Written Assignment 4: Lessons from the Classroom

Submit: __/__/____
Length: 800 words



AIM
This assignment assesses your ability to identify strengths & weaknesses in
your own teaching and your development needs. It is meant to help you reflect
on your own teaching and on what you have learnt from the observation of
others.



TASK
Write a report using the following headings.



Section 1
What strengths and weaknesses (name two of each) do you identify in your own
teaching? For this section reflect on the feedback you have received from
learners, your peers and tutors and give concrete examples from your own
teaching.



Section 2
Discuss what you have gained from observing experienced teachers (including
video observations) and your peers and how this has influenced your own
teaching.


Section 3
Identify three ELT areas of knowledge and skills which you need further
development in and give reasons for your choice. Describe specifically how you
could develop in these areas after the course.












Written Assignment 4: Lessons from the Classroom
Submit: _______/________/________
Length: 800 words
Name: Date:
WAGNER FELIX DE CAMARGO
Please submit this cover sheet with your assignment
Pass
(first draft)
Pass
(second draft)
Fail
Assignment 4
Lessons from the classroom

If necessary, please resubmit by:
See reverse side for resubmission details.

Assignment Criteria
For this assignment, candidates can demonstrate their learning by:
a. Noting their own teaching strengths and weaknesses in different situation in light of feedback from
learners, teachers and teacher educators.
b. Identifying which ELT areas of knowledge and skills they need further development in.
c. Describing in a specific way how they might develop their ELT knowledge and skills beyond the
course.
d. Using written language that is clear, accurate and appropriate to the task.
Reference: CELTA Syllabus and Assessment Guidelines

What are we looking for?
An assignment that:
Tutors Comments
Identifies 2 strengths in your teaching.
Provides concrete examples of strengths
from your own teaching.

Identifies 2 weaknesses in your teaching.
Provides concrete examples of weaknesses
from your own teaching.

Reflects on what you have learnt from
observing peers and experienced teachers.

Highlights 3 areas for further development.
Provides reasons for areas chosen.
Provides concrete ways to address these
development needs after the course.


Also the assignment

Is complete, i.e. answers all sections.
Keeps to the word limit.
Uses language which is clear and coherent,
and essentially free of mistakes in spelling,
punctuation and grammar.

Is presented clearly. Makes use of headings
and sub-headings

Overall Comments:






1
st
Tutors signature: Date:

2
nd
Tutors signature: Date:

Circle: This is my 1st submission. This is my 2nd submission.



Personal development in English teaching

The aim of this report is to provide detailed information regarding my
personal teaching skills which need improvement, the knowledge I have
been acquiring during the CELTA course and what topics I would like to
teach.
Strengths and weaknesses
During the last 3 weeks taking the CELTA course I could realize that my
main strengths are drilling the target language, reading and speaking skills.
The classes I taught which included reading and speaking skills I could see
that I achieved my aims in class and the students learned more when I
followed the techniques I saw during the input sessions. Furthermore, I
could notice that my attempt to teach present perfect in a teacher-
fronted approach was much better than when I started teaching the
students from the course. Moreover, I believe that giving myself the
chance to practice different teaching techniques and not always following
the same procedure, gave me the opportunity to learn more about other
aspects related to teaching a foreign language. If I had not given myself
the chance to try different techniques I would probably not try them with
my own students. However, my weaknesses during my classes were long
instructions, checking understanding and echoing students which
happened when I taught grammar for beginner students. Due to that, my
teaching talking time was high and students were confused when
practicing the target language. Nevertheless, in my 2 previous classes,
which were reading and speaking, I could concept check the
understanding of the target language and I also stopped echoing students
according to the feedback from my tutor and peers.
Observation of experienced teachers
The video classes I watched gave me a better understanding of how real
life classes are and how experienced teachers deal with situations which
are likely to happen. My tutors classes were also insightful because there
was always a solution for something which could be convoluted at first for
the teacher and students. The approach an experienced teacher has in
class can modify and improve the learning process from students. Due to
the observed classes, I could get good ideas, put them into practice when
teaching, my procedure was clearer, my classes were stronger and
students were better able to develop skills regarding reading and
speaking.
Areas of improvement
The areas which I need to improve regarding my teaching techniques are
listening, writing and pronunciation.
The main reason for these choices is because I did not put them into
practice as I wanted. The listening was the only class which I got a not at
standard and the reason was because I did not achieve my aims and I was
not sure of how I was supposed to teach listening skills appropriately.
Furthermore, writing has not been the aim of my classes yet and I still
think I should practice it with students because I want to teach writing for
students who want to take the TOEFL test or IELTS, and this requires good
techniques for a neat presentation, clear context and summarizing ideas.
Even though most students and schools do not focus on teaching writing
skills, students need to write in English in certain situations as writing a
formal email, a letter of application to enter university or a report. The
pronunciation is another area I would like to improve because most of my
classes I was not prepared or I did not feel comfortable enough to use
connected speech or word stress. I did not give word stress to most of the
words on board during the written record and I believe this helps students
to have a better pronunciation.
In order to improve my techniques for listening skills I am planning to read
books that help teachers in this area as Teaching ESL/EFL Listening and
Speaking from Jonathan Newton, and also participating in ESL forums
getting tips from experienced teachers. As for the writing skills, I am going
to read How to Teach Writing by Jeremy Harmer, that has good
techniques for better writing classes and also join webinars from Teaching
English-British Council that provides good sources for teachers and also
moderated courses.
In order to feel more confident when teaching pronunciation in class I am
going to read books such as How to teach pronunciation by Gerald Kelly,
that will certainly help me and also attend seminars from BRAZ-TESOL or
IATEFL to acquire more techniques.