Which training courses would you like to have access to as a teacher? Why? Which is, in your opinion, the best way to share good practice amongst teaching professionals? Why?

Let me start by saying that every day there is something new invented and our society progresses really quickly.For that reason I would like to have access or study courses in which they study new techniques of learning, for example “interactive groups” o community of practice. 

First of all it is necessary to define what a community of practice means. Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.

Let me continue by saying that the idea that learning involves a deepening process of participation in a community of practice has gained significant ground in recent years. As far as I am concerned, we, as teachers, should share and learn good educational practices for many reasons: below are explained these reasons with different examples. Firstly, provide a shared context for people to communicate and share information, stories, and personal experiences in a way that builds understanding and insight. Secondly, stimulate learning by serving as a vehicle for authentic communication, mentoring, coaching, and self-reflection. Thirdly, enable dialogue between people who come together to explore new possibilities, solve challenging problems, and create new, mutually beneficial opportunities. Lastly, capture and diffuse existing knowledge to help people improve their practice by providing a forum to identify solutions to common problems and a process to collect and evaluate best practices.

Let me conclude by saying that variety is the spice of life and for this reason we, as teachers, should share our passion for teaching and we should interact regularly to learn how doing it better.

IF YOU WERE NO LIMITED BY THE DEMANDS OF THE NATIONAL/REGIONAL CURRICULUM, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WOULD TEACH YOUR STUDENTS ABOUT YOUR SUBJECT ( IN A CLIL CONTEXT)? HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS THEIR LEARNING?

As far as I am concerned, apart from the national/regional curriculum there are some important knowledges that are essential to the lifes of our students. For example, how to plant fruit trees, how to buy food in the supermarket, the prices, how to take care of animals, how to work in peers, how to help other people, ICT or cooperative work.

It is important to remember that apart from multiple focus, CLIL methodology and preschool education have also features as an active learning, authenticity, a safe and enriching learning environment, scaffolding teaching strategy and cooperation. We, as a teachers, have to do that the child be an active agent in his or her own learning and that the child's existing knowledge and environmental experience should be the starting point for new knowledge. Consequently, motivation of the student increases and this enable to progress more quickly.

As it is known, CLIL has a multiple focus: language and subject and these are the main difficulty because inevitably there are two assessment processes involved. For teachers there are a lot of questions related with assessment as “Do we assess language or content first or both? And which, when, why and how? What tools can be used for assessment? Who assess?” And it could be said that all these questions emerge from the characteristics of CLIL methodology.

Therefore, responding to some of the issues previously raised, CLIL units must have clear objectives. CLIL teachers should always have content as dominant objective so content first and then language. Also, content knowledge should be assessed using the simplest form of language and for a real purpose in a real context. When assessing it is necessary to use a mixture of formal and informal assessment and learners should be aware of it in a student-friendly format. Teachers have to understand that wait time is crucial because the students need time to think and to express and that in CLIL lessons we cannot always assess everything.

Taking into account my personal teaching context, what would be the advantages and disadvantages of using the ELP with my groups?

Let me start by sayint that ELP is a personal document in which the person who learns a different language can register his/her experience of language learning.

It is important to say that using ELP in the class has different features and many advantages. Taking into account my personal  teaching context, I am sure that the application of the ELP means an important opportunity to improve the learning of English for my students.  Firstly,  we promote a positive attitude and interest towards learning a new language through stimulating activities. We can do very enriching activities for our students as creating the dossier in which they will add all the activities, materials and resources that are carried out, such as photografs, videos, resources, crafts, so on. This will encourage caring attitudes towards the material that they are created.  Secondly, it promotes the interaction with the family because we must explain them what ELP is and how to use it so that they can participate in the realization of the activities and motivate their children to learn new languages. 

Regarding the disadvantages, from my point of view the ELP has some limitations in early ages as we work with very young children in which it may be difficult to introduce this resources. Another problems could be appear: the incomprehension of the activities and work, and some children can't be able to asses themselves in this age group.  Also, students haven't assimilated yet the writing and reading process and it can be difficult to do certain activities and we must make some adaptations to their levels.

Let me conclude by saying that ELP is a very useful tool for our students because they can evaluate their own learning and be aware of their own knowledge.As far as I am concernated, it can be so good to our students. They will be motivate to study English or other languages and begin to learn the importance of knowing other languages because "languages opens doors to new experiences".

THE CORE FEATURES OF CLIL AND THE IMPORTANCE OF INCLUDING THEM IN THE TEACHING REPERTOIRE

Let me start by defining CLIL, CLIL is an approach for learning content through an additional language, usually foreign language, thus teaching both the subject and the language.

It is important to say that CLIL method has different features. Firstly, it has a multiple focus because integration exists between content and language and among different subjects.

Secondly, it is creating a safe and enriching learning environment. As well as, an active learning is promoted by cooperative work or when students help set content, language and learning skills outcomes. Another feature is the authenticity because CLIL activities have a connection in the students' lives as well as connections with other speakers of the CLIL language. In the same vein, teachers challenge students to take another step in their knowledge fostering creating and critical thinking. And finally, this method involves parents or the local community so cooperation is another feature.

For all of these things it is really important to include them in the teaching repertoire. CLIL lessons diversify methods and forms of classroom teaching and learning and provide effective opportunities for pupils to use their new language skills now, rather than learn them now for use later. Consequently, motivation of student increases and this enable them to progress more quickly. Besides, it often involves using real resources from the country whose language is being learnt and discussing other points of view and so can contribute to intercultural understanding.

As far as I am concerned, CLIL method develops multilingual interests and attitudes and also it prepares students for future studies and working life.

THE BEST TEACHER I HAVE EVER HAD

Let me start by saying that there have been many teachers who have influenced in my life. Many of those people were teachers that I have had from Kindergarten to the present time. If I had to choose one who has had the greatest influence, it would have to be Rosa. She gave me class during three courses in Primary Education.

As far as I am concerned, she wasn’t the typical teacher who taught magisterial classes in which the main objective was to memorize. Also, she provided us a shared context for people to communicate and share information, stories, and personal experiences in a way that builds understanding and insight.

I always remember that she has the ability to make something that many students find incredibly boring come to life through her enthusiasm and passion for teaching. Furthermore, I was delighted with her because in her classes was impossible to get bored due to the methodology was very active and she encourages cooperation between ourselves.

She set an example for us and we see her as a person with confidence and we follow her lead and fell comfortable thusting her. She form strong relationships with our and our families and she was very interested in the problems that we have in our lives. In daily situations, she not only was accessible, creative, empathetic, warm...but also enthusiastic, generous, caring and be open to staying at school after-hours to help her students. More than a teacher she was a guide to our lives.

It is important to say that she influences me to read books. The reason of this is because she always said that books open doors to new experiences and she encourages us to read a book every fortnight. She dedicates one hour a week to get out the class and we used to sit in the garden to read alone or in small groups. This gave us the opportunity to be better at grammar, spelling and vocabulary. Let me conclude by saying that now, thanks to her, I read because I enjoy it and I like to becoming part of the story or adventure. The topic of the book it doesn't matter I am pleased with it because Rosa always says that variety is the spice of the life and we have to read all kinds of books to learn something from all of them.