Reflection 6 - A Case of Effective Language Teaching

Oral Presentation, Taking notes, and Discussing.

Since I wanted to see how the strategies and methodologies were, I decided to write about this topic at the end of the Student-Teaching job. I saw plenty of new and interesting things throughout the days. However, There was an example of English instruction that caught my attention; owing the interested that the kids showed. I named it "Oral Presentation, Taking notes, and Discussing."


First of all, the teacher divided the class into two groups, then she gave the two groups of students a piece of reading about "Volcanoes". The two texts were different, but both talked about volcanoes. The idea was that each group had to read the text and summarize it. After that, they had to decide how they will present the information to the other group of students, besides what kind of information they thought that it was important to be presented to the class. While the first group was presenting the information, the second group had to take notes about what the first group was saying. Then, the second group had to same as the first group did.

After both groups made presentation, and took notes; the two groups had to read the piece of reading that they did not read, and discuss about what if the information presented by the other group was correct. Then, the whole class had to argue about the information presented.

I think that this kind of activity can be very helpful, if we want to have our students engaged with the content. Besides, it keeps everybody focuses on the task.

So, In one hand we have our students able to expose what they learned in front of the class; in the other hand, we have our students paying attention on what they classmates have to say about the topic that they are studying.


I believed that this can be linked to Learning Through Social Interaction, on the grounds that keeps all the learners in touch with the other students, and they learn together by interacting, listening and presenting information to the class. The idea is to involve all the students, and make them to be part of the learning, and the content as a group.


I really liked this activity, because I felt that the kids were really interested, and committed with what they were doing. I believe that Social interaction inside the classroom is very important, especially in this particular one, where all the students were from different parts of the world.