Workshop part I.

Thursday, August 11^th, 2016.

Topic: Body expression.

Person in charge: Giovany Alvarado.

This was the first part of the workshop, it was really useful for us to know our strengths and weaknesses in teaching. The two hours were pretty interactive, and we also could know better each other because even if we are classmates we do not take time to talk and know everybody. Giovanny Alvarado was the person in charge of the workshop. He was kind with us and taught us many things about body language, which will be useful in the teaching practicum with children.

Giovanny asked everybody to feel comfortable and take off our shoes, watches or jewelry, so then, we could join the circle that he asked us to form. Also, he gave an introduction about what we were going to do in the workshop. To present ourselves we said our name and then make a really strange movement with our body. After we said that, the others classmates in the circle imitated everything what we said and did.

The second activity was related to introduce ourselves, but in a non-usually way. He wanted us to answer the following questions relating to an animal or thing (who we are, what are like that, what I expect in the workshop and what could be difficult to me in the development of the workshop). When everybody had answered the questions, he asked us to sit on the floor because we will passed to the front and said our answers. I was the third person who passed. I was kind of nervous in that moment, but I think I did well. We also did the movement of the animal or object we choose. He just corrected me some movements that I did with my hands a lot of time, and that I should have used the space to move and walk in front of the classmates.

In other activity, we had to show how many confidence we have with our classmates. Giovanny make pairs. One student had to guide the other across the space that we had in the room, and it was really difficult because there were many people doing the same, everybody took turns and lead their classmates to guide them. In the following activity, we changed pairs, and we also had to guide them, but using one personal sound instead of touch them. This activity help us to feel free and work with the confidence because what is very important in a classroom is to trust in students, so that they can also trust in the teacher, too.

 You can see the activity here: 

I really like the activity were we had to form two lines and stayed in front of a classmates. We had to communicate with our body, without producing any sound. It was difficult to find signals and express what we wanted to say. This activity help me to understand that kids usually have problems with express their feelings or doubts in every context.

Moreover, in the last activity, we had to talk with a person that we don’t usually talk to, everybody had to start a conversation at the same time. First, we were near of the classmate, but Giovanny said that we have to move one space behind us and more spaces each time until we could not hear very well the person who we were talking to. Then, we returned to the same place in front of the partner. The purpose of this activity was to recognize that we will be in a classroom with many younger students that are hyperactive, playful and hard to keep them quiet, and that even they are a lot we have to identify the voice, personality traits and weaknesses of each student, individually.

Finally, it was time to go. We formed a circle again and sit on the floor. We talked about the experiences in the workshop and if I liked the activities and everything that we did, everybody shared his/her experiences. After thanks Giovanny for sharing his knowledge with us and help us to improve our skills in the teaching field, we stood up, took our classmates hands, breathed deeply and dropped the hands to say good bye.

To sum up, this was an excellent workshop, I could interact and know more about my classmates. Besides, I learned many things that are important in classrooms, and that can be useful in working with children. I  will always take this new knowledge into account in my future practices and my future in TESOL.