At the beginning of the internship I decided to observe the discourse of classroom processes. Discourse concerns the use of language and is important for teaching English as a foreign language: “discourse as real language use is the target of teaching” (Cameron 2001: 37). It occurs in the classroom, when teacher and learner interact. Therefore I chose discourse as my observation task.
I observed that children use a mixture of the first language and the foreign language if necessary. It is difficult for the children to learn a completely new language and so they often only have a partial understanding of the foreign language. However, this does not stop them from interacting. They seek sense and work out a meaning (Cameron 2001: 38). If children “want to share understanding with other people through the foreign language, they will search their previous language-using experience for ways to act in the foreign language” (Cameron 2001: 39).
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Explanation of an observation task
- Lessons I observed
- First week
- Second week
- Third week
- Fourth week
- Lessons I taught
- Lesson plan: Monday, 11th April 2011, class 1/2
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This text presents an account of a teaching internship focused on observing and teaching English as a foreign language in elementary school classrooms. The author documents observations of classroom discourse, teaching strategies, and the challenges faced by young learners. The overall goal is to reflect upon the practical application of teaching methodologies and the learning process of young students.
- Classroom discourse and language acquisition in young learners
- Effective teaching strategies for English as a foreign language (EFL)
- The role of understanding and engagement in the learning process
- Challenges faced by young learners acquiring a second language
- Teacher's role in creating a supportive learning environment
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Explanation of an observation task: This chapter details the author's decision to focus on classroom discourse as the observation task during their internship. It discusses observations of children mixing their first and foreign languages, the importance of understanding in the learning process, and the role of teachers in ensuring comprehension. The author notes the greater importance of speaking and listening skills in early EFL learning.
Lessons I observed: This section provides a detailed log of the lessons observed during the internship, listing the dates, year groups, and topics covered. These lessons included various topics like days of the week, writing letters, free time activities, numbers, clocks, and animal farms.
Lessons I taught: This chapter briefly outlines the lessons taught by the author, including an introduction to farm animals and an activity involving asking questions. A more detailed lesson plan for the introduction of "Animal Farm" in a Year 1/2 class is included.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Keywords: English as a Foreign Language (EFL), classroom discourse, language acquisition, young learners, teaching strategies, observation, elementary school, supportive learning environment, comprehension, speaking, listening.
- Citar trabajo
- Kira Wieler (Autor), 2010, Internship: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/187299
