FINAL BLOG

For me was very useful to know how approaches have changed as years went by, and how they had to change and adapt depending on the situation of the world and the new research done by psychologists and linguists. I think it will take time to understand well all of them, because they have many aspects and some of this aspects are still used today. I still have the same question Can you mix activities from different approaches? It seems that the answer is yes, because I have notice myself mixing activities, but I think that the most important thing is to have clear what is your final goal, what are you teaching English for. I'm certainly that the most important aim is to communicate, in our globalized world we need people to be able to speak and understand at least one more language; because, as Gardner says in his book "Five minds for the future"......"Without at least one discipline under his belt the individual is destined to march  to someone else's tune"
 So to prepare our students for this coming future they have to master a discipline and knowing English will help. That's why we teachers have this huge responsibility.
I enjoyed watching the videos, each approach was  much clear for me, I would like to have had more examples supporting the theory in classes, for me it hasn't been easy to differentiate them and how to develop a critical  thinking about it, because to me each approach was succesful in their time, of course now we can't apply them exactly the same, but why some activities are still useful?
I would improve "beginning from the very beginning", perhaps a little bit of history of each approach and how it evolved; of course we read it but  to me is necessary to comment more and catch my attention to some points that sometimes I don't realize are important. Also I would have liked to learn in class the steps to criticize articles or research.

Developing our professional competence

We as teachers must have clear our goals, one of the most important is the communicative competence, but to achieve this goal specially, we have to know very well our teaching principles, knowledge and skills.
 I agree with the author that as time goes by we change our style of teaching and we become aware of how important is to be prepared to be "good and responsible" teachers; good in the sense of efectiveness making a constant  and critical analysis of our practice and considering the social context of our students.
That's why is so important to attend conferences and workshops to achieve a professional development and move from "What to teach" questions to "How and why? I'm doing such activities. Fortunately, now I'm  at the stage that  I question myself if I'm going where I should go as a professional and I have changed my view of How and Why teaching the way I'm doing it, this has helped me a lot to make good decisions about methods, contents and techniques.
Reading this article, I've realized that skills and knowledge must go together in order to be a professional teacher a committed one that will look for opportunities to learn and develop every day.

NOTICING

1.- Do adults and children learn an L2 in the same way? What if any are the differrences?
I think it's easier for children because they don't feel embarrased if they make any mistake, so they  go on trying. Besides, the methodology used to teach the little ones is through games, songs, story telling and they have fun without noticing they are learning, however they are able to apply what they are learning to new situations. Perhaps, for adults it's more difficult in terms of daring to speak but they are  more aware of the input and they can turn input into intake more consciously and because of this be able to recognize and  correct their mistakes. All the learners  can transform input into intake too, if it's done in a meaningful context and according to their needs.

2.- Can we teach a language  or people learn a language? What if any is the difference?

I think that to teach we must have in mind what  are learners carachteristics and needs and the methodology according to the approach used. Of course, we can't forget that we must engage learners with the input using a good motivation. So, we must provide experiences to students in order to make them "notice" the language and encourage them to produce language but before they should have had enough "receptive tasks".

3.-How is language to be learned sequenced in your current context? Is sequenced according to the needs?

It's sequenced according to the projects worked and these projects are according to children interests. Basically, the sequence is based on developing oral language in order to encourage them to read simple sentences, we try to teach how to read in both languages at the same time. (Reading understood as comprension of what is read, not decoding only)

4.- What if any thing can we learn from looking at passed methodologies?

With the little ones I think that  some activities from TPR are useful because children learn better if they associate new concepts to movement, besides they have fun and this motivates them. From community language learning it's helpful that "learning is not viewed as an individual accomplishment, but something that is achieved collaboratively" so they learn to interact with peers in order to learn and apply new learnings to new situations.

NOTICING

1.- Do adults and children learn an L2 in the same way? What if any are the differrences?
I think it's easier for children because they don't feel embarrased if they make any mistake, so they  go on trying. Besides, the methodology used to teach the little ones is through games, songs, story telling and they have fun without noticing they are learning, however they are able to apply what they are learning to new situations. Perhaps, for adults it's more difficult in terms of daring to speak but they are aware of the input and they can turn input into intake more consciously and because of this be able to recognize and  correct their mistakes

To be a communicative teacher

Looking at the chart that Simon posted it looks very difficult to become a communicative teacher,because it requieres to study the approach and all its implications and of course; that the headmaster "really" wants to apply it and is willing to make the changes required for it. Then, if teachers are taught on how to do it and "catch" the idea in depth they will be able to motivate other teachers and go on learning by  studying and applying the right methodology in classes. Besides, if you as a teacher see that your children are motivated,  they will work with enthusiasm and they will love to learn new things; this knowledge they will apply to solve problems or to new situations, so they should be eager to learn. And at the same time you as a teacher will feel  that slowly the changes are coming to the students minds and this will allow you to be patient and flexible because you will know what your students need and you must guide them in learning.
 You could think:"It sounds pretty well" and you are right..... I don't think it's easy but if you don't convince yourself that you can do it and study to achieve the goal with the support of the school authorities of course it will be very difficult. Well, if  we are well prepared and willing to do it it shiold work shouldn't it?

To be a communicative teacher

It seems to be very demanding, but if it is; it means that there is only a small group of teachers able to become one. Peter Medgyes comments some aspects, the first one is about analysing our students and find out their needs as a group specially in terms of motivation and at the same time consider the individual aspirations, I think it isn't easy but perhaps we should try to combine the different needs and aspirations and create a plan that fill theri expectations. Next, he talks about the need to focus on meaning and form, I think that to communicate an idea, or feeling we must be undeerstood by others; so if the form is wrong the message will lose meaning. Am I right?
 Before this approach english teachers had to take care of their subjects only, now that have changed, we should know about many different topics, but with globalisation we can know so many things, it's not easy, but it takes time. I think is a great idea to learn from our students or "learn with them" in the classroom could be very motivating, because they will be part of a whole process to get new information and we can guide them to develop strategies for it.
 We all know, in Chile at least; that as teachers you have to think of your students "as a whole" and sometimes act as their mothers or fathers, so as language teachers; sometimes; you have to advice students in different aspects. Stevick's idea, it's great but a bit difficult in a class how "can the teacher keep 100%  of the control and at the same time students are in charge of 100% of the initiative?
 I love idea N°6: books out! if we want to be flexible and design a programme according to our students needs a book should support and not constraint our classes. Besides without a book we can be more creative encouraging our students to be. (Usually they are more creative than us)
 I agree that "is impossible to be a an active theory maker and an active practising teacher" but could theorists find out  if their theory is right talking to teachers about it? Or could teachers ask theorists the ideas that back up the theory?
 Interesting article; it made me reflect on the importance of knowing what approach I'm going to follow and act consequently according to it.

Unpredictibility, creativeness and imagination

What a huge challenge! for us and for parents. Creativity is as important as literacy have you ever thought of that? I had, but I didn't think it was that important.

 We must prepare our students to be wrong and never stigmatize their mistakes, because in this way they will be prepared to think of many different solutions to their problems. It's time to change the view of education, stop focusing on thinking of one object to learn only; we must let children to develop their imagination and creativity otherwise How will they face this unpredictable future?

I loved the idea of the human ecology, human imagination should be used wisely in order to create new solutions to new problems.

 I didn't know about the lady that created "Cats"....... wise doctor and brave mom.