Name: Lisa C
Location: Hall Elementary
Date: October 15, 2012
Module: In the Kitchen
PI: Estelle
Number of Students: 8
What did I learn: I realized today that most of the students know the sentence structure and how to write out the questions asked in class, it’s just the little thing that they’re still seeming to struggle with such as forgetting or not putting “is” in the sentences that call for it. I’ve learned that I have to remember to speak a little slower when teaching them how to spell a word. Today was a fun day, we got a couple laughs, and everybody seemed to really enjoyed the class.

Name: Lisa C
Date: Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Location: Hall Elementary
Module: Money
PI: Estelle
How Many Learners: 11
What did I learn: The students are definitely getting better at distinguishing between 15 and 50 and 18 and 80 and those number combinations. They are all definitely improving in the alphabet and spelling their names faster, along with saying numbers at a fairly fast pace, some of them at least. I’ve got to remember to not be standing behind them and looking over their shoulders when they’re writing out sentences, it’s intimidating, I know, I feel that way sometimes when I’m at school, and trust that when they’re finished they’ll openly let me see, which they do. Today was fun, lots of laughing, and just an overall good time in class. We almost ran out of chairs today, there were so many people, which is always good. Got a potential new student, hope to see her for the last couple of weeks.

Name: Lisa C
Date: Wednesday October 31, 2012
Location: Gresham High School
Module: At the Doctor
PI: Patrik
How Many Learners: 6
What did I learn: I learned that this is a great program, especially hearing that from learners who’ve learned English through other means then come to this. It’s good to see that by teaching English this way and utilizing real world situations, it’s actually helping and bettering their English. Today was full of laughs, and I’m definitely getting to feel out at what levels each of the students are at.

Name: Lisa C
Date: Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Location: Gresham High School
Module: At the Doctor
PI: Patrik
How Many learners: 10
What did I learn: I noticed today that some of the students really want to learn the grammar, and maybe in some way, for some at least, they need to know the grammar for them to really understand English. I know we explain some grammar points but there were still times where I felt that the explanation wasn’t enough for the students. And I know that we shouldn’t dwell on the grammar but it’s hard not to sometimes when I feel like they feel like they really need to know it. But apart from that, it was a good class today. There’s still bit of a confusion on ‘left’ and ‘right’ but even I have to admit, I get a little confused sometimes too.

Name: Lisa C
Class#: 14
Date: Monday, November 26, 2012
Location: Gresham High School
Module: Trimet
PI: Brooke
How Many Learners: 10
What did I learn: The technicality of grammar is best learned in context instead of in isolation where the terminology might overwhelm the students, thank you Brooke for clearing that up for me. The students seemed to really know their Trimet/ public transportation stuff. Some students are still struggling with the alphabet and writing but it’s nice seeing the higher level students helping out and this really helps me out when it comes to explaining what sentences mean because they can translate it into Spanish.

Name: Lisa C
Class#: 15
Date: Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Location: Rockwood Library
Module: What Do You Do?
PI: Crystal
How Many Learners: 5
What did I learn: Well, this was my first time at Rockwood, and at such a tiny place to have a class, but it went well. It was really interesting to see the students read full paragraphs/multiple sentences instead of just saying isolated words or the dialogue that was given; it really showed their skills in speaking/reading in English. I’ve learned that I need to better explain myself when correcting their written sentences. I found myself repeating myself over and over again on one little mistake multiple times, and I couldn’t find a better way to say that something needed to be corrected without confusing, and possibly frustrating, the student, and myself at times.

Name: Lisa C
Class#: 17
Date: Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Location: Rockwood Library
Module: What Do You Do?
PI: Crystal
How Many Learners: 6
What did I learn: Today, Crystal did a Silent Class and it was definitely an experience. I was definitely more involved, obviously because Crystal couldn’t speak but it was great practice for me also. I definitely felt a little intimidated when the students were, to me, staring me down to get me to repeat the sentences/words more or to continue. The students caught on from the beginning about what to do without much or no verbal direction from me. Signing the letters at the start of class was interesting because, it seems to me, that the students were recognizing the letters in sign better than they were on paper. Today was out-of-the-ordinary but it was interesting and fun.