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Javier Pinedo Ureno

Professor Lawson

English 113B

Ethnography Observation

12 May 2017

Word count: 667

Ethnography

This past Tuesday in the morning, I went to Vaughn international Studies Academy to

observe the students and one teacher. As I walked to the office to get my guest permission pass, I

noticed that this school is not a big school. Vaughn has a yard on the left side for students and

Basketball gym on the right side. The building is in the middle where all the classrooms are. I

entered the office and talked to the principal to let me in Vaughn to observe the students and a

teacher. Mr. Leandro the principal told me I could observe the government class, which consist

of seniors. Since it was still morning the students enter from the left side red gate entrance of the

school. As the students walk in there are cafeteria women serving free breakfast to the students.

The breakfast consist of milk, orange juice, fruit and cereal. I noticed some students are getting

breakfast and some dont. The majority of students get breakfast. I also noticed that students

have to wear uniform. The uniform can be a black, white or blue polo shirt and shorts/pants.

Once they got their breakfast the students head to their advisory. I started to head over the

teacher I was assigned to and had to present myself to the class, which kind of nerve wrecking. I

sat next to Mrs. Defranco and was just discussing about the reason I was here. I noticed the
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students are seated by their last names. Once they all sat down the teacher announces the news.

After that, the students have to get out their reading books and read. As I was observing the

students, most of the students read and the rest just pretend to read like look around to pass time.

Advisory only lasted for 30 minutes. Then, once the bell rang, the students were dismissed to

their first period. As students came in for first period, the teacher made the students put their

backpack and cell phones at the end of the classroom. Then the students sat down on their assign

desk. As teacher begins her lecture, the students take notes and pay attention to the teacher. The

students were quite not distracting anyone. They were mostly tired because it was still morning.

The student were cooperative and mature. The teacher didn't have to interrupt her lecture at all.

First period went smooth. Then it was second period and the students were the same as first

period. Then it was break after second period. I went outside to the yard and walked around. I

noticed some students play soccer and mostly all the students were seating at the tables outside

talking to each other. Everyone gets along with each other.

After they head to their third period and the students are energized ready to learn. Mrs.

Defranco goes over the lecture again, the students took notes, and this period went swell. The

fourth period students came and this class went extremely well. After this period, it was

lunchtime for an hour. The students line up in three lines at the cafeteria at the back of the

buildings. The students are just talking with each other while waiting to get their free lunch.

After the students go to the tables to eat their lunch. These students at Vaughn are friendly and so

kind. Some students would say hi to me when Im eating food at the tables too. After lunch, the

students head over to their next class. The students were acting good taking notes and paying

attention to the teacher. Then the last class of today and most of the students seem tired, but they

still managed to take notes. One student was falling asleep but the teacher making him stay
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awake by tapping on his shoulder. After the class was over, all the students left the classroom to

go home. Some students started to walk home and some students were waiting to be picked up

by their parents.