Meghan CO #3

NOTE: This class is one I observed toward the beginning of the course, but chose not to write a blog about. I thought I would get a chance to observe several more classes, and since this class was led by a substitute, I wanted to record one of them rather than this one. However, I didn't get a chance to observe additional classes, and I really did enjoy observing this class, so I'm blogging about it a little late. Besides, I think there's always a possibility that I will be asked to serve as a substitute some day, so it's still a good learning opportunity.

Date: September 10, 2018

Time: 11:00-11:50 a.m.

Topic/Skill: Reading with Group 3-B
Book reading: Hatchet, chapter 4

Teacher Presentation: The primary instructor was absent today, so the instructor today was a substitute. She was very friendly and bubbly with the students, immediately setting them at ease. She started the class with a simple conversation with the students, giving them the opportunity to get into English mode, as well as practicing their English skills. From then on, the class was mostly listening to an audio recording, so she didn't do much else besides leading a short discussion about the book itself (like the meaning of the word Hatchet, and whether the book uses it as a tool for survival or for murder). She also introduced the homework assignment before officially ending class.

Classroom Management: Since today was a reading lesson, there was a audio book playing in the background while the students read along silently. There wasn't much to do with classroom management!

Student Participation: The instructor led a conversation at the beginning of the class, but otherwise the students mostly just read on their own as the audio book played. 

Feedback Provided: The instructor helped the students discuss the book briefly and answered a few questions about the homework. 

Lesson(s) on teaching you learned: For the most part this wasn't the most productive lesson for observing, but I learned a lot about what attitude to approach a class with. Bright, friendly, and happy! That's the best way to approach any situation wherein you meet new people, but even better when that situation involves those strangers having to trust you to not make them feel stupid.