International House

Cambridge CELTA

Name: Erik Carballo.

Assignment 2: Lessons from the classroom

Not To Standard

Fail

Tutor feedback and

resubmission guidance if
necessary

To Standard

1st submission Comments

Pass

Not To Standard

Marking criteria

To Standard

(please submit with your assignment ONCE YOU HAVE

COMPLETED SECTION 4)

Areas selected are appropriate and

useful
Reflected effectively on own classroom
teaching, showing insight into the
principles of learning and teaching
Related the observations of peers and
experienced teachers to own teaching

Tutor(s) signature(s) and date

Resubmit

Written at a level of accuracy which

does not jeopardise clarity and
comprehensibility, and which reflects a
knowledge of discourse, grammar,
punctuation and spelling
Overall grade:

Pass

Identified reasonable aims for

subsequent lessons during and beyond
the course. Described in a specific way
how these will be achieved

2nd submission
Comments

Tutor
feedback

Cambridge CELTA Criteria for Lessons from the classroom assignment:

Candidates can demonstrate their learning by:
a. noting their own strengths and weaknesses in different situations in light of feedback from
learners, teachers and teacher educators
b. identifying which ELT areas of knowledge and skills they need further development in
c. describing in a specific way how they might develop their EL knowledge and skills beyond
the course
d. using written language that is clear, accurate and appropriate to the task

Statement of Authorship
(to be signed by trainee before submitting)
I declare that this assignment represents my own work. I have not copied
from the work of other students and I have not allowed or enabled others to
copy from my work.
Trainee Name: _________________ Signature: ________________________ Date: ___________

International House
Cambridge CELTA

Assignment 2 Lessons from the classroom

Reflection on Classroom Teaching
(Length: 750-1000 words, there is a 10% leeway on the word count)
Reflective practice is an essential element of the on-going development of any
professional teacher/educator. We have a lot to learn from reflecting on our own
teaching, feedback from others and of course, a lot to learn from learners themselves.
And on a course like CELTA, we have to luxury of being able to observe and learn from
our colleagues as well.

Overview: this assignment takes the form of a portfolio consisting of:

1) A weekly reflection journal written at the end of Weeks 1-3 (250 words each
week). In each reflection you must include:
One strength so far on the course as pointed out by tutors and peers
One thing you have learnt from observations of tutors, peers or
experienced teachers
Two areas to prioritize and work on in the following week based on action
points given by peers and tutors
An action plan on you will develop the areas you are prioritizing.
Evidence taken from CELTA course documentation (FB forms, Selfevaluations, CELTA 5, observation tasks).
2) A final reflection at the end of the course summarising what you have learnt
most in terms of your improvement over the course as well as what you will
continue to work on. (250 words)
3) A brief action plan for how you can continue to develop after the course. (50
words)

Writing the assignment: this is what you write according to every week in your journal:
Week 1,
Friday
(after
your TP)

Use the following bullet points as main headings to organise your work.
Word count: 250 words in total.

Section 1: Strength
I felt great with my rapport I saw the students to act in an interested
way which is excellent to the flow of the lesson since I was the first
Teacher I think it was great the use of vocabulary and the elicitation
went well pronunciation during this days on my CELTA course I have
learned new creative ways to elicit attention from students which is
a great tool for any teacher I found quite interesting the way my
tutors express themselves in a colloquial easy way but never letting

professionalism aside .

Section 2: Observation: I have learned the timing is essential in a

TP and I have learned how to make the lesson stages faster and
prioritize key instructions as well as discriminate the non efficient
language instructions I observed that the stage of a class is to divide
in sections what we teach with an specific purpose and goal
Section 3: Areas to improve: The first area I know I have to
improve is Timing I have struggled with timing during my TPS my
tutor said on my TP3 that my timing could benefit from clearer
instructions without any language that is not helpful. I have to trim
the instructions and take out language not functional like polite
requests
Section 4: Action Plan: I need to practice at home my TPS in order
to measure times and possible problems may occur, I can look for
specific vocabulary to improve my instructions and make them
shorter and clearer. Have three of them as a minimum on my lesson
plan.
Use the following bullet points as main headings to organise your work.
Word count: 250 words in total.

Week 2,
Friday
(after
your TP)

Haqdf
q

Section 1: Strength: I felt very confident with the language

presentation stage for the students its a stage hat I enjoy the most
during my TP I enjoy the eliciting part for me is exciting and fun and
I feel very confident with my abilities and I saw the results during
this TP during this TP I made a lot of achievements I could manage
to reach several goals which is good for its the first time I try a
lesson so extensive in terms of language
Section 2: Observation: I felt really comfortable with my
observations during the class because the tutors showed new styles
of teaching such as MFP, I was already familiar with the term and
have already applied on my job but I did not understand fully the
core of the lesson style I have learned the emphasis of each stage
and how the three parts complement themselves it has been a great
tool for planning because now I have more options and a new
structure to follow the lesson planning which facilitates the plan and
the teach.
Section 3: Areas to improve: Timing has improved but still is a
thing to improve during my TP I stay a little longer in some stages
than the others. I think my CCQs can be better in a way to make
them more accurate.
Section 4: Action Plan: To practice more the TP before the
teaching day in order to measure times more efficiently and
discover possible difficulties during the teaching, I think I can think
of more efficient CCQs by having in mind what I want my students
to learn and not forgetting this key thought. Writing minimum 3 on
my lesson plan and checking them beforehand.
Use the following bullet points as main headings to organise your work.
Word count: 250 words in total.

Section 1: Strength I believe Language presentation is my most

developed technique since I have a good pronunciation and feel
confident with the use of the IPA I believe my abilities are strong
enough to provide a guide to students that find pronunciation a

Week 4,
Wednes
day
(after
your

problem the outcomes of my TPS have proved this to be true since

ss benefit from chorale repetition and use of IPA as well the use of
flashcards made by hand by me, my tutors and peers have already
noticed this and point this as a real strength on my TPS - one area of
teaching in which you have developed so far on the course as
pointed out by tutors and peers. Give specific evidence for how you
know this is a strength (e.g. TP number, cited feedback from tutors
and peers, self-evaluation forms)
Section 2: Observation: I observed during tutor class that my
peers recognize the stages of the class the tutor teaches as a part
of the everyday class and Its exciting to find we already apply this
knowledge in class but without the consciousness of applying them,
my
experienced
teacher
peers
have
showed
extensive
understanding of this techniques which is good for I can benefit from
this knowledge as well. one thing you have learnt from observations
of tutors, peers or experienced teachers so far. Refer to specific
moments, TPs or classes observed (e.g. when X teacher did Y in TP
5when I observed X teacher I learnt that X peer showed X in T
3.. , etc).
Section 3: Areas to improve: I have to improve my timing as well
as maintain my goals clear and simple I believe that I can reach this
by preparing more in advance and be more creative as my tutor Liz
told me I dont have to follow the book and I can dismiss what is not
essential on my TP, which is what I like to do on my normal day to
day classes, I think I can make use of my imagination and figure
new ways to achieve my goals in order to make an even more
dynamic class. Another area I need to improve is to stick to my main
most important goals during the class I believed I could make a
more comprehensive class by adding certain stages but this prove
to be inefficient as my tutors Miranda and Liz told me Its better to
simplify things and reach faster the main goal .

two areas to prioritize and work on in the following week based on

action points given by peers and tutors. (e.g. My tutor in TP 3
said)
Section 4: Action Plan: I can stick to my main goals by making
new and different ways to approach the topic and not follow word by
word what is written on the books. Like searching for activities for
listening and developing them for the class I can look for new
activities in different sources like internet or bibliography provided
by the CELTA wiki and modify this activities to be tailored for my TP.
At least 2 activities.
I have to practice even more before my TP to measure time
in order to finish all my activities staged and not rush the
class I have to use an alarm during class because when I pay
attention to the class (monitoring) I forget the timing

provide 2-3 specific suggestions and ideas on you will develop the
areas you are prioritizing. Feel free to include ideas provided by
peers and tutors.
Use the following bullet points as main headings to organise your work.
Word count: 300 words in total.

Final reflection: Post-CELTA action plan: provide a brief action

plan for how you can continue to develop after the course. Describe

TP):

how you hope to further your on-going professional development in

general. Briefly elaborate on 2 generic suggestions for professional
development you would like to follow beyond the course, e.g.
observations, PD workshops/sessions, conferences, further reading,
further qualifications and training, etc. (50 words)

Common reasons for resubmission:

Noting less than two areas to prioritise.
Strengths and/or weaknesses that are identified are not in line with
the feedback given (there is no evidence from any course
documentation to back them up)
Not identifying specifically what you will do in order to improve in
your weaknesses (e.g. you cant write I will get better at
instructions, you need to say exactly what technique or strategy you
will initiate in order to improve your instructions e.g. I will script my
ICQs, and make sure I have at least 3 of these, one for timing, one for
task mechanics, and one for interaction pattern).
In Week 4, not noting specifically how you have developed from
week 1.
Not identifying specific techniques & strategies that you have
learned and would like to adopt from your observations of other
teachers, peers and tutors. (e.g. you cant write, I learned so much
from my colleagues and I would like to be more like them, you need
to clearly state what exactly you appreciated about their teaching and
what exactly you would like to adopt).
Not stating in specific terms what you will do to continue your
development after the course. Consult your tutor for ideas if you are
not sure take notes on this during the teacher development input
session!
IMPORTANT - Please note
This assignment is a work in progress and will be marked and graded until you have
completed everything. However, you MUST submit this at the end of each week for
your tutor to comment on it as you go along.
When you submit, your tutor will make comments on your work (inserted comments)
and give it back to you. You MUST continue using the same file to continue writing the
following journal entries. When you submit the next entry, your tutor should be able to
read the previous entry with the tutor comments and the new entry.
At the end, in week 4, your final journal entry will mark the end of the assignment.
Double-space your writing.
You should use headings to convey your thoughts more clearly.
Complete page 8 of CELTA5, once the assignment has been marked and returned to
you.