Along this reflective essay I will mention some of my perceptions towards the

teaching practicum, how I would extrapolate my teaching experience to this new

environment as well as the positive and negative aspects I consider it may have, and
finally my personal and professional expectations about this experience.

During the years I have been in the Licenciatura program I have been asked to
“teach” to my partners with the given English and school level, and everything has been
done with the ideal group according to the lesson plan and what the background theory
states. However, every teaching exercise made me wonder how would I manage a real
classroom with students that have not the same English level, age, conditions,
personalities, and where any unexpected situation may change my plans for the class;
so I decided to ask some students that have taken guided practicum about this, and
they gave me many recommendations but still words cannot describe how experience
changes you on those unexpected moments as well as in the complete process.

Despite the fact that this is not the same population nor the same context, it is
necessary to mention that last semester I had the opportunity to teach children from
early childhood level, at the beginning I felt frightened to work with them but when I
started with my lessons I understood that the major challenge was not to teach them
English, but to understand the way they behaved and thought in order to be a model to
follow instead of someone to be afraid of, and to make the class funny and engaging to
increase their motivation. Consequently, since the target population for this semester
are children I want to adapt some of the activities and material I used with younger
learners, but I still want to learn more techniques for classroom management, which so
far is what I find really demanding.
Although it was demanding to write about my expectations, desires and fears, I
hope to learn how to reflect about my performances in order to do a more conscious
teaching exercise. Also, I would like to apply the pieces of advice I have been given and
what I have learned from my previous experience regarding my personal and
professional growth.
By: Natalia Marcela Gómez Arcila ID 1088329278
Throughout the different subjects we have been asked to write reflections, essays and
some other type of texts but I find very demanding when it comes to write about myself,
about my desires, expectations and fears. However, I find that this is and the reflection
will help us to do a more conscious performance within the classroom and during the
designing of class and materials.

What do you think about the teaching practicum?

Which are your feelings and expectations before your teaching practicum experience?
How does your practicum experience will influence into your personal and professional
development? (positive and negative aspects).