What went well?

Students were very engaged with the warm-up questions today! And I’m glad that I’ve gotten the hang of pacing all my activities—I planned just enough for today, and I didn’t feel the need to rush through anything.

What could have been done differently?

I felt like I was doing a bit more of the talking today. That’s fine, and I recognize that there will be days when I talk more and have to spend more time discussing the vocabulary lists—but I need to remind myself that students need their own time to figure out how to share their thoughts, especially during group discussions.

What did I learn about myself when working with others?

I learned that I need to make sure that all students have a chance to say something, even if they don’t want to. There are a few shyer students in my class, so I’ve been trying to call on them more. I don’t know if they appreciate this or not, but it does give them an opportunity to practice their speaking skills, especially in front of more people!

What did I learn about leadership?

I’m usually not the type of instructor to call on students and put them on the spot, but sometimes students need that extra push. I feel strange being this assertive, even though it isn’t even really that assertive—but I need to make sure that the class isn’t monopolized by one or two students who like talking!

What do I want to develop next?

I think more group activities might be the way to go. It feels like students are more comfortable talking to one another—it’s not because any of them speak the same mother tongue, but because they’re all operating on a similar level of English-speaking ability.