My EFL CLASROOM!

For writing this blog entry, I had to sit and close my eyes for a while in order to imagine what my EFL classroom is like. First of all, I picture myself working in the primary school. I think it is a nice age where kids are willing to try new things and they say what they think or like. It is a fact that my teaching experience in Vordingborg has influenced alot my thoughts about teaching.
Second, I have to say that the main principle in my class would be: "For learning english it is necessary to be motivated and willing to learn new things". In my class it is relevant to use authentic materials because students need to see that language happens in real contexts. Besides that my class will include corporal expression, I think it is important that while you learn you can have fun by dancing or playing an active game. As a teacher I would ensure that all children are learning and participating. I would have into consideration that each kid has a learning style however, I can not promise that I will prepare a class for each one of them. Finally, regarding language skills, I think it depens on the class level. As teacher you observe students' needs and then prepare class to help them to improve whatever is needed.

Reading of "Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching" by Larsen-Freeman helped me to define which tecniques I will probably use when teaching L2.

What is my approach to teaching???

I was asked by my education studies teacher to write about my approach to teaching and I think this is the first time I reflect on it. When I have been in teaching practice I have been focus on how the classes are developed (activities and language learning process). Think this is a good opportunity to reflect on my approach to teaching not only a in foreign language teacher but also in my style and praxis in general.

I would like to start by saying that, when reading the chapter four from the book Approches to teaching by Fenstermacher & Soltis. It answered many of my questions about the teaching field. It helped me to understand different teaching ways and besides that, I could find myself identified with the Liberationist Approach. According to the authors, this kind of teachers have as a main goal to make the students to liberate the mind to wonder, to know and understand, imagine and create using the full intellectual inheritance of civilized life (2009).


I think when studying you do not only learn something as the executive teaching would expect but you also develop your human side as the facilitator approach has a main goal. I think there must be a balance between both. Therefore I would dare to say that knowledge is needed and human side as well to develop a critical person.

Through my teaching, I want my students to be aware of the knowledge I am offering but this doesn’t necessary mean that I fall within the traditional models, because on the other hand through the knowledge I want to offer something to make their lives different. I want to offer the key for them to begin to dream and be themselves.

Maybe at the end of the semester I will have clear ideas and therefore I will be able to ask myself about my approach. The teaching practice will influence for sure my ideas and opinions. This is indeed a good exercise to reflect on our professions.

Me & the English language!

English and I have a kind of relationship. Our first meeting was when I listen for the very first time a song called "Don't speak" by No Doubt in the 1995. I loved Gwen Stefani's voice, even though I didn't understand what she was saying. The language she was using to sing and I, had a kind of connection. With this, I began to be conscious of how much I enjoyed to listen to a different language. I found English language as the key to understand a new world.

Since any relationship has to be cultivated with love and perseverance in order to keep the relationship alive and inspired, I decided 10 years later that I really wanted to be an English teacher, therefore I signed up in the foreign language faculty in Cali, Colombia. Later on, I got my first job as teacher assistant in a bilingual school so I began to work and study at the same time. My world was basically in english even though I was living in a spanish speaker country.

As a average couple we have also experienced nice moments and sad moments: I remember once I had a job interview, and the interviewer said that my english was not good enough due to my latin american accent :(. but instead. I had an unforgettable trip to USA and I could meet the man that nowadays is my lovely husband. There was period where the english and I had a kind of crisis, it was when I began to attend danish lessons and I was so focus on it and besides that I began to work in Copenhagen as a spanish tour guide. Anyway I'm back, it has been a month since I began my university studies again, so English and I are both happy attending classes in Vordingborg, it has been very nice to meet new people and to be able to talk to them, it has been nice to keep on learning what I like the most.

My first impressions

It's 5.00 am and the alarm clock wakes me up. It is time to get ready to go back to the university which is especial for me because I have been into recess from my studies for almost a year, besides that I will study in a danish university and I will study with people from everywhere. I am very excited to meet my new classmates and teachers.

6.25 am, I am at Østeport station in Copenhagen waiting for the train via Nykøbing F that will take me to Vordingborg. The trip takes around 1.40 minutes. so I wonder if I will be able to travel almost everyday to the university with such long distance without getting sleepy or tired, but I guess the body gets used at some point to the new daily routine.

The transportation system in Denmark has been so good and punctual. That is one of the characteristics of the danish culture and society in general; danish are so punctual and organised. It is not one minute less or a minute more, it has to be at the exact time you were told. I just hope when winter comes it keeps being puctual as it has been so far and I can be always on time.

7.54 am, I arrive to Vordingborg, I find my way to school. (I memorized in advance the way by looking at google maps) it helped alot. 8.40 am, the class gets started and I finally could meet my teachers and classmates. We have integration activities that let us to meet eachother. Even though the students came to Denmark in groups from the same country, they welcomed me very well. The teachers were so nice and the staff in the university so helpful especially the librarian. All students have the possibility to access to different kind of resources, whether books or IT etc.

11.00 Lunch time. Regarding to the danish food, I really like for example: frikadeller and the candies like Vingummi; however they are some recipies that I don't like that much. So I will follow the cafeteria's menu.

12.00, Back to english class. One thing that caught my attention during the time I've studying in the university is the fact that many people often spell Columbia, instead Colombia. Maybe it is due to the influence of Columbia Pictures in the movies. 13.40 Go Home! Hurry to the station to catch my train.

The danish education system and the colombian one are completely different. First, in Colombia we use another methodology. Second the context of the language teaching. Here in Denmark I am obliged to speak english all the time, since I am not fluent in danish yet (but I will). Most of the danish speak perfectly english so I can practice alot.

Finally the way that danish schools assess: I really like to idea of visiting schools and experimenting in the real education world in Denmark. I like so much what the teachers have planned for us so far.

Looking forward to learning from the danish education system.