Sofia Mercado reflects on her experience teaching English to kindergarten students following David Kolb's reflective cycle model. She found that basing lessons on a communicative approach and using techniques like songs, stories and games engaged the students and helped them learn while having fun. Working with young learners requires a lot of physical effort but is gratifying. For future lessons, she would only make small changes like encouraging more dancing during songs. Overall, she was satisfied with her performance and feels English teachers should speak only English in class, as the students understood well and were eager to participate.

1. INSTITUTO DE FORMACIÓN DOCENTE CONTINUA
LENGUAS VIVAS BARILOCHE (A-052)
Profesorado de Inglés – Opción pedagógica a distancia.
Taller de Práctica Docente
Sofía Mercado
AfterhavingconcludedmyKindergartenpracticum, Iwill now analyzeandshare some conclusions
aboutmyself andmyactionsas a teacher followingthe Reflective Cycle,ByDavidKolb:CONCRETE
EXPERIENCE,REFLECTIVE OBSERVATION, ABSTRACTCONCEPTUALISATION andACTIVE
EXPERIMENTATION
Revisitingthe entire experience,Icannow confirmthat basingmyplanningandlessonon
the Communicative approachandfollowingthe Presentation-Practice-Productionprocedure,was
totallyappropriate andeffectiveforyounglearners.Focusingalwayson communication,Iwas
able to create a comfortable atmospherewhere childrenfeltsecure,confidentand eagerto
participate throughout all of the lessons.Studentsidentifiedandusedthe new vocabularyaswell
as theycoulduse the newstructuresinorder to conveymeaning.
The original aimof thisprojectwas forthis groupof veryyoungchildrentolearnwhile
havingfun,andit wasachieved.The use of unreal andreal objectsandmaterialscombinedwith
songs,storiesandgameswasthe correct choice soas to call children’sattentionandmotivate
themas well.
Sharingsome lessonswiththeseyounglearnerswas quite anenrichingexperience.Igotto
actuallyrealize howshorttheirconcentrationperiodisandso,how importantitisto change the
activitiesandtasksratheroften.Asa consequence,itiscrucial to have strategiessuchasmaking
themsingknownsongsor ask them to make a special face tocome to the front,etc,so as to
regainthe climax or atmosphere everynow andthen.
Reflectingonmyperformance,how Ididitandhow studentsreactedandansweredtomy
lessons,Ican saythat workingwithyounglearnersinvolvesalotof physical effortbutitisreally
gratifying. AlthoughIfeltreallyanxiousbefore the firstlessonswasdelivered(because of the

2. camera andthe teacherobserving, etc.),Ibelieve havingthispractice wasaveryenriching
experience!
If I had the chance to developthispractice again,Iwouldnotchange anythingfromthe
lessonplan.Students reactedveryenthusiasticallytoall of the activitiesandmaterials.Iwould
change some acts and decisionsImade.Forexample,Icouldmake themparticipate abitmore
while listeningtothe song,maybe theywantedandneededtodance abit… butoverall,Ienjoyed
and had funwhile teaching.Ifeel reallysatisfiedwithmyperformance!
Personally,IthinkEnglishteachersshouldspeakEnglishall the timeinclassforthe reason
that learnersunderstoodthe tasksverywell,didnotcomplainorhad problemswiththe language.
Children cannotbe forcedtorepeatEnglishwordsbuttheydo itnaturally.Childrenlearnfrom
imitatingwhatwe do,theylove activitiesthatimplybodymovementlike singinganddancing.
Moreover, thisgroup constantlywanted toparticipate,soif youspeak Spanish orletthem
speak Spanishduringthe lesson,youwill definitelylose achance forthemto learnand use the
language.Theycertainlycandoit!
To finish, Itoldthe teacherthat I wassurprisedaboutthe fact that the students
understoodeverythingIsaideventhough Ispoke inEnglishthe whole class;alsothatI felt
astonishedandthrilledbecause theywere eagertoparticipate inall the activitiesthatIhave
proposed.She toldme she lovedthe wayIhandledthe groupandthat she will definitelyuse the
ideaof makingthemdo: sad,happy,angry,seriousfacestomake themkeepquietandcall them
back to the learningatmosphere.