Reflective writing Nº1: The Observation Stage

I. Introduction

·       What do you think the cartoon provided below is illustrating?  Why? Answer briefly.

I think that the cartoon illustrates the idea of see things, or observe though someone else’s eyes and not through your own eyes. It is very usual to get to know things through someone else, and when that happen you have a partial view of the situations, because you were not there to really know what happened, when happened and under what circumstances happened, so you get that information from another source that can be “contaminated”. I mean that, the observation provided by someone else of one situation can be influenced by prejudice. So that our vision of a situation or issue cannot be as objective as it could be if we make an observation on our own.

II. Reflective writing

·       Taking into account the information you collected during the observation stage,   

1.     Reflect on the importance of the initial observation period in final practicum.

From my personal point of view, the observation stage in this final practicum is very important, because it will be the key to get involved in a school. It is very different from the previous practicum, since now we are teachers in schools, we are not there just to observe or help the teachers, but to teach and deal with different issues that are related to teaching. For example I had to learn all the formalities that I had to follow to get copies of a text at the copy center, or to reserve the data show for a class, so the observation stage really help me to know those things and to develop better my job now that I’m teaching.

I had the opportunity to know other teachers and to get involved in the school activities as “fiestas patrias en mi colegio” and to share with the head master of the school and other teachers in a “honour wine” meeting to celebrate our national day too in September.

2.     Refer to the observed issues in assigned school, and explain if these issues caused a change on the expectations you had about this particular period.

As I mentioned before, the observation stage helped me to get involved in the school, it was not only that I tried to know the school, but also the school started to know me.

I felt that it was necessary because I was a completely unknown person, not only for my students, but also for the people that work there, but every day I went there I met someone new and his/her role in the school too.

3.     How did you feel? Provide one example you consider most relevant to support your answer.

I felt really good, it was important for me the fact that my guide teacher gave me a great support to know the school, the teachers and also the students.

I have to say that it was really nice and important when Francisca and I were invited to the meeting of the teachers and workers from school to celebrate our national day. The teacher staff was really nice with us, we had the chance to know them better, to talk about our experiences and the teachers perception of the classes that we were in charge of.

I felt really involved with the staff of teachers and workers of the school. The headmaster of the school was really kind. He wished me the best for my last stage of my career and also offers his support for anything I would need.

**(Francisca is another prospective teacher of English from Universidad Andres Bello. She  is also in the final stage of her career. She is a good colleague and has become a really good friend too)