Taking into account your personal teaching context, what would be the advantages and disadvantages of using the ELP with your groups?

Nowadays and it can be from always, teachers and society wants to improve children education. I have never listened to talk about ELP (European Language Portfolio) since I was learned in class and the teacher explained all about it. Moreover, I have said it because it is a tool to develop by the Council of Europe to improve a way of teaching and assessing all language in Europe.

I am going to start explaining what ELP is. Then, I will talk about the portfolio and what are the objectives of the Council of Europe through the portfolio. Later, I am going to write the advantages and disadvantages about ELP in secondary school.

First of all, I want to explain shortly the mean of this project, so it is, how I said before, a personal document promote by the Council of Europe, in which learners or who has learned a language, whether at school or outside it, they can record their experiences of learning languages and cultures and reflect upon the portfolio.

The European Language Portfolio consists of three parts:

- Language Passport:
Students reflect what they can do in different languages, incidentally, they have to use the self assessment box in which describes the powers of skills (speaking, reading, listening and writing). Then, they can reflect and evaluate themselves. It also contains information on diplomas, courses they have attended and relates to other languages and cultures contacts.

- Language Biography:
In this part, students describe their experiences in each languages and it is designed to guide the learner in planning and evaluating their described progress.

- Dossier:
This is the last part, it contents personal work to show the content and languages skills they have learned during the course.

Secondly, what is a portfolio? And, which are the objectives of the Council of Europe through the portfolio? So, to develop of democratic citizenship in Europe the objectives are deeping understanding and tolerance among the citizen of Europe, the protection and the promotion of linguistic and cultural diversity, the promotion of multilingualism through learning of language and cultures throughout life and the clear and transparent description of language skills and qualifications to facilitate mobility in Europe.

At least, but not to conclude, the advantages and disadvantages about using ELP in secondary school where I will teach are explained below. First, related to positive aspects, as I see it, ELP is very useful. Furthermore, it offers a lot of information about students learning progress and they can realize how they are improving step by step. It also develops students’ responsibilities and autonomy. It may be is a motivated thing for students because they will want to be up-to-date. There are a lot of advantages, however, there are a few disadvantages.

As I see it the worst disadvantage could be at the beginning, because teachers have to encourage students to understand what the portfolio is and what it is used for. Besides, teachers have to motivate their students and teach them about the importance of their work.

To conclude, I think there are more advantages than disadvantages, despite of these disadvantages I like ELP due to the positives things, mainly, and as I see it the most important aspect was the support of the development of learner autonomy, plurilingualism and intercultural awareness and competence.

EDUTOPIA: Preparing for Cultural Diversity: Resources for Teachers

Currently, there are more and more different cultures in only one class at schools, so it is important that teachers know how to provide plenary of engaging ideas and activities to introduce knowledge about diversity from the beginning of the schools years.

On the one hand, I was looking forwards in Edutopia.org about this topic and there are a lot of information as also, activities, strategies, resources, and so on about. So the following topic has been brought to my attention:



After reading this topic I found a very interesting resource to improve the inclusive classroom environment.



From my point of view, there are not two equal people in the world. Everybody is different, as the text says, with diverse ages, families, ethnic backgrounds, different intellectual abilities, and so on. So these differences can be a problem sometimes.

As a result to avoid troubles as these diversities, teachers should know how to teach bearing it in mind.
Firstly, to have a productive students and good communication with them, it is very important to raise class and behaviour rules.

Then, teachers should take in mind and do a diversity program for their classroom and also apply it to improve cultural and social students.

To conclude, as I see it, it is essential to teach with values to get better everybody’s behaviour.

WORKING WITH THE CORRECT TOOL

It is important and indispensable to know the names of each tools before you start using them. But it's more important to learn about how to use it and in which case you have to do it.

PAY ATTENTION!!! SAFETY RULES BEFORE ENTRY IN THE WORKSHOP

Before you can use equipment and machines or attempt practical work in a workshop you must understand basic safety rules. These rules will help keep you and others safe in the workshop.
Read the safety rules carefully. If you fully understand them you should be able to work safely in a workshop.
1. Always listen carefully to the teacher and follow instructions.
2. Do not run in the workshop, you could ‘bump’ into another pupil and cause an accident.
3. Know where the emergency stop buttons are positioned in the workshop. If you see an accident at the other side of the workshop you can use the emergency stop button to turn off all electrical power to machines.
4. Always wear an apron as it will protect your clothes and hold loose clothing such as ties in place.
5. Wear good strong shoes. training shoes are not suitable.

6. When attempting practical work all stools should be put away.
7. Bags should not be brought into a workshop as people can trip over them.
8. When learning how to use a machine, listen very carefully to all the instructions given by the teacher. Ask questions, especially if you do not fully understand.
9. Do not use a machine if you have not been shown how to operate it safely by the teacher.
10. Always be patient, never rush in the workshop.
11. Always use a guard when working on a machine.
12. Keep hands away from moving/rotating machinery.
13. Use hand tools carefully, keeping both hands behind the cutting edge.
14. Report any damage to machines/equipment as this could cause an accident.

WHICH IS THE BEST LINGUISTIC PROGRAM IN VALENCIA? WHY?

Nowadays it is really important to know English for a lot of things as well as essential things like find a job, travel around the world without any kind of problems, etc. But it is not the foremost skill to become brilliant person in life. Whereas, current students should learn a foreign language besides their mother tongue to increase their opportunities in lots of aspects.
As I know, valencian schools are introducing trilingualism and it is a good way to improve children’s languages. However, it is a bit difficult for teachers because they have to work hardest to achieve good results with the objectives, although it doesn’t want to say that it is impossible, for that a teacher never stops being a student.
Furthermore, I have to say that learning more than two language as valencians students opens up lots of doors like communicating with foreign persons, socialize and discover new cultures.
To conclude, I think the best language program for valencian schools is plurilinguism with exemplar teachers who know how to teach, motivate and do it with values.

MY BEST TEACHER...

It’s important that if you want to be a good teacher, you should think about how is your best teacher, so this is my time to explain something related to.

I’m grateful for all of my teachers because all of them let me a lot of knowledge about many things. Especially teachers who are interested in teaching, are patient and serious, who talk about your interests, etc.

My best teacher was one of my teachers in secondary school. She was getting angry because we were all the time speaking during the classes, so we thought that she was a witch. But, throughout the time, I value she a lot, because, she had a lot of patience, she’s hard working and she helped me with some important things in my life.

SOMETHINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ME...

I’m Sandra Martinez Garcia, I like to study but I’m an undecided person. I would have studied a lot of things but when I was finishing secondary studies I decided to study Technical Arquitecture. Two years ago, when I finished my degree I wanted to study something more, so I studied a Master in Teaching Education to be a teacher. I didn’t have vocation so I was worried, but now, I’m teaching and I love seeing how children learn.