TESOL Certificate Programs

Observation Notebook

Observation Report
Forms for inclusion in the Observation Notebook must be typed

Name of Observer Mami Abe

Date

Observation
Environment (include

Observation # 6

Class Skill/Content

URL if the class was

online)

2/25/201
5

UCR Extension

Oral Skills
Development

Class
Level/Number
(Beg./Int./Adv.)
Beginners

Teacher

Sharon
Clements

Focus on relevant areas from the What Can Be Observed handout. Notice how the
teacher handles these areas during the class.
OBJECTIVE OF THE LESSON:
Students will review the names of months and days.
Students will distinguish ordinal numbers from normal numbers.
Students will practice using ordinal numbers.
Notes while observing:
Time Activity
2:10 Warm-up
The teacher greeted students and gave back their homework.
2:12 Presentation
The teacher explained the event such as birthday parties and introduced the
lessons topic, ordinal numbers.
2:16 The teacher taught ordinal numbers and reviewed the names of months and days
by asking questions.
2:23 The teacher added explanation on the usage of prepositions with months and days.
2:30 Practice
Students listened to a text about birthdays twice.
2:35 Students practiced repeating after the text.
2:37 Production
The teacher asked students to work in pairs and ask about partners birthdays.
2:43 Practice
Students listened to a conversation on events.
2:47 Students answered questions about the text which they listened.
2:54 Wrap-up
The teacher assigned homework and asked students to tell what they were going
to do by the next lesson.

Last Updated: 8/12/2015 21:13 a8/p8

What did you learn about teaching or learning from this lesson? Discuss your
observation focus, and the theory you have studied in your TESOL classes. Consider
the three levels of teacher reflection (surface, pedagogical, critical). (100-200 words)
I realized that the teacher used Dessugestopedia method in her teaching. She
carried the lesson with slow pace so that all the students in the classroom could catch up
with the lesson. Also, she spoke clearly and slowly, smiling. I think that such her
speaking and attitude were effective to decrease the affective filter toward learning. I
believe that since the students level was beginners one, she used the method to make
them feel relaxed and fun in learning English. In fact, the atmosphere of the classroom
was very comfortable to speak, so the students spoke well and asked questions quite
often. As to the three levels of teacher reflection, the lesson was well organized with the
appropriate pace for the students. Moreover, the students could have enough time to
practice new vocabulary and language structure. Finally, the teacher gave the students fair
and enough opportunities to speak and ask questions. Regarding the content of the lesson,
since the topic was about how to express dates, which is very important to live in the
United States, students will be able to understand and talk about the event and its dates
correctly after the lesson.
What activities/techniques from this class do you want to remember for your own
teaching practice? Discuss specific ways in which you could apply the techniques and
methods you saw. Discuss your future teaching environment and your students needs
and goals. (100-200 words)
From the very beginning of the lesson to the end, the teacher kept smiling and
speaking gently. In addition, the teacher waited until all the students in the class ended
exercises in the textbook; that is, she never rushed the students. She let them take their
time doing exercises and practicing new vocabulary. I do not know whether such her
techniques are effective for all levels, but I am sure that it is very helpful for beginners.
My belief stems from the fact that students who are beginners in learning English are
usually not so motivated and easy to get confused and give up their learning. Therefore, I
believe that keeping students motivation is the first priority in teaching beginners. After
observing her lesson, I realized that once again. In my future teaching, when I teach
beginners, I would like to keep in mind that I need to try to understand students feelings
and make them feel comfortable.