways and shades of international
communication systems. Language loans such as Anglicisms, Graecolatinisms, Gallicisms plus
borrowings from Spanish, Italian, indigenous tongues or other languages expand our lexicon, and we all
benefit from this crosslinguistic influence that happily results in active morphological analysis.
According to the Sapir-Whorf, or Whorfian hypothesis, our perception of reality is determined by our
thought processes, which are influenced by the language we use. The latter means that language
shapes our reality and tells us how to think about and respond. Finally, we must always remember that
no language is better than another and there are no linguistic grounds to support such idea of linguistic
superiority. The wealth of languages should be a source of inspiration to share our very own forms of
being, knowing, communicating, and enjoying.

Thank you!
gilberto.hernandez.quiros@una.cr
Morphology and Syntax
Code: LLM425
NRC: 40946
UNA Nicoya Chorotega Regional Campus
June 30th, 2022

TEFL Journal of Morphosyntax UNA Nicoya.pptx

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