Reflective Journal by Jennifer Mariel Rodriguez

 In this session ,  In this ocassion , my group and I started presenting our research topic which is HOW VIOLENCE AFFECTS CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT  We basically defined some concepts such as procedures , techniques , discipline , etc .  I had the chance to reflect on the topic with the students by asking them some critical thinking questions. Here in El Salvador is not a unknown new that the educational system is failing since gangs are practically taking their own territory to the point that they also get involved within public schools. Sometimes , the same students are the ones who are part of a gang , and they usually threathen teachers and figures of authority inside the schools.  As consequence , disciplinary action taken from teachers are seen as a dangerous action nowadays . Punishing students have become almost prohibited since many teachers have been murdered because they confiscated something from certain students that unfortunately were i...

In this session , We took a look at    THE EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT IN THE CLASSROOM IN BASIC ENGLISH STUDENTS  Within this topic , I can tell that classroom environment does influence in students since this has to do with ilumination , temperature , desks arrangement . If these factors are not contemplated before getting students into an uncomfortable environment they might probably be affected in their concentration. I do believe that an innaproriate environment influences in our learning process when intercating in the classroom since sometimes we tend to feel sleepy when the classroom tempetature is too hot . The same happens where the room is too cold we start shaking to a point where we get hypothermia , and consequently we do not pay attention to what is going on  around us. Now let`s take a look at the desks arrangement , I do think that the traditional row arrangement is not appropriate anymore since the whole attention is at the fron...

4TH MODULE session 4 What are the effects of using a virtual classroom in a regular face to face English class? That was the first presentation in this chance. I`ve learned the importance that using a virtual classroom might bring to teachers and students. In my opinion , one of the biggest advantages is the feasibility of being in contact with students , as well as , the fast and availability of documents and visual aids that we as teachers can upload and share with our class. Second , the time is one of the biggest challenges when teaching a class since there`s no enough time to develop certain information or activities at the time of the class. In the other hand , a virtual class will save you time when there is no chance to share information due to the schedule. There are also many platforms to have such contact with our students such as , moodle , schoology ,and even blogs or forums. Internet availability gives us the chance to take advantage of such excellen...

4th MODULE 3rd SESSION  In this opportunity , the class started with two groups`presentations regarding their graduation project. The first one was T HE EFFECTS OF USING TECHNOLOGY IS ESL CLASSROOMS , and what I recall from the information provided is that years ago , we did not have the feasability of finding out fast information related to certain topics since there was no internet as nowadays . Today , students have the chance to get information almost in a minute and just with one click on the keyboard. Students are able to download books , material , and sources for their learning process.  Furthermore , teachers are not always physically present in a classroom they have now the chance to implement classes on-line by suscribing to folllow the material shared by the teacher .  To conclude , there are  more advantages for the educational system to work , and there is no excuses for students to be doing nothing with their learning when there is plenty...

4TH MODULE :  2nd session  In this session , we started by watching a video where a teacher explained a certain situation he had with his students . The students were actually applying grammar rules correctly , but at the time of talking students tend to make too many pauses while trying to figure out what to convey out of their mouths, so he basically decided to apply his own curriculum based on teaching English without teaching English . We had the chance to discuss in groups some questions regarding the video , and one of the questions that got my attention was the next one:  WHAT DO YOU THINK MR GUZMAN REFERRED TO MISTAKES AS ``DEVELOPMENTAL ERROR`` ?  In my opinion and based on what the teacher on the video said , this has to do with making mistakes ,and to see them as a natural fact while learning a language . Most of students , and I include myself , tend to be afraid of making mistakes because of what others will say , and that tendency causes...

4TH MODULE 1st SESSION  The session was all around the introduction of the 4th module by establishing the purpose of analyzing principles and practical implications of CBE . Then I was able to refresh what BLOOM´S TAXONOMY is all about , but after going too deep the Teacher explained to us who the author of this taxonomy was. Benjamin Bloom , contributed by establishing this taxonomy in 1991 .  B.Bloom was a psychologist and educator who also contributed in the field of learning and cognitive development . He was also an advisor to governments like Israel and India.  Now , I want to define what is a taxonomy in my own words:  A taxonomy is considered a system which permits the organization of simple and complex words which are categorized in order to express approprietly what is expected as a goal in a learning process.  Here we have several definitions of a taxonomy :  Are mental operations that can be classified on six differen...

8TH SESSION  The session started by the group presentations , I learned about the Lexical Approach , Task based Instruction , Content based Instruction .  I will point out some of the aspects I remember from each of those methods. First , the lexical approach deals with chunks and collocations. Chunks are  groups of words that are usually found together. like for example , USUALLY COMBINED  , CRITICALLY INJURED , RELATIVELY SMALL and so on ,  learners acquire the target language by adopting these chunks. In the other hand , we have collocations which a word or phrase that is often used with another word or phrase , in a way that sounds correct to people who have spoken the language all their lives. For example ,  the hard rain , fast food , quick shower , quick meal , a fast train.  In the other hand, we have content based instruction which is a method that involves the learning of contents and language at once , students are exposed to authetic ...