CELTA Experience (Day 12)

Today's input session was very interesting for me. We talked about Correcting Learner Errors (spoken and written) delivered by Manuel. I think this is one of areas that I need to improve in my teaching, to pick up what, when, and how to correct errors. We started the session by having a discussion in groups about our opinion on error or mistakes that students make in class. In short, it definitely is important for students' learning progress. In correcting errors, first thing first, as a teacher, we need to be able to identify the type of errors, e.g. grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, or form, and think about any possible reason for the error such as L1 interference, Overgeneralization, or Lack of knowledge. By the way, there's a slight difference between error and slip. An error is mostly more consistent. Next, we were introduced to some correction techniques like reformulation, asking a question to check understanding, prompt using terminology, prompt (the teacher starts the sentence for the student to finish it), finger correction, and delayed error correction. It's my first time learning all of those techniques and I found them all relevant and useful in my future classrooms. And as always, we had a chance to practice those techniques in some errors to be corrected. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to discuss written error correction, so I reviewed it myself. Oh, before we started the session, we had a fun activity on Kahoot about English Grammar in groups. I was in a group with George and Iori. Guess what? We won the game!

Starting from tomorrow, I'm going to teach an upper intermediate class. That's why we had a session on Teaching The New Level with Manuel. We started by ordering a few pieces of grammar exercise from different books, from the lower level to the higher one. It's to understand the differences in levels in terms of receptive skills, productive skills, and grammar. Overall, the levels are pre-intermediate, intermediate, and upper-intermediate. Anyways, I taught intermediate level class in my previous TPs. It's definitely important to be aware of the level of students so that as a teacher I can apply effective approaches and methods in class. Before ending the session, we were invited to have a look at the assessment criteria of CELTA for the next TPs (5-8). I highlighted a few points there, the ones were not paid attention to or focused on in the previous TPs. They are variety and balance, terminology, error correction, and register (appropriacy - formal or informal), portfolio, and participation in feedback. It's to help me make sure that I'm going to meet all of those criteria. 

Just like what we did previously, we, Carys, Ethan, George and I, had an opportunity to have an unassessed/unobserved teaching practice to get to know the students better. The lesson was given and it was about Being Green. I got the last part where students did a whole class survey and presented the results. As always, before I started my part, I tried to make a connection with the part before me, taught by George. Also, from the first part, I had been observing and learning if anything I needed to anticipate or manage. Well, I did a great job in my opinion!