My Point A

I decided to evaluate myself and where I am at this semester. It is my first semester teaching and as a graduate student so I'm sure I will learn a lot. As you can see, I have a few things that I already have, some things I already know, and many things that I want to work towards. I realize that it won't happen overnight. It is a process that I'll be growing through my whole career.

What I have:

• A desire to learn and to be a good teacher.

• A desire to give my students opportunities to be innovative, to think critically, and to communicate meaningfully with others.

• Some experience teaching listening and speaking with ESL students.

• Computer literacy and motivation to learn more about technology.

What I know already:

• Designing lessons around the national & school requirements.

• Looking at the long-term goals of the school when designing lessons.

• Looking at the long-term goals of the students and community when designing lessons.

• Adapting my teaching design to contextual restraints.

• Promoting the value and benefits of language learning to learners, parents and others.

• Identifying curriculum requirements and set learning aims and objectives suited to his learners’ needs and interests which also challenge learners to reach their full potential.

• Structuring lesson plans and/or plan for periods of teaching in a coherent and varied sequence of content.

• Planning for learner presentations and learner interaction.

• Planning when and how to use the target language, including metalanguage he may need in the classroom

• Facilitating assessments. However, I have not created an assessment yet.

Things that I want to work towards:

• Learning more about technology in general.

• Integrating cognitive skills into her lessons (problem-solving, communication skills, research skills, etc.).

• Taking into account differing motivations for learning another language. Taking into account the affective needs of learners (sense of achievement, enjoyment etc.).

• Using appropriate learning theories and research to design the learning process.

• Critically assess his teaching in relation to theoretical principles.

• Varying and balance activities to enhance and sustain the learners’ motivation and interest and to respond to individuals learners’ learning styles.

• Helping learners to set personal targets and assess their own performance.

• Analysing learners’ errors and identify the processes that may cause them and provide constructive feedback to learners concerning their errors. Deal with errors that occur in class (both spoken and written) in a way which supports learning processes and communication.

• Conceptualizing how to integrate the target language within an educational framework that includes a wide range of relevant tools and technology resources.

• Developing classroom activities that advance knowledge creation, ownership and responsibility of the learning process, innovation and life-long learning, supported by the use of technological tools.

• Integrating technology with teaching and learning a language. Furthermore, I want to learn more about technology and stay up-to-date on the latest technology.